The Borderlands franchise, a celebrated looter-shooter, has become a gaming icon. Its distinctive cel-shaded art style and memorable characters have cemented its place in modern video game culture. Expanding beyond gaming, Borderlands has branched into comics, novels, and even a tabletop game, culminating in a feature film directed by Eli Roth. While the movie's reception was mixed, its release marks a significant milestone for the franchise.
With Borderlands 4 slated for release later this year, both veteran and new fans are likely eager to revisit the series. This timeline provides a comprehensive overview of the Borderlands games, allowing players to experience the story in its intended order.
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Chronological Order of Play | Release Order of Play
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The Borderlands Universe: A Game Count
The Borderlands canon currently encompasses seven core games and spin-offs, alongside two non-canon titles: Borderlands: Vault Hunter Pinball and Borderlands Legends.
Where to Begin Your Borderlands Adventure?
While Borderlands 1 offers the most straightforward starting point, any of the three main games serve as excellent introductions, especially for those less focused on narrative continuity. All three are readily available on modern platforms. However, for those wanting to follow the overarching storyline, beginning with the first game is recommended.
Chronological Order of Borderlands Games (Mild Spoilers Ahead)
These descriptions contain minor spoilers regarding characters, settings, and plot points.
1. Borderlands (2009): The origin story. Follow Lilith, Brick, Roland, and Mordecai as they hunt for the legendary Vault on Pandora, battling the Crimson Lance, wildlife, and bandits. The game's success launched the looter-shooter genre and was enhanced by four post-release expansions.
2. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014): A prequel bridging the gap between the first two main games. This installment introduces new Vault Hunters – Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha, and Claptrap – on a mission to Elpis, Pandora's moon. It significantly expands upon Handsome Jack's backstory, showcasing his descent into villainy. Several expansions added post-launch content.
3. Borderlands 2 (2012): The direct sequel, returning to Pandora with a new team of Vault Hunters facing the tyrannical Handsome Jack. This entry expands on the original's formula with more quests, character classes, and, of course, guns. Considered by many as the best in the series, it also received extensive post-release support.
4. Tales From The Borderlands (2014-2015): A Telltale Games episodic adventure focusing on Rhys and Fiona, whose intertwined fates lead them on a Vault-hunting journey. This narrative-driven spin-off is considered canon and features characters who later appear in Borderlands 3.
5. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2022): A fantasy-themed spin-off based on the popular Borderlands 2 DLC, Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep. While visually distinct, it retains the core Borderlands gameplay loop within a Bunkers & Badasses setting. Four DLC expansions further enrich the experience.
6. Borderlands 3 (2019): The third main installment introduces Amara, FL4K, Zane, and Moze as they confront the villainous siren twins, Troy and Tyreen, across multiple planets. This game features many returning characters and significant DLC content.
7. New Tales From The Borderlands (2022): The sequel to the original Tales From The Borderlands, featuring new protagonists – Anu, Octavio, and Fran – who encounter a powerful artifact and the wrath of Tediore Corporation. This game continues the narrative-driven approach of its predecessor.
Borderlands Games in Release Order:
Borderlands (2009) Borderlands Legends (2012) Borderlands 2 (2012) Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014) Tales From The Borderlands (2014-2015) Borderlands 3 (2019) Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2022) New Tales From The Borderlands (2022) Borderlands: Vault Hunter Pinball (2023) Borderlands 4 (2025)
The Future of Borderlands
With Borderlands 4 launching on September 23, 2025, and Take-Two's acquisition of Gearbox Software highlighting the franchise's growth potential, the future of Borderlands looks bright, promising further adventures in the Pandora universe.
