Rapidly incomes a repute because the face of the looter shooter style within the years since its launch, Borderlands actually has change into one in every of gaming’s most recognisable franchises. From its cel-shaded artwork fashion to its masked psycho poster youngster, the foul-mouthed, tongue-in-cheek sci-fi universe is now a staple of recent online game tradition. It isn’t stopping there although, with the sequence rapidly morphing right into a multimedia sensation in its personal proper, spinning off into comics, novels and even a tabletop sport.
This month, that journey reaches its greatest milestone but, with Borderlands lastly making its long-awaited bounce to the large display screen courtesy of Hostel and Thanksgiving director, Eli Roth. Reimagining Pandora and its vault-obsessed locals for a model new viewers. And whereas the movie didn’t assessment particuarly properly, it is nonetheless a significant step for any franchise.
With the Borderlands film now in theaters, there’s more likely to be numerous new and returning followers seeking to dive again into the video games and reacquaint themselves with the place it began. So, we determined to place collectively a fast timeline of the sequence to get you caught up on the way it all matches collectively.
In complete, there are presently seven Borderlands video games and spin-offs which might be canon to the sequence, and two smaller, non-canon titles: Borderlands: Vault Hunter Pinball and Borderlands Legends.
Whereas it is the only reply, one of the best place to begin is arguably Borderlands 1, though in the event you do not care concerning the story, any of the three mainline video games are introduction.
All three entries within the trilogy are comparatively comparable in fashion, scope and gameplay, and higher but, they’re all accessible on fashionable consoles and PC. That being mentioned, there’s a nice overarching story that runs by way of the Borderlands saga, and in the event you’ve simply come off the film and need to comply with it as meant, ranging from the start is one of the best ways to play.
Borderlands: Recreation of the Yr Version
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Each Canon Borderlands Recreation in Chronological Order
These blurbs comprise gentle spoilers for every sport, together with characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Borderlands (2009)
The sport that kickstarted all of it. The very first Borderlands launched in 2009, telling the story of Lilith, Brick, Roland and Mordecai: a gaggle of 4 “Vault Hunters” that enterprise out on the treasure hunt of a lifetime. Arriving on the risky planet of Pandora, they search out a legendary bunker often known as The Vault, which is claimed to accommodate unimaginable treasures.
As anticipated, their expedition rapidly turns right into a chaotic maelstrom of carnage, with the group dealing with off towards a militia often known as the Crimson Lance, contending with the planet’s savage wildlife and taking down hordes of bloodthirsty bandits. From the second Borderlands hit cabinets, it was an enormous hit, launching the looter shooter style into the stratosphere by way of its compelling gameplay loop of killing plenty of enemies, discovering a near-limitless provide of weapons and constructing your chosen character.
The sport was additionally supported closely after launch, getting an extra 4 expansions that took the sport from zombie-themed islands to a tongue-in-cheek riff on Mad Max’s Thunderdome.
2. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014)
Developed by 2K Australia with the help of Gearbox Software program, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel might have launched after Borderlands 2, but it surely fills within the hole between the primary two Borderlands video games. The story follows a gaggle of latest Vault Hunters, Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha and Claptrap, as they head out on a mission to discover a Vault on the moon of Elpis.
The Pre-Sequel was, in numerous methods, a bunch extra of the Borderlands followers knew and cherished. Set in a brand new locale with recent courses to grasp and study, it supplied extra weapons, boss fights, quests and enemy encounters to plough by way of whereas the world waited for an inevitable Borderlands 3. Nonetheless, its fundamental promoting level was additional fleshing out the story of Borderlands 2, with the sport that includes the second sport’s fundamental antagonist, Good-looking Jack, in a number one position.
Alongside that includes lots of the second sport’s fundamental bosses and characters years earlier than their roles within the sequel’s story, it additionally supplied a full view of Jack’s descent into insanity, establishing the enduring foe’s origins. Very similar to the opposite video games, 2K Australia added a number of expansions after the sport launched, together with the Holodome Onslaught and Claptastic Voyage maps, in addition to two playable characters: the Doppelganger and the Baroness.
3. Borderlands 2 (2012)
The official sequel to Borderlands, Borderlands 2 launched in 2012, bringing gamers again to Pandora with a brand new squad of formidable Vault Hunters in tow. The story begins with our heroes, Maya, Axton, Salvador and Zer0, heading to Pandora to seek for a brand new Vault. Nonetheless, it rapidly turns into obvious that the planet’s overlord, the sadistic Good-looking Jack, does not take kindly to courageous adventurers in search of fame and fortune by uncovering the newest fabled Vault on Pandora. Whereas using a prepare throughout the untamed planet, Jack makes an attempt to have them killed, leaving them stranded in an icy wasteland.
Left for useless, the group set out on an journey to find the reality behind Good-looking Jack’s schemes, making an attempt to cease to him and discover the Vault within the course of. Borderlands 2 was basically a much bigger, extra expansive tackle the unique sport, providing loads of quests, new courses to grasp, a charismatic fundamental villain to take down and, in some way, much more weapons to search out and acquire.
It is nonetheless regarded by many as one of the best Borderlands to this point, providing a enjoyable story, memorable fight encounters and a wholesome dose of the sequence’ trademark sense of humour. Very similar to the primary sport, it additionally got here with a bunch of post-release help, together with 4 further campaigns, two bonus playable characters, and several other Headhunter missions.
