Battleborn is a multiplayer-centered first-person shooter with comic graphics. During the campaign, players need to stabilize the Battleborn alliance to defend the galaxy against the evil Varelsi. On eight maps (plus tutorial), players need to complete mission goals which can be divided into three types: raid (go to a location and kill enemies), defend (surviving enemy waves) and escort.
The heart of the game are the three 5v5 multiplayer modes. Capture is a domination variant where players have to capture and hold specific points on the map for victory points. In meltdown, players need to defend AI-controlled minions which move to an incinerator at the middle of the map. Each creature which reaches the goal, rewards points.
The player can choose between 25 heroes which all have different abilities. The key of winning matches are a balanced team of different characters. When starting a game, only seven are available, but more are unlocked by completing the campaign, solving challenges or improving the player level simply by playing a lot.