Play Borderlands Games in Timeline Order: A Guide

Since its release, Borderlands has quickly established itself as the iconic face of the looter shooter genre, becoming one of the most recognizable franchises in gaming. Its distinctive cel-shaded art style and the infamous masked psycho character have made its irreverent, sci-fi universe a cornerstone of modern video game culture. The series has transcended gaming, expanding into a multimedia empire that includes comics, novels, and even a tabletop game.

This month marks a significant milestone for Borderlands, as it finally makes its long-anticipated leap to the big screen under the direction of Eli Roth, known for films like Hostel and Thanksgiving. The movie reimagines the world of Pandora and its vault-obsessed inhabitants for a new audience. Although the film received mixed reviews, its release is a pivotal moment for the franchise.

With Borderlands 4 set to launch later this year, both new and returning fans are eager to dive back into the series and refresh their memories of where it all began. 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, alongside two smaller, non-canon titles: Borderlands: Vault Hunter Pinball and Borderlands Legends.

Where's The Best Place to Start?

While it's the simplest answer, the best place to start is arguably Borderlands 1. However, if you're less concerned about the story, any of the three mainline games serve as a solid introduction.

All three entries in the trilogy share a similar style, scope, and gameplay, and they're all available on modern consoles and PC. If you're interested in the overarching narrative, starting from the beginning is the recommended way to experience the saga, especially if you've just watched the movie.

Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition

$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. Launched in 2009, Borderlands introduces us to Lilith, Brick, Roland, and Mordecai—a quartet of Vault Hunters on a treasure hunt across the volatile planet of Pandora. Their quest is to uncover The Vault, rumored to contain unimaginable treasures.

Their journey quickly descends into chaos as they confront the Crimson Lance militia, battle the planet's ferocious wildlife, and take down hordes of bandits. Borderlands was an instant hit, catapulting the looter shooter genre into the mainstream with its addictive gameplay loop of mass enemy elimination, an endless array of 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, despite being released after Borderlands 2, fills the narrative gap between the first two games. It follows new Vault Hunters—Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha, and Claptrap—as they seek a Vault on the moon of Elpis.

While offering more of the beloved Borderlands formula with new locations, classes, guns, bosses, and quests, The Pre-Sequel also deepens the story of Borderlands 2 by featuring Handsome Jack as a central character. It showcases his transformation into the iconic antagonist, providing insights into his origins. Additional expansions like Holodome Onslaught and Claptastic Voyage, along with new playable characters—the Doppelganger and the Baroness—were added post-launch.

3. Borderlands 2 (2012)

Borderlands 2, the official sequel, launched in 2012, bringing players back to Pandora with a new team of Vault Hunters: Maya, Axton, Salvador, and Zer0. Their mission is to find another Vault, but they quickly cross paths with the planet's ruthless ruler, Handsome Jack, who tries to eliminate them.

Left to fend for themselves in an icy wasteland after a failed assassination attempt, they embark on a quest to unravel Jack's sinister plans and locate the Vault. Borderlands 2 expanded on the original with more quests, new classes, a captivating villain, and an even greater variety of guns.

It's widely considered the best in the series, praised for its engaging story, memorable combat, and the franchise's signature humor. Like its predecessor, it received extensive post-launch support, including four additional campaigns, two new characters, and several Headhunter missions.

4. Tales From The Borderlands (2014 - 2015)

The first full spin-off, Tales From The Borderlands, developed by Telltale Games, offers an episodic, story-driven adventure set on Pandora. Unlike the mainline games, it focuses on a crook and a corporate lackey who accidentally embark on a grand adventure.

Set post-Borderlands 2, the story follows Rhys, a Hyperion employee, and Fiona, a con artist, as they become entangled in a quest for a new Vault after a botched deal involving a vault key. The game emphasizes a branching narrative with moral choices that significantly affect the story. Its characters have since become integral to the Borderlands universe, appearing in Borderlands 3.

5. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2022)

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, the latest entry from Gearbox Software, might not look like a traditional Borderlands game at first glance, replacing desert wastelands with a fantasy kingdom. However, it retains the core elements of the series, set within the world of Bunkers and Badasses, a Borderlands version of Dungeons and Dragons.

With Tiny Tina as the enthusiastic dungeon master, players face off against fantasy creatures, embark on quests, and battle the Dragon Lord. The game maintains the series' signature elements like a vast arsenal of guns, new classes, and enemies to defeat, while introducing unique features such as an overworld and spell-casting. It also includes four separate DLCs with new dungeons, bosses, and gear.

6. Borderlands 3 (2019)

Seven years after Borderlands 2, Gearbox Software released Borderlands 3 in 2019, introducing a new cast of Vault Hunters: Amara, FL4K, Zane, and Moze. Their mission is to stop the siren twins, Troy and Tyreen, who are harnessing the power of the vaults for a nefarious purpose.

For the first time, players venture across multiple planets, encountering familiar characters like Lilith, Rhys, Maya, Brick, Zer0, and Claptrap. The game continues the tradition of chaotic looter shooter action, offering an array of guns, new classes, and extensive DLC content, including four new campaigns, takedown missions, and additional content from the cutting room floor.

7. New Tales From The Borderlands (2022)

New Tales From The Borderlands, the follow-up to the original, introduces new protagonists—Anu, Octavio, and Fran—instead of continuing the previous story. After discovering a vault and a powerful artifact, they find themselves pursued by the Tediore corporation and its CEO, Susan Coldwell.

The game focuses on a branching narrative shaped by player choices, featuring dialogue options, QTE combat, and impactful decisions that alter the story's outcome.

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?

While details are scarce, the future seems bright for the franchise. Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, highlighted potential growth opportunities for Borderlands, suggesting more frequent projects in the universe. Fans can look forward to more adventures on Pandora and beyond in the coming years.