The Ringer-Verse

Big Game Adaptations, 'Borderlands 4,' and 'Silksong' Revisited | Button Mash

Sep 19, 2025
Join Matt James, Deputy Art Director at The Ringer, and Steve Ahlman, a seasoned commentator on games, as they delve into the latest in gaming culture. They cover the buzz around upcoming adaptations like the 'Super Mario Galaxy Movie' and discuss their spoiler-free thoughts on the much-anticipated 'Borderlands 4.' The pair also engage in a spirited debate on the difficulty of 'Hollow Knight: Silksong,' balancing praise for its design with critiques on its challenging gameplay. Get ready for insights and nostalgia!
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Mobility And Open World Shift

  • Borderlands 4 adds mobility (grappling, glider, swimming) and open-world scope, shifting series feel toward modern looter-shooter norms.
  • Ben notes this expands movement options but doesn't fully reinvent the core loot-and-shoot loop.
ADVICE

Play Borderlands With Company

  • Play Borderlands 4 with friends or passive audio to get the best experience.
  • Ben and Matt recommend co-op or background audio to mitigate grind and weak story moments.
INSIGHT

Loot UI Still Needs Rethink

  • UI and loot clarity remain pain points despite years of looter-shooter evolution.
  • Steve compares Borderlands' inventory to Diablo 4's superior organization and calls for better loot sorting.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app