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Alternatives · Similar games

Games like Borderlands

Craving that co-op loot-shooter loop — guns, builds and grinding for better gear with friends? These free games deliver the Borderlands rush without paying a cent.

3 free picks← All free-to-play MMORPGs
By the FreeMMO Compass editorial teamReviewed: September 2026Our methodology

Borderlands is comfort food: absurd numbers of guns, a friend in co-op, and a loot bar that never quite fills. The free games that come closest get two things right. Combat that's still fun on the hundredth firefight, and a loot grind that doesn't waste your time.

Proper looter-shooters are rare in free-to-play, so this list pairs the nearest match, Warframe's co-op gunplay, with action-RPGs that scratch the same loot-and-build itch from a different camera angle. We call out where the fun sits behind a paywall, because that's the quickest way a Borderlands-like loses the plot.

At a glance

GameBest forPlatformsBrowserScore
WarframeAction, Co-opPC, PlayStation, Xbox, Mobile—8.6
Path of ExileARPG, SeasonsPC, PlayStation, Xbox—8.5
DC Universe OnlineSuperhero, ActionPC, PlayStation, Xbox—7.1

Free Borderlands alternatives, reviewed

Ranked by how close they get — every game free to start.

#1Warframe cover art8.6/10

1. Warframe

Fast, free co-op action set across a living sci-fi solar system.

Why it's like Borderlands: The best free co-op loot-shooter there is — fast gunplay, endless gear and years of content.

Developer Digital ExtremesReleased 2013Platforms PC, PlayStation, Xbox, MobileBrowser NoModel Free to play

Warframe treats non-paying players better than anything else on this list, and after more than a decade of updates it's also become one of the deepest. Every frame, every weapon, every companion can be earned in-game, and the premium currency, Platinum, trades freely between players, so a patient grinder never has to open their wallet. Sitting on top of that economy is some of the best action combat online: a movement system built on bullet-jumping and sliding that turns firefights into acrobatics, plus hundreds of weapons and frames that play nothing alike. The content sprawls from tight corridor missions to open-world zones, space flight, and a story quest that catches most people off guard with how good it gets. The problem is the on-ramp. Warframe throws systems at you with almost no explanation, and the opening hours are a poor advert for what the game becomes. Get past that, ideally with a starter guide open, and you'll find a co-op action-RPG with years of runway and an economy that genuinely respects your time. Purchases mostly buy convenience, slots, cosmetics, the odd time-saver, not power you couldn't grind yourself.

Warframe gameplay screenshot 1Warframe gameplay screenshot 2Warframe gameplay screenshot 3

Pros

  • Slick, satisfying combat
  • Fair monetization
  • Huge amount of free content

Cons

  • Steep early learning curve
  • Progression can feel grindy

Best for: Action fans who want the fairest free-to-play deal

Play Warframe freeRead full review
#2Path of Exile cover art8.5/10

2. Path of Exile

The deepest free action-RPG loot grind there is.

Why it's like Borderlands: Swap guns for skills, but the addictive loot-grind and build depth are pure Borderlands energy — and free.

Developer Grinding Gear GamesReleased 2013Platforms PC, PlayStation, XboxBrowser NoModel Free to play

If your idea of fun involves spreadsheets, a passive tree the size of a galaxy, and gutting your build around one lucky drop, Path of Exile is your game. It's the deepest action-RPG going. The skill-gem system lets you socket and link abilities in combinations nothing else matches, and the passive tree supports characters that barely resemble one another. Every few months a new league resets the economy and bolts on fresh mechanics, which is why the endgame has stayed alive for years and why lapsed players get a clean slate to return to. The monetisation is where it really earns trust: the shop sells cosmetics and stash tabs, never power, so you win on knowledge and grind instead of spending. Two honest warnings. The learning curve is a wall, and the game won't stop you building a character that simply can't finish the campaign. Trading is clunky, and while stash tabs are cheap, serious play more or less expects you to buy a few. For anyone who wants a loot game with real, bottomless depth and nothing meaningful behind a paywall, though, nothing else comes close.

Path of Exile gameplay screenshot 1Path of Exile gameplay screenshot 2Path of Exile gameplay screenshot 3

Pros

  • Incredible build depth
  • Ethical monetization
  • Regular free content leagues

Cons

  • Overwhelming for newcomers
  • Stash-tab quality-of-life costs money

Best for: Theorycrafters chasing the deepest action-RPG

Play Path of Exile freeRead full review
#3DC Universe Online cover art7.1/10

3. DC Universe Online

Become a hero or villain alongside the DC icons — a free action MMORPG.

Why it's like Borderlands: Free action combat with loot progression if you want a different flavour of power fantasy.

Developer Dimensional Ink GamesReleased 2011Platforms PC, PlayStation, XboxBrowser NoModel Free to play

DC Universe Online lets you build your own superhero or villain and fight alongside (or against) the likes of Batman and Superman. Its hook is fast, action-based combat that feels more like a brawler than a traditional tab-target MMO. It's free to play, with episodes sold separately or via membership. The game is older now and the interface shows it, but the action combat holds up and the DC fantasy is genuinely fun. For a free superhero MMORPG, there's little competition.

DC Universe Online gameplay screenshot 1DC Universe Online gameplay screenshot 2DC Universe Online gameplay screenshot 3

Pros

  • Iconic DC setting
  • Snappy action combat
  • Tons of free content

Cons

  • Aging engine
  • Progression gated by episodes/membership

Best for: Superhero, Action

Play DC Universe Online freeRead full review

How we pick these alternatives

We only list games that are genuinely free to start, still actively updated in 2026, and a real match for Borderlands in feel — not just the same genre label. Every pick is one we'd actually recommend to a friend, ranked on gameplay, how much you get for free and fair monetization. Nothing here is a paid placement.

FAQ

What is the best free game like Borderlands?

Warframe — it's a free co-op looter-shooter with fast gunplay and a huge gear grind, the closest free match for Borderlands' loop.

Which game is most like Borderlands?

Warframe is our top pick: The best free co-op loot-shooter there is — fast gunplay, endless gear and years of content.

Are these games really free?

Yes — every game we recommend here is free to play, with no purchase required to start. Some offer optional cosmetics, a subscription or expansions.