Short version first: if you want tight single-player action with glossy presentation, pick Stellar Blade. If you crave anime-style action RPG drama and flashy combos, try Lost Soul Aside. If you want cooperative looter-shooter chaos with a comedy streak, wait for Borderlands 4. Below, I break down why.
Intro
These three games aim at different appetites. One is a cinematic action-adventure that arrived already, another is a stylized action RPG launching soon, and the last is a big-budget sequel built around cooperative loot and mayhem. I’ll compare developer pedigree, release and platforms, gameplay focus, tone, and who each suits best.
Quick facts you should know
Stellar Blade is a 2024 action-adventure from Shift Up that launched first as a PS5 exclusive and later reached Windows, earning praise for visuals and its combat loop.
Lost Soul Aside, developed by Ultizero Games and published by PlayStation, is an anime-styled action RPG scheduled for late August 2025 with fast-paced combos and a conspicuous visual flair.
Borderlands 4, made by Gearbox and published by 2K, is slated for a September 12, 2025 release and promises expanded RPG systems, four-player co-op, and the series’ trademark loot-driven chaos.
Combat and systems — how they play
Stellar Blade centers on precise, weighty melee with gunplay as a secondary rhythm. Battles feel choreographed; timing and parry windows matter. Its camera work and animations are a highlight, which raises the spectacle during boss fights.
Lost Soul Aside leans into fluid weapon-swapping, flashy aerial combos, and a mash-up of RPG progression and action-RNG. Expect a move list designed to look glorious on-screen while offering customization via skills and equipment. Think anime spectacle with tactical depth.
Borderlands 4 keeps the looter-shooter DNA: varied weapon synergies, randomized modifiers, and buildable characters. The emphasis is on cooperative play and endless grind loops. If you want finely tuned single-player combat, this is less the point; if you want loot economies and shared shenanigans, this is exactly it.
Story and tone
Stellar Blade is earnest, cinematic, and often moody. It aims to be immersive and dramatic rather than jokey. Lost Soul Aside wears its anime heart on its sleeve: melodrama, quests of destiny, and a colorful cast. Borderlands 4 returns to sardonic, postmodern humor and pulp sci-fi storytelling — the franchise’s barbed one-liners and outrageous NPCs are back.
Technical and platform notes
Stellar Blade shipped on PS5 and later hit PC with strong concurrent numbers on Steam. Lost Soul Aside is coming to PS5 and Windows in August 2025. Borderlands 4 is targeting PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC with a September 12, 2025 launch. If platform availability matters, check those links before buying.
Who should buy which
Buy Stellar Blade if you value single-player spectacle, polished animations, and deliberate combat. Choose Lost Soul Aside if you want fast, anime-flavored action-RPG systems and character-driven beats. Wait for Borderlands 4 if you like co-op, long-term loot progression, and boundary-pushing multiplayer loops.
Final verdict
All three are legitimate, but they do not compete directly. Pick by appetite, not hype. Want cinematic precision and story? Stellar Blade. Want stylish action-RPG drama? Lost Soul Aside. Want endless co-op loot and chaos? Borderlands 4. Simple as that.
