If you’re looking for the origins of looter shooter games, then look no further than the Borderlands series. And while the movie may not have lived up to the hype of this epic franchise, trust us in saying you’re going to need to overlook the movie and focus on the epic games that were created. The thrill of looting for weapons, finding rare items is a game recipe that is hard to mess up! Borderlands offers multiple characters, known as Vault Hunters, each with their specific skillsets and abilities. You can play with friends or alone, but it’s always more fun doing it in co-op. Here are all Borderlands games in order of release!
Unlike many of the modern titles, Borderlands has not followed a traditional yearly release schedule. In fact, between 2009 and 2025, there have only been five main Borderlands games, with Borderlands 4 on the horizon and scheduled to release later this year! Without further ado, here’s how to play the Borderlands games in chronological order!
Image Credits: 2K
The game that started it all. Borderlands 1 definitely put the looter shooter genre on the map, and put the franchise instantly into stardom. The game was addictive to play, with an amazing storyline and so many different areas to explore. For a game that was made in 2009, they really nailed the whole sandbox experience. 2K tested the waters with this series despite their sports simulators starting to get a footing in the gaming space.
Image Credits: 2K
If I have to pick a personal favourite from the franchise, it’s definitely Borderlands 2. The franchise returned to Pandora but this time with more colour, more weapons, and rare items to unlock. It also had an incredible campaign that I could play for hundreds of hours, which I did… There was an obsession to slowly optimise your loot for the best armour you could get. The shield hunt was one of the most frustrating but rewarding personal missions to do in the game. And who can forget the vault, where you would fight the end boss countless times in the hope of getting the Conference Call, one of the best weapons ever put into a video game.
Image Source: Reddit
Perhaps following in Halo’s suit with mobile games is not the best strategy. Nevertheless, after Borderlands 2 was deemed one of the better games 2K had produced from a sales perspective, the company decided to expand their Borderlands IP by making a mobile game. This game was unfortunately only available for iOS users. It was a fun top-down strategic game to pass the time, but if you’re looking to experience the Borderlands campaign, you’re out of luck.
Image Credits: Telltale Games
With The Walking Dead game by Telltale Games being such a hit, it was no surprise to see 2K want to get the Borderlands IP in on the success. This is where Tales from the Borderlands was created! The game was made up of a five-part series, focusing on character development and interesting storylines that differed from the main Borderlands games. It was a successful move for everyone involved. Telltale was creating magic in this period, but the game itself didn’t really feel like a traditional Borderlands experience; rather, it felt like a Telltale game with minimal action.
Image Credits: 2K
Despite consecutive hits with the Borderlands franchise, Borderlands 3 was where the gravy train started to fall off for 2K. Borderlands 3 was a mixed bag for many players, and while it ended up being a very solid game, the initial release was plagued with problems, turning many away before they even completed the campaign.
There were several UI and gameplay issues, mixed in with a story that many fans felt insulted by, especially the fate of some of the saga’s most prominent characters, Lilith, for example. Players also complained about how dense the open world map was. Some parts of the map were gated off until unlocking them later in the story, defeating the purpose of it being an open world game if you can only play within certain areas.
Image Source: Steam
There haven’t been many spin-off games in the Borderlands series, and those that were made didn’t have the look and feel of a Borderlands game. This is where Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands comes in. The character was considered one of the best characters in BL2, so it’s no surprise that she eventually got her own game. While it might seem like a DLC, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands was a full game with its own unique storyline following Tiny Tina. What’s cool about the game is that it’s a direct sequel to Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, meaning players should already be well established regarding the in-game universe.
Image Source: Epic Games
With Telltale Games sadly no longer in the picture, 2K needed a new studio to head up an idea for the latest game, titled New Tales from the Borderlands. The new game was headed by Gearbox Studio Quebec. It follows the same feel as the previous game, but introduces a brand-new cast set a year after the fallout from Borderlands 3. It sadly wasn’t able to capture the magic of the first game, with many considering New Tales From the Borderlands a major letdown. There were some fun elements here and there, but it’s not a game I would suggest playing more than once.
Image Credits: Gearbox Software
Six years after the release of Borderlands 3, we finally have a new main title on the horizon with Borderlands 4. This game is expected to be released on September 12. It looks like the developers are going back to their roots in terms of what made Borderlands 2 one of their best games to date. In terms of Borderlands games order of story, we would advise going in the Borderlands games in order we have suggested for the main titles to experience the story to its fullest.
LOL
CS2
Dota 2
Valorant
Fortnite
Call of Duty
Mobile Games
Gaming
EN Global 
JP 日本語