Play Borderlands Games in Timeline Order: A Guide

Since its inception, the **Borderlands** series has quickly solidified its status as a cornerstone of the looter shooter genre, emerging as one of the most iconic franchises in gaming. With its distinctive cel-shaded visuals and the notorious masked psycho character, the series has carved out a unique, irreverent sci-fi universe that resonates deeply within contemporary gaming culture. Not content to remain solely within the realm of video games, Borderlands has expanded into a multimedia empire, encompassing comics, novels, and even a tabletop game.

This month marks a significant milestone for the franchise as it makes its much-anticipated transition to the big screen under the direction of Eli Roth, known for films like "Hostel" and "Thanksgiving." The film reimagines the world of Pandora and its vault-seeking inhabitants for a new audience. Despite mixed reviews, this cinematic venture represents a major leap forward for the series.

With **Borderlands 4** slated for release later this year, both new and returning fans are eager to re-immerse themselves in the saga. To help you navigate the expansive universe, we've compiled a comprehensive timeline of the series to ensure you're fully caught up.

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How to play in chronological orderHow 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, the best 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 readily available on modern consoles and PC. For those keen on following the overarching narrative, beginning with the first game is the ideal approach, especially if you're fresh from watching the movie.

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 the adventures of Lilith, Brick, Roland, and Mordecai—four Vault Hunters on a treasure hunt across the volatile planet of Pandora. Their quest for the legendary Vault, rumored to hold untold riches, quickly descends into chaos as they confront the Crimson Lance militia, Pandora's wild creatures, and hordes of bandits. The game's success catapulted the looter shooter genre into popularity with its engaging gameplay loop of mass enemy takedowns, endless gun variety, and character development. Post-launch, it received four expansions, 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 help, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel slots between the first two games, despite its later release. It follows new Vault Hunters Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha, and Claptrap as they seek a Vault on Elpis, Pandora's moon. This game delivers more of what fans loved, set in a new environment with new classes and a vast array of guns and quests. Its main draw was exploring the backstory of Borderlands 2's antagonist, Handsome Jack, and his descent into madness, complemented by several post-launch expansions like the Holodome Onslaught and Claptastic Voyage.

3. Borderlands 2 (2012)

The sequel, Borderlands 2, brought players back to Pandora in 2012 with new Vault Hunters Maya, Axton, Salvador, and Zer0. Their mission is to uncover a new Vault, but they soon clash with the planet's tyrannical ruler, Handsome Jack. After a near-fatal ambush, the team sets out to unravel Jack's sinister plans and secure the Vault. This game expanded on its predecessor with a larger world, more quests, new classes, and an even greater arsenal of weapons, cementing its status as a fan favorite. It was supported with four additional campaigns, two new playable characters, and several Headhunter missions.

4. Tales From The Borderlands (2014 - 2015)

Tales From The Borderlands, developed by Telltale Games, offers a narrative-driven spin-off set on Pandora post-Borderlands 2. The story follows Rhys, a Hyperion employee, and Fiona, a con artist, who get entangled in a quest for a new Vault after a botched deal. This episodic adventure focuses on a branching narrative influenced by player choices, earning its place as a crucial part of the Borderlands canon with characters reappearing in Borderlands 3.

5. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2022)

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands might look different with its fantasy setting, but it retains the core Borderlands gameplay. A full expansion of the beloved Borderlands 2 DLC, Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep, it plunges players into the world of Bunkers and Badasses, a Borderlands version of Dungeons and Dragons. With Tiny Tina as your dungeon master, you'll battle fantasy foes and embark on epic quests. The game introduces spells and an overworld area, alongside traditional Borderlands elements like guns and classes, with four additional DLCs to explore.

6. Borderlands 3 (2019)

After a seven-year hiatus, Borderlands 3 returned in 2019, introducing new Vault Hunters Amara, FL4K, Zane, and Moze. Their mission: stop the siren twins, Troy and Tyreen, from exploiting vault powers across multiple planets. The game retains the series' signature chaos, with an expansive arsenal of weapons, character classes, and a host of familiar faces. Post-launch, it received four new campaigns, takedown missions, and special content cuts.

7. New Tales From The Borderlands (2022)

The latest entry in the series, New Tales From The Borderlands, introduces new protagonists Anu, Octavio, and Fran. Their accidental discovery of a vault artifact leads to a confrontation with the Tediore corporation and its CEO, Susan Coldwell. Like its predecessor, the game focuses on a branching narrative influenced by player choices, with dialogue options and impactful decisions shaping the story.

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?