How to Play the Borderlands Games (and Spin-Offs) in Timeline Order

Since its debut, Borderlands has quickly established itself as a cornerstone of the looter shooter genre, becoming one of the most iconic franchises in gaming. Its distinctive cel-shaded visuals and the notorious masked psycho character have cemented its place in modern video game culture. The series has expanded beyond gaming, branching into comics, novels, and even a tabletop game, showcasing its versatility and appeal.

This month marks a significant milestone for Borderlands as it makes its much-anticipated leap to the big screen, directed by Eli Roth, known for films like Hostel and Thanksgiving. The movie reimagines the world of Pandora and its vault-obsessed inhabitants for a new audience. Despite mixed reviews, this cinematic venture is a crucial step for the franchise.

With Borderlands 4 slated for release later this year, both new and returning fans are eager to dive back into the series. To help everyone get up to speed, we've compiled a comprehensive timeline of the Borderlands saga.

Jump to:

• How to play in chronological order
• How to play by release date

In total, there are currently seven Borderlands games and spin-offs that are canon to the series, and two smaller, non-canon titles: Borderlands: Vault Hunter Pinball and Borderlands Legends.

Where's The Best Place to Start?

The most straightforward starting point is arguably Borderlands 1. However, if the story isn't your primary concern, any of the three mainline games can serve as an excellent introduction. The trilogy shares a similar style, scope, and gameplay, and all are available on modern consoles and PC. For those interested in the overarching narrative, starting from the beginning is the best way to experience the saga.

Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition

8$29.99 save 70%$8.99 at Fanatical$16.80 at Amazon Every Canon Borderlands Game in Chronological Order

These blurbs contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and story beats.

1. Borderlands (2009)

The game that started it all, Borderlands launched in 2009, introducing players to Lilith, Brick, Roland, and Mordecai, a group of Vault Hunters on a treasure hunt across the volatile planet of Pandora. Their quest for the legendary Vault quickly turns into a chaotic adventure filled with battles against the Crimson Lance, Pandora's savage wildlife, and hordes of bandits. Borderlands became an instant hit, popularizing the looter shooter genre with its addictive gameplay loop of combat, gun collection, and character development. The game received four expansions post-launch, expanding its universe with diverse settings and themes.

2. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014)

Developed by 2K Australia with Gearbox Software's assistance, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, released after Borderlands 2, fills the narrative gap between the first two games. It follows new Vault Hunters Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha, and Claptrap on a mission to find a Vault on the moon of Elpis. While offering more of the beloved Borderlands gameplay, it also delves deeper into the story of Borderlands 2, featuring Handsome Jack as a central character and exploring his descent into villainy. The game was supported with expansions like Holodome Onslaught and Claptastic Voyage, along with new playable characters.

3. Borderlands 2 (2012)

Borderlands 2, released in 2012, brings players back to Pandora with a new team of Vault Hunters: Maya, Axton, Salvador, and Zer0. Their quest for a new Vault pits them against the planet's tyrannical ruler, Handsome Jack. After a near-fatal encounter, they embark on a mission to uncover Jack's sinister plans and find the Vault. This sequel expanded on the original with more quests, new classes, and an even larger arsenal of guns. It's widely regarded as one of the best in the series, praised for its engaging story, memorable combat, and humor. Post-launch, it received extensive support with additional campaigns and characters.

4. Tales From The Borderlands (2014 - 2015)

Telltale's Tales From The Borderlands offers a narrative-driven adventure set on Pandora, focusing on a crook named Rhys and a con artist, Fiona. Set after Borderlands 2, their misadventure begins with a fake vault key, leading them on a quest for a real Vault. This episodic game emphasizes branching storylines and moral choices, becoming a significant part of the Borderlands canon with characters reappearing in later games.

5. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2022)

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, while set in a fantasy realm, retains the core elements of a Borderlands game. It expands on the beloved Borderlands 2 DLC, Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep, with players entering the world of Bunkers and Badasses, guided by the enthusiastic Tiny Tina. The game offers a mix of fantasy and looter shooter elements, including new spells and an overworld area, along with several expansions.

6. Borderlands 3 (2019)

Borderlands 3, released in 2019, introduces new Vault Hunters Amara, FL4K, Zane, and Moze, tasked with stopping the siren twins, Troy and Tyreen, across multiple planets. The game brings back familiar faces and offers a vast array of guns, new classes, and extensive DLC content, including new campaigns and special missions.

7. New Tales From The Borderlands (2022)

New Tales From The Borderlands continues the narrative focus of its predecessor, following new protagonists Anu, Octavio, and Fran. After discovering a vault artifact, they find themselves pursued by the Tediore corporation. The game emphasizes choice-driven storytelling, with dialogue options and QTE sequences shaping the narrative.

Every Borderlands Game 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 Wonderland (2022)
• New Tales From The Borderlands (2022)
• Borderlands: Vault Hunter Pinball (2023)
• Borderlands 4 (2025)

What's Next For Borderlands?