Quickly earning a reputation as the face of the looter shooter genre since its release, Borderlands has become one of the most recognizable franchises in gaming. With its distinctive cel-shaded art style and the iconic masked psycho, the series has carved out a unique space in sci-fi gaming culture. Its expansion into multimedia, including comics, novels, and even a tabletop game, showcases its widespread appeal and staying power.
This month marks a significant milestone for Borderlands as it transitions to the big screen under the direction of Eli Roth, known for films like Hostel and Thanksgiving. Despite mixed reviews, the film's release is a testament to the franchise's growing influence.
With Borderlands 4 slated for release later this year, both new and returning fans are eager to revisit the series. To help you get up to speed, we've compiled a comprehensive timeline of the Borderlands universe.
Jump to:
- How to play in chronological order
- How to play by release date
How Many Borderlands Games Are There?
In total, there are currently seven Borderlands games and spin-offs that are canon to the series, alongside two smaller, non-canon titles: Borderlands: Vault Hunter Pinball and Borderlands Legends.
Where's The Best Place to Start?
If you're diving into the Borderlands saga, starting with the original Borderlands game is a solid choice, especially if you're interested in the overarching narrative. However, if you're more focused on gameplay, any of the mainline trilogy games (Borderlands, Borderlands 2, Borderlands 3) can serve as an excellent entry point. These games share similar styles, scopes, and gameplay mechanics, and are readily available on modern consoles and PCs.
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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 the adventures of Lilith, Brick, Roland, and Mordecai. These four Vault Hunters embark on a treasure hunt across the volatile planet of Pandora, seeking the legendary Vault rumored to hold unimaginable treasures. Their journey quickly devolves into chaos, battling the Crimson Lance militia, the planet's ferocious wildlife, and hordes of bandits. Borderlands revolutionized the looter shooter genre with its engaging gameplay loop of enemy slaughter, gun collection, and character development. The game received extensive post-launch support, featuring four expansions that ranged from zombie-infested islands to a playful take on Mad Max's Thunderdome.
2. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014)
Developed by 2K Australia with Gearbox Software's assistance, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel bridges the narrative gap between the first two mainline games. Set on the moon of Elpis, it follows new Vault Hunters Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha, and Claptrap as they search for another Vault. The game retains the core Borderlands experience with new settings, classes, and a plethora of guns and enemies. Its unique selling point is the deeper exploration of Handsome Jack's backstory from Borderlands 2, showing his descent into villainy. Post-launch, it was expanded with additional content like the Holodome Onslaught and Claptastic Voyage, along with new playable characters.
3. Borderlands 2 (2012)
Borderlands 2, launched in 2012, returns players to Pandora with a new group of Vault Hunters: Maya, Axton, Salvador, and Zer0. Their quest to find 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 stop him. This sequel expanded on the original, offering more quests, classes, a compelling villain, and an even larger array of guns. Widely considered the best in the series, it also received extensive post-release content, including four campaigns, two new playable characters, and several Headhunter missions.
4. Tales From The Borderlands (2014 - 2015)
Telltale's spin-off, Tales From The Borderlands, offers a narrative-driven adventure set on Pandora. Following the events of Borderlands 2, it focuses on Rhys, a Hyperion employee, and Fiona, a con artist, as they navigate a complex plot involving a Vault key. The game emphasizes branching storylines influenced by player choices, cementing its place in the Borderlands canon with characters later appearing in Borderlands 3.
5. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2022)
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, Gearbox's latest addition, shifts the setting to a fantasy realm inspired by the beloved Borderlands 2 DLC, Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep. As players navigate the world of Bunkers and Badasses, they encounter dragons, goblins, and other mythical creatures under the guidance of the enthusiastic Dungeon Master, Tiny Tina. Despite its new setting, the game retains the core Borderlands experience with an abundance of guns, classes, and enemies, along with new features like spells and an overworld area.
6. Borderlands 3 (2019)
Borderlands 3, released in 2019, introduces new Vault Hunters Amara, FL4K, Zane, and Moze on a mission to stop the siren twins, Troy and Tyreen, from harnessing the power of the Vaults across multiple planets. The game reunites players with familiar characters like Lilith, Rhys, and Claptrap, delivering the series' signature chaos, gunplay, and character development. Post-release, it received four new campaigns, takedowns, and additional content through designer and director cuts.
7. New Tales From The Borderlands (2022)
New Tales From The Borderlands continues the narrative-driven approach with new protagonists Anu, Octavio, and Fran. After discovering a powerful artifact in a Vault, they find themselves pursued by the ruthless CEO of the Tediore corporation, Susan Coldwell. The game focuses on player choices, dialogue options, and branching storylines, offering a fresh take on the Borderlands universe.
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?
Borderlands 4 is set to launch on September 23, 2025, following Gearbox Software's acquisition by Take-Two. Randy Pitchford, head of Gearbox, has hinted that this sequel could be their most ambitious project yet. With Take-Two's focus on expanding the franchise, we can anticipate more frequent projects in the Borderlands universe, signaling exciting times ahead for fans of the series.
