How to Play the Borderlands Games (and Spin-Offs) in Timeline Order

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

This year marks a significant milestone with the release of the Borderlands film, directed by Eli Roth. While critical reception was mixed, the film's release 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' origins. This timeline provides a comprehensive overview of the Borderlands games, allowing players to experience the story chronologically or by release date.

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Chronological Order | Release Order

Did you see the Borderlands movie?

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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.

Where to Begin Your Borderlands Journey?

While Borderlands 1 is the logical starting point, any of the three main games offer a solid introduction, especially for players less concerned with the overarching narrative. All three are readily available on modern platforms. However, for those wanting to follow the complete storyline, beginning with Borderlands 1 is recommended.

Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition

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Chronological Order of Canon Borderlands Games:

(Minor spoilers ahead)

1. Borderlands (2009): Follows Lilith, Brick, Roland, and Mordecai as they hunt for the legendary Vault on Pandora, encountering the Crimson Lance and various threats. The game's success launched the looter-shooter genre.

2. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014): A prequel bridging the gap between the first two games. It features new Vault Hunters (Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha, and Claptrap) on Elpis, the moon of Pandora, and significantly expands on Handsome Jack's backstory.

3. Borderlands 2 (2012): Returns to Pandora with a new team of Vault Hunters facing off against the tyrannical Handsome Jack. Often considered the best in the series, it expands upon the original's formula with more quests, characters, and, of course, guns.

4. Tales From The Borderlands (2014-2015): A Telltale Games episodic adventure focusing on Rhys and Fiona, whose intertwined fates lead them on a Vault-related quest. Its story significantly impacts the Borderlands canon.

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 different in setting, it retains the core Borderlands gameplay loop.

6. Borderlands 3 (2019): Features a new cast of Vault Hunters battling the siren twins, Troy and Tyreen, across multiple planets. It reunites players with familiar faces and expands the universe considerably.

7. New Tales From The Borderlands (2022): A sequel to Tales From The Borderlands, featuring new protagonists, Anu, Octavio, and Fran, who become entangled in a conflict with Tediore Corporation.

Release Order of All Borderlands Games:

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:

With Borderlands 4 scheduled for release in September 2025, and Take-Two Interactive's expressed interest in expanding the franchise, the future of Pandora and its inhabitants looks bright. Further projects within the Borderlands universe are anticipated.