Borderlands Chronological Saga: Unraveling the Storyline

The Borderlands franchise, a celebrated looter-shooter, has rapidly become a gaming icon. Its distinctive cel-shaded art style and memorable characters, like the Psycho, have cemented its place in modern gaming culture. The franchise's success extends beyond video games, encompassing comics, novels, and even a tabletop game.

This year marks a significant milestone: the Borderlands movie, directed by Eli Roth (Hostel, Thanksgiving), bringing Pandora and its inhabitants to the big screen. Despite mixed reviews, the film represents a major achievement for the franchise.

With Borderlands 4 slated for release in 2025, many existing and new fans are likely eager to revisit the series. This timeline provides a comprehensive overview of the Borderlands games, helping players understand the overarching narrative.

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Chronological Play OrderRelease Date Order

How Many Borderlands Games Exist?

Currently, there are seven canon Borderlands games and spin-offs, plus two non-canon titles: Borderlands: Vault Hunter Pinball and Borderlands Legends.

Best Starting Point:

While Borderlands 1 is the logical starting point, any of the three main games serve as a good introduction if story isn't a primary concern. The trilogy shares similar gameplay and style. However, for a cohesive narrative experience, especially following the movie, beginning with the first game is recommended.

Canon Borderlands Games in Chronological Order:

(Minor spoilers ahead)

1. Borderlands (2009): This origin story introduces Lilith, Brick, Roland, and Mordecai, four Vault Hunters searching for the legendary Vault on Pandora. Their quest plunges them into conflict with the Crimson Lance and Pandora's dangerous wildlife. The game's success established the looter-shooter genre and featured several post-release expansions.

2. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014): A prequel bridging the gap between the first two games, this installment follows Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha, and Claptrap on a mission to a Vault on Elpis, Pandora's moon. It significantly expands on Handsome Jack's backstory, showcasing his descent into villainy. Post-release expansions added new content and characters.

3. Borderlands 2 (2012): The direct sequel returns to Pandora, introducing Maya, Axton, Salvador, and Zer0, who confront the tyrannical Handsome Jack. It expands on the original's formula with more quests, characters, and, notably, even more 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, this spin-off focuses on Rhys, a Hyperion employee, and Fiona, a con artist, as they become entangled in a quest for a new Vault. Its narrative choices impact the story, and its characters have appeared in later installments.

5. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2022): A fantasy-themed spin-off based on the Borderlands 2 DLC, Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep. While the setting shifts to a fantasy kingdom, the core gameplay remains true to the Borderlands formula. It features expansions adding more dungeons, bosses, and loot.

6. Borderlands 3 (2019): The third main installment introduces Amara, FL4K, Zane, and Moze, who must stop the murderous siren twins, Troy and Tyreen. The game expands the scope to multiple planets and features many returning characters. It also includes substantial DLC content.

7. New Tales From The Borderlands (2022): The sequel to Tales From The Borderlands, this game introduces Anu, Octavio, and Fran, who find themselves targeted by Tediore Corporation after discovering a powerful artifact. It maintains the narrative-driven gameplay 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:

Borderlands 4, scheduled for September 23, 2025, is the next major release. Take-Two's acquisition of Gearbox suggests a bright future for the franchise, with significant potential for growth and expansion.