The Borderlands franchise is widely regarded as one of the top looter shooters available, and with the movie now in theaters, you may be interested in trying out the games for the first time.
Our comprehensive guide covers all the Borderlands games, from the mainline titles to the spin-offs, providing you with release dates, developers, and the available platforms for each one.
Borderlands
The original Borderlands brought a fresh take to the looter shooter genre.
- Release date: October 20, 2009
- Developer: Gearbox Software
- Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch
The initial release of Borderlands in 2009 marked the beginning of the franchise. It was made available for the PS3, Xbox One, and PC, and featured four playable characters known as the Vault Hunters: Brick, Lilith, Mordecai, and Roland.
The Hunters, a determined group, embark on a journey to the planet of Pandora in hopes of finding the fabled Vault. Legend has it that the Vault contains valuable treasures, including advanced extraterrestrial technology. However, the Hunters must battle against bandits, corrupt corporations, and aggressive wildlife in order to reach the Vault before anyone else.
When you start the game, you choose one of the four Hunters to play as and start completing missions while exploring the world. Each character possesses distinct abilities and expertise with particular weapons. As you progress, you have the option to invest skill points into specific specialties, allowing you to create personalized builds.
Featuring an abundance of loot to gather, dynamic cartoon-inspired graphics, and plenty of replay value, the original Borderlands revolutionized the genre and paved the path for a successful franchise.
Borderlands 2
Borderlands 2 has the most iconic antagonist in the franchise.
- Release date: September 18, 2012
- Developer: Gearbox Software
- Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch, Android devices
Borderlands 2, released in 2012, took everything that made the original game great and turned it up to the next level. The story takes place five years after the events of the first game and introduces four new Vault Hunters: Axton, Maya, Salvador, and Zer0.
The new main characters discover that Pandora is under the rule of Handsome Jack, the cruel leader of the Hyperion corporation. Despite Jack’s oppressive rule, news of a second Vault, larger than the first, has surfaced, capturing the interest of numerous Vault Hunters.
The main goal of the new protagonists is not only to find the new Vault, but also to thwart Handsome Jack — a character often lauded as one of the greatest in video game history. He is cunning, oddly charismatic, and an ideal character to love to hate.
One of the most captivating aspects of the sequel is the protagonist’s communication with the player through a radio system. This not only drives the story forward but also makes it worth playing for Jack’s character alone. In addition, the game offers a plethora of new loot, enhanced gunplay, and intriguing side quests, making it a must-play for fans of the original.
Borderlands 2 is commonly referred to as the top choice among fans, and it’s not hard to understand why.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
The pre-sequel goes into Handsome Jack’s origin story.
- Release date: October 14, 2014
- Developer: Gearbox Software
- Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Android devices, and Nintendo Switch
The third installment in the franchise takes place in the time period between the events of the original Borderlands and Borderlands 2. If you were a fan of Jack in Borderlands 2, then you will probably enjoy the pre-sequel as it focuses on his story.
The pre-sequel delves into Jack’s transformation into the oppressive leader we know. When the Lost Legion seizes control of Hyperion’s Helios space station, Jack assembles a team of four fresh Vault Hunters to retake it.
The group’s main objective is not only to defeat the Lost Legion hostiles, but also to discover a hidden Vault filled with riches on Pandora’s moon, Elpis. After all, a Vault is a crucial aspect of the Borderlands universe.
The prequel stands out in terms of characters because each of the Vault Hunters were previously featured as memorable bosses or NPCs in previous entries. For example, Nisha “The Lawbringer”was Jack’s girlfriend in Borderlands 2, and Wilhelm “The Enforcer”was a boss that players faced in the second game after he had been transformed into Jack’s cybernetic minion.
The pre-sequel may be slightly shorter in duration, but it still incorporates and builds upon the gameplay elements from 2. Notable enhancements include the introduction of freeze weapons, low-gravity settings, and laser guns.
Tales from the Borderlands
Tales from the Borderlands is a narrative adventure.
- Release date: November 2014
- Developer: Telltale Games
- Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, iOS and Andriod devices, Nintendo Switch
The team at Telltale, known for producing adventure games such as The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us, offers a unique perspective on the franchise with Tales from the Borderlands.