4. Tales From The Borderlands (2014 – 2015)
The primary full spin-off of the sequence, Tales From The Borderlands was Strolling Lifeless developer Telltale’s tackle the Borderlands universe, providing an episodic, story-focused journey set on the floor of Pandora. Not like the mainline entries, Tales does not centre on a group of super-powered, gun-obsessed Vault Hunters. As an alternative, it follows a criminal and a company lackey who unwittingly stumble right into a grand journey.
Set after the occasions of Borderlands 2, we comply with Rhys, a Hyperion worker lobbying for the next place within the firm, and Fiona, a con artist working together with her sister, Sasha. After Rhys makes an attempt to one-up a colleague by intercepting a deal to amass a vault key, he learns the important thing was a pretend in a con set-up by Fiona, entangling the 2 collectively and setting off a series response of occasions that put them on the path of a model new Vault.
As with all of Telltale’s video games, Tales From The Borderlands focuses totally on a branching, cinematic story with ethical decisions that may change the route of the narrative. Within the years following its launch, Tales From The Borderlands has been acknowledged as a key piece of the Borderlands canon, with authentic characters from the sport even popping up in Borderlands 3.
5. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (2022)
Gearbox Software program’s most up-to-date entry within the Borderlands franchise, from the skin, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands does not seem like a Borderlands sport. Subbing out futuristic desert wastelands for a sprawling fantasy kingdom, whereas Wonderlands might have loads of dragons, goblins and unicorns, it is very a lot nonetheless a Borderlands sport in all the pieces however the setting.
Performing as a fully-fledged model of the beloved Borderlands 2 DLC, Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Maintain, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands as soon as once more has you getting into the world of Bunkers and Badasses; the Borderlands equal of Dungeons and Dragons. With Tina as your very enthusiastic dungeon grasp, you will battle towards a variety of fantasy monsters, embark on some heroic quests and battle your option to the monstrous Dragon Lord.
As with all Borderlands video games, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands boasts a metric ton of weapons to search out, courses to grasp and enemies to kill, whereas additionally incorporating new concepts to enhance the shift in setting, corresponding to an overworld space you traverse between missions and the power to make use of spells. It additionally has its personal serving to of expansions to dig into, with 4 separate DLCs that includes new dungeons, bosses and equipment.
6. Borderlands 3 (2019)
Seven years after the discharge of Borderlands 2, Gearbox Software program returned for an official third entry, launching Borderlands 3 in 2019. As all the time, the threequel brings a recent new solid of Vault Hunters into the fray, introducing gamers to Amara, FL4K, Zane and Moze, and sending them out on a chaotic new journey.
This time round, gamers are tasked with stopping a pair of murderous siren twins named Troy and Tyreen, who’re venturing throughout the galaxy and harnessing the ability contained in the vaults for a mysterious trigger. In a franchise first, gamers are tasked with travelling to a number of planets to take them down, teaming with an array of acquainted faces corresponding to Lilith, Rhys, Maya, Brick, Zer0 and, in fact, Claptrap.
As all the time, you may count on loads of looter shooter chaos to ensue, with a heap of weapons to search out, enemies to eviscerate and new character courses to grasp. There’s additionally loads of DLC content material to leap into while you’re executed, with Borderlands 3’s further content material providing 4 new campaigns, takedown missions and even designer and director cuts that resurrect a bunch of content material left on the chopping room ground.
7. New Tales From The Borderlands (2022)
Gearbox Software program’s official follow-up to Tales From The Borderlands, New Tales From The Borderlands is presently the final sport on the chronological timeline. Bringing in a slate of recent characters as a substitute of choosing a continuation of the unique Tales sport, New Tales has three protagonists: Anu, Octavio and Fran.
The story follows the group’s adventures after stumbling right into a vault and discovering a valuable artefact, which inadvertently places them within the line of fireplace of the Tediore company and its ruthless CEO, Susan Coldwell. With the relic now of their possession, the trio begins to uncover its true powers, all of the whereas making an attempt to evade Coldwell as she hunts them down.
Very similar to the earlier sport, New Tales From The Borderlands is targeted nearly solely on weaving a branching story that adapts and warps primarily based in your decisions. You’ll be able to count on loads of dialogue choices, QTE battle sequences and difficult selections that can influence the result of the journey.
Each Borderlands Recreation in Launch 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)
What’s Subsequent For Borderlands?
When it comes to video games, Borderlands 4 seems to be the following main launch on the horizon. Gearbox Software program revealed the sequel exists and is presently being labored on after the studio introduced it was being acquired by Take-Two earlier this yr, with Gearbox head Randy Pitchford telling us in an interview that “It is the best factor [the studio has] ever executed.”
Though that is all we’ve got to go on for now, It appears as if initiatives within the Borderlands universe might be extra frequent going ahead. We discovered just lately that the franchise will probably be an enormous focus for Take-Two following the acquisition, with Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick noting in a investor’s name that the corporate sees numerous “potential progress alternatives” for the IP. We’ll have to attend to see precisely what Zelnick means by that, but it surely seems we might be trekking to Pandora much more within the coming years.
Callum Williams is an IGN freelancer overlaying options and guides. When he is away from his desk, you may often discover him obsessing over the lore of the newest obscure indie horror sport or bashing his head towards a boss within the latest soulslike. You’ll be able to catch him over on Twitter at @CaIIumWilliams.