Borderlands 4 just got its first story DLC, and you can get the full experience at its lowest price yet

Sometimes cringeworthy humor and a fair share of bugs kept Borderlands 4 from being a critical darling at release, as well as losing a potential spot in our best FPS games list. It's a solid looter shooter, like the rest of the series, and while a better narrative does make it more enjoyable, it has been plagued with performance woes that dampen the experience. Now, after updates and fixes, it is better than ever - and with a first story DLC and a discount to boot, there's never been a better time to get started.

Borderlands 4 may be the fourth mainline entry in the long-running franchise, but it serves as both a great entry point and an excellent sequel, making it appealing to newcomers and fans alike. References to older plots aside, you play as one of four (now five, if you own the DLC) Vault Hunters, classes that have various action skills and different ability trees that allow you to take on the Timekeeper, the tyrannical overlord of Kairos.

Unlike Borderlands 3's outdated pop-culture references and forced humor, Borderlands 4 offers a far more serious narrative, yet one that is still comedic at times. The Timekeeper's constant threat to you (and potentially your Vault Hunter pals) feels genuinely intimidating, and that results in a more engaging experience. Of course, it's all secondary to what the Borderlands games always do best - that looting, shooting action.

Every enemy has the potential to drop some powerful guns, allowing you to have a variety of shields, grenades, and weapons that have game-changing potential. Maybe they simply make you stronger, maybe you can create mini black holes, maybe you have an SMG that can convert into a powerful sniper at the press of a button. Bosses especially give you a rainbow shower of loot after you kill them, beams of yellow and purple lying on the floor, waiting for you to use them in your next battles.

Story Pack 1 grants you access to C4SH, the new Vault Hunter, and takes you to the new map of The Whispering Glacier to take on two new bosses and 16 mini-bosses as you join forces with Ellie, Moxxi's daughter and talented mechanic, in the hopes of destroying an alien monolith and entering the accursed Vault of the Damned.

Both the base game and the deluxe edition (which includes the DLCs) are available at a 38% discount on Fanatical right now, bringing them down to just $43.39 / £37.19 and $61.99 / £40.29, respectively. Personally, I'd buy the deluxe and get some bonus content alongside it, but if you're not keen on spending extra, the base game's discount is a great time to give it a shot.

Hopefully, I'll see you on Kairos soon, but make sure you don't steal any of my loot - I'm still working on the best build for each hunter months after launch.