Tales adopts an episodic structure and replaces first-person shooter gameplay with a simplified point-and-click style. Set after the occurrences of Borderlands 2, the game centers on two fresh protagonists: Rhys, a Hyperion worker, and Fiona, a con artist, as they join forces to search for a Vault.
In order to advance, players must guide both characters through various environments to interact with different objects and solve puzzles. As with other games from Telltale, decision-making is a major aspect, as the choices you make will affect the course of the story.
Tales effectively translated the distinctive personality and humor of the main series into a different format for fans to enjoy. Comprising of five episodes, this installment is highly recommended for any avid followers of the franchise.
Borderlands 3
Borderlands 3 has the strongest gameplay in the series.
- Release date: 13 September, 2019
- Developer: Gearbox Software
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PC, Stadia, Nintendo Switch
Despite much anticipation, Borderlands 3, the most recent mainline game in the franchise, was released in 2019. While some argue that the story and main villains are not as compelling as those in its predecessor, it is widely acknowledged that the gameplay is the strongest in the series.
The gunplay in Borderlands 3 is highly responsive, surpassing that of all previous Borderlands games. Additionally, character mobility has been greatly enhanced, providing players with the ability to crouch-slide and scale walls to overcome small obstacles. Furthermore, players now have the option to briefly take cover behind barriers.
Once again, four new Vault Hunters – Amara, Moze, Zane, and FL4K – are thrust into the spotlight. Their mission is to retrieve a missing Vault map from the Children of the Vault and their dual leaders, Troy and Tyreen Calypso. The journey takes them across the galaxy, with players exploring various planets instead of remaining on Pandora.
In addition to (as you may have already guessed) an abundance of loot to discover (which can be obtained through Shift codes), and a satisfying endgame adventure, Borderlands 3 offers the most extensive range of possible character builds in the franchise. This is made possible by the Vault Hunter’s ability to unlock three (or two for Zane) distinct skills that can be equipped simultaneously.
Not only does this produce the most impressive gameplay in the Borderlands series, but it also offers an abundance of content for fans to immerse themselves in for countless hours.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
Tina Tina’s Wonderlands brings a fantasy twist to the franchise.
- Release date: March 25, 2022
- Developer: Gearbox Software
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, set to release in 2022, is a spin-off game centered around the beloved character Tiny Tina. In the game, players will take on the role of the 13-year-old demolition expert, who gained popularity as an NPC in Borderlands 2. In June 2013, Tiny Tina received her own DLC, titled Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon’s Keep.
Wonderlands is a sequel to the downloadable content (DLC) in which Tina assumes the role of dungeon master in the Dungeons and Dragons-inspired tabletop RPG, ‘Bunkers and Badasses’. The player controls The Newbie, accompanied by companions Valantine and Frette, as they set out on a mission to defeat the powerful Dragon Lord.
The spin-off stands out for its impressive ensemble of voice actors, which includes The Lonely Island and Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Andy Samberg as Valentine, as well as Arrested Development’s Will Arnett as the Dragon Lord.
Similarly to D&D, at the beginning of the game players have the ability to personalize their character by choosing from six unique classes. This is a new feature in the series, allowing players to freely combine and use various skills. Additionally, spells can be utilized in battles to inflict damage, such as setting enemies ablaze or transforming them into sheep.
The core looter shooter elements that the series is known for are maintained in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, while the high fantasy setting adds a fresh and unique flavor to the game.
New Tales from the Borderlands
New Tales from the Borderlands is an adventure of three new protagonists.
- Release date: October 21, 2022
- Developer: Gearbox Studio Québec
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PC, Nintendo Switch
The events of Borderlands 3 take place about a year before the start of New Tales, which introduces three new main characters: adoptive siblings Anu and Octavio Dhar, and Fran Miscowicz, who owns a frozen yogurt shop.
In their quest for a Vault that could bring about a drastic change in their lives, the trio relies on players to guide them through the game, complete quick-time events, and make use of their individual skills. Anu’s high-tech glasses allow her to scan objects, Octavio can hack into devices and social media feeds, and Fran’s trusty hoverchair can freeze enemies.
Similar to the original Tales from the Borderlands game, you will also be faced with numerous significant decisions that will impact the course of the narrative.
These are the Borderlands mainline games and spin-offs listed in chronological order of release.
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