Quickly establishing itself as the poster child for the looter shooter genre since its debut, Borderlands has evolved into one of gaming's most iconic franchises. Its distinctive cel-shaded graphics and the notorious, masked psycho character have cemented its place in modern gaming culture. Far from resting on its laurels, the series has expanded into a multimedia powerhouse, branching into comics, novels, and even a tabletop game.
This month marks a significant milestone for Borderlands as it makes its long-anticipated leap to the big screen, directed by Eli Roth, known for films like Hostel and Thanksgiving. The movie reimagines the planet Pandora and its vault-obsessed inhabitants for a fresh audience. Despite mixed reviews, this cinematic venture is a pivotal moment 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 and refresh their memories of its origins. To help you get up to speed, we've compiled a comprehensive timeline of the series, detailing how all the pieces fit together.
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?
While it might seem obvious, starting with Borderlands 1 is arguably the best choice, especially if you're interested in the overarching story. However, if the narrative isn't your primary concern, any of the three mainline games can serve as a solid entry point.
All three entries in the trilogy share a similar style, scope, and gameplay, and they're all accessible on modern consoles and PCs. For those who want to experience the saga's narrative as intended, beginning with the first game is the way to go.
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 summaries 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 quartet of Vault Hunters on a quest for legendary treasure on the volatile planet of Pandora. Their search for The Vault leads them into a whirlwind of chaos, battling the Crimson Lance, the planet's savage wildlife, and hordes of bandits. Borderlands was an instant success, popularizing the looter shooter genre with its addictive gameplay loop of killing enemies, finding countless guns, and character development.
Post-launch, the game received four expansions, ranging from zombie-themed 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, though released after Borderlands 2, actually bridges the gap between the first two games. It follows new Vault Hunters Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha, and Claptrap as they search for a Vault on the moon of Elpis.
The Pre-Sequel offers more of the beloved Borderlands formula with new settings and classes, and it significantly fleshes out the backstory of Borderlands 2's antagonist, Handsome Jack. Alongside familiar faces and bosses from the sequel, it explores Jack's descent into villainy. Post-launch, it was expanded with additional content like the Holodome Onslaught and Claptastic Voyage, plus two new playable characters: the Doppelganger and the Baroness.
3. Borderlands 2 (2012)
The official sequel, 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 puts them at odds with the planet's ruthless ruler, Handsome Jack, who tries to eliminate them early on.
Left for dead, the team embarks on a mission to uncover Jack's schemes and stop him. Borderlands 2 expanded on the original's formula with more quests, new classes, a compelling villain, and an even larger arsenal of guns. It's often cited as the best in the series, praised for its engaging story, memorable combat, and humor. Post-launch, it received extensive support with additional campaigns, characters, and missions.
4. Tales From The Borderlands (2014 - 2015)
The first full spin-off, Tales From The Borderlands, developed by Telltale Games, offers a story-driven adventure set on Pandora. Unlike the main series, it focuses on a crook, Rhys, and a corporate lackey, Fiona, who inadvertently embark on a quest for a new Vault.
Set after Borderlands 2, the narrative explores the duo's journey and their evolving relationship. Known for its branching storylines and moral choices, Tales From The Borderlands has become a crucial part of the series' canon, with characters reappearing in later games.
5. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2022)
Gearbox Software's latest entry, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, swaps the usual desert wastelands for a fantasy kingdom. Despite the setting shift, it retains the core Borderlands gameplay, set within the world of Bunkers and Badasses, a game within the game akin to Dungeons and Dragons.
Players join Tiny Tina as the Dungeon Master, battling fantasy creatures and embarking on quests to defeat the Dragon Lord. Like its predecessors, Wonderlands offers numerous guns, classes, and enemies, plus new elements like an overworld and spellcasting. It also received four DLCs with new dungeons, bosses, and gear.
6. Borderlands 3 (2019)
After a seven-year wait, Borderlands 3 launched in 2019, introducing new Vault Hunters Amara, FL4K, Zane, and Moze. Players set out to stop the siren twins, Troy and Tyreen, who are harnessing vault powers across the galaxy.
This installment features multiple planets, familiar faces like Lilith and Claptrap, and the signature looter shooter action. Post-launch, it received additional campaigns, takedowns, and content cuts that brought back elements left out of the original release.
7. New Tales From The Borderlands (2022)
The latest addition to the chronological timeline, New Tales From The Borderlands, introduces new protagonists Anu, Octavio, and Fran. After discovering a vault and a powerful artifact, they find themselves pursued by the Tediore corporation and its CEO, Susan Coldwell.
Like its predecessor, New Tales focuses on a branching narrative influenced by player choices, featuring dialogue options, QTEs, and impactful decisions.
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 the next major release, set to launch on September 23, 2025. Following Gearbox Software's acquisition by Take-Two, studio head Randy Pitchford has described it as "the greatest thing [the studio has] ever done."With Take-Two's focus on expanding the franchise, as mentioned by CEO Strauss Zelnick, we can expect more frequent projects in the Borderlands universe. The future looks bright for fans, with potential growth opportunities on the horizon.
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