The Best Borderlands Play Order in 2024
Borderlands series is a video game series that I keep returning to. Created by Gearbox Software. With the recent release of Tiny Tina's Wonderland, you may be thinking what is the Best Borderlands Play Order? Well, I have you covered. I will mention the games as well as whether you should skip or play the game.
Borderlands
So the very first entry in the series, honestly this can be Skipped. The Vault Hunters from the first game do appear in the rest of the games. But story-wise it can be skipped, as all you need to know is they opened a vault and resulted in Eridium spouting all over the place. Apart from the Vault Hunters, the other characters are forgettable.
The mechanics of the game are not much different to Borderlands 2 (affiliate link). Except instead of Badass tokens, you have weapon proficiencies. Which grants you bonuses should you improve your proficiency in each weapon.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
Next in our Borderlands Play Order is Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. Set before the events of Borderlands 2 (affiliate link). The story follows you a former Hyperion employee. Escaping the Hyperion Moon Base while being added by none other than Handsome Jack himself.
The events that take place in this instalment result in Handsome Jack becoming the de facto leader of Hyperion. This then leads into Borderlands 2.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel brings a new world to explore and some new mechanics. One of which is a jetpack and Oz kits. Unlike Pandora, Elpis has no atmosphere of its own. So survive the player must utilise an Oxygen system. Spend too long outside and your character will run out of Oxygen and begin to take damage. There are areas that provide oxygen which can recharge your kit. It was a great addition to the series and never became annoying.
The inhabitants of Elpis also speak with a strong Australian accent. This provides Elpis with its own culture when compared to Pandora which is interesting.
I would recommend playing Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel because you get to see a different side to Handsome Jack, as well as watch his rise to power.
Borderlands 2
if you can only play one Borderlands title, Borderlands 2 is the best one by far. And I haven't even completed all the DLC content yet. The main story follows you as a Vault Hunter, who has survived being killed by Handsome Jack. When you wake up, you see a vision from an AI guiding you on how to defeat Jack. You are then found by a Claptrap unit, who is one of the first quest givers. He is one of the more memorable characters in the series.
Need help with Borderlands 2 Cult of the Vault challenge, check out my guide here
Throughout the story, you bump into the Vault Hunters from Borderlands 1. They are no longer as strong and as determined as they once were. And they need you to defeat Jack. As side characters, they are more interesting than they ever were in the first game.
There is an unfortunate death of one of the former Vault Hunters, which comes as a shock. And has a lasting effect on the other Vault Hunters and other characters you meet along the way. Enter Tiny Tina, a young girl obsessed with making things explode with her bombs. She's a hilarious character and even has her own DLC. And game.
There is so much content in this game when including the DLC, that it could take you several hundred hours to fully complete. In my opinion, the best way to experience the game is to play with headphones, a gamepad and the PC version. That way you have shorter load times with the convenience of the gamepad.
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands
The fourth game in the Borderlands Play Order is Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (affiliate link) which was released after Borderlands 3. While the third game in the series didn't receive much praise from fans. Gearbox took one of the best DLCs in the series and expanded upon it into a full game. As well as focusing on one of the best characters in the series.
The game takes place in various tabletop RPGs combined with the exciting gunplay of the rest of the Borderlands series. And entertainingly narrated by Tiny Tina. From a storyline point of view, it doesn't do much to expand on the lore of Borderlands. But gameplay-wise it is worth playing.
Tales from the Borderlands
A bit of backstory here. A few years ago I was going to role interviews at various places after being made redundant. After a couple of weeks I received the call that I had landed a role at a company that was nearby. I said yes. I then went out and to celebrate bought myself a PlayStation 4 Pro. I also had PlayStation Gold, which for that month Tales from the Borderlands (affiliate link) was one of the free games.
Tales from the Borderlands (affiliate link) is a story-driven Tell-Tale game where instead of being a FPS. You make decisions for the main character and react to situations via quick-time events. Setting a story in the Borderlands universe was genius. It was also the first Platinum I had ever achieved on the PlayStation.
It follows shortly after Handsome Jack's demise, which is why I've put it after Tiny Tina's Wonderland in my Borderlands play order. It starts with a new businessman trying to control what is left of Hyperion. It also features the death of a beloved character. It was a heroic death and I couldn't believe it had happened. There are also other great scenes such as the handguns shoot out.
I would recommend you give this a go. But if story-driven games aren't your thing. Have a look on YouTube for Let's Plays of the series.
Borderlands 3
I'll be honest with you. I have mostly forgotten what went on with Borderlands 3. It was largely panned by fans. And the story was pretty much forgettable. There were some interesting guns. But the biggest issue was that the Season Pass only covered year 1 of content. Though in retrospect it is called a season pass for a reason.
Most of the characters from Borderlands 1 and 2 returned. Though some of them were killed off for dramatic affect. I saw it as a waste, though I could see that they were probably gearing up for a new cast of characters in the next game.
I will be giving it another go, after I have fully completed Borderlands 2.
New Tales from the Borderlands
Similar to Tales from the Borderlands, players will need to click and complete quick time events while also making story-changing decisions. This title is set after the events of Borderlands 3.
Within the perpetually war-torn metropolis of Promethea, you'll control Anu, Octavio, and Fran on the worst day of their lives. Help these three lovable losers as they endeavor to change the world (and maybe even save it)! Face down a planetary invasion, vicious vault monster, and cold-hearted capitalist in this cinematic thrill ride where what happens next is up to you! Meet a motley cast full of misfits, assassin bots, and talking guns in this race to the top!
Steam Page
It looks interesting so may be worth a play.
Borderlands Play Order
And there you have it, the best Borderlands Play Order in my opinion. Do you have your own preferences? Is there any of the games that you would skip? Let me know in the comments section.
