What order to play Borderlands?

With its exciting FPS gameplay, loot system, unique sense of humor, and gripping storyline, Borderlands games represent one of the milestones in gaming history. But in what order should you play them?

The BL series’ plot focuses on a group of Vault Hunters traversing the faraway Pandora planet in search of a mysterious Vault containing alien technology and unimaginable riches. The place is full of unpredictable nature, robbers, hostile mercenaries of mighty corporations, and bizarre creatures, so the task isn’t easy. Since the series includes four main video games and extra content, many players wonder: “Which Borderlands should I play first?” to enjoy story coherence and get the most out of this unique experience.

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Luckily for you, we already know the answer to this question – and once you learn in what order to play these games.

Main Games Order
Spin-offs
Optional Content
FAQ
Conclusion

Main Games Order

That may come as a surprise, but the chronological arrangement of events suits the release order. Therefore, play the games as listed below.

Order	Game	Release date
1	Borderlands	2009-10-20
2	Borderlands 2	2012-09-21
3	Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel	2014-10-14
4	Borderlands 3	2020-04
5	Borderlands Legends	2020-05-29
6	Tales from the Borderlands	2014-11-25
7	Tiny Tina's Wonderlands	2022-06-23
8	New Tales from the Borderlands	2022-10-21

Borderlands 1

Since it’s the first installment in the series, 2009’s BL 1 is the title you should start with if you want to play in order. The game was a runaway success, selling 4.5 million copies by 2011, and still feels fresh due to its cartoonish graphics. We highly recommend getting into it with all the DLCs (The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned, Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot, The Secret Armory of General Knoxx, and Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution) included, which you achieve by purchasing the GOTY Enhanced edition.

Borderlands 2

The second installation from 2012 develops familiar mechanics, successfully expanding the campaign with five DLCs (Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate’s Booty, Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage, Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt, Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, and Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary). The title became one of the best-selling video games of 2012 and the best in the history of 2K Games, its publisher.

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

Although this installment’s action takes place between BL1 and BL2, you should play it third due to its flashback-based nature. Pre-Sequel wasn’t as popular as other games in the series, but it’s worth your time if you want to discover all the plot details.

Borderlands 3

The final part is the one you should end your BL adventures with in chronological order. The title was the most successful in the series’ history, selling over 5 million copies during the first five days of its existence. Although BL 3 launched in 2019, almost 4 thousand players enjoy it daily on Steam in 2024.

Spin-offs

While the spin-offs aren’t as essential for learning the series’ story as the main games, they are a godsend if you want to spend more time with the BL universe. Play them as listed below.

Borderlands Legends

Released in 2012, BL Legends is an iOS-only title set on the Pandora planet. Unlike other installations, it is a strategic alternative featuring a squad of Vault hunters controlled from a top-down perspective.

Tales from the Borderlands

Developed by Telltale Games, Tales from the BL features episodic gameplay spanning five chapters of narrative-driven adventure. It’s the ultimate pick for enthusiasts of games where choices matter.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

It’s a standalone game based on a BL universe, following Tiny Tina’s unique RPG session where the player character embarks on an extraordinary adventure to beat a mighty dragon in a high fantasy world. It’s different, but fun!

New Tales from the Borderlands

As the Tales from the BL successor, the title follows the story one year after the events of BL 3. Prepare for new characters, a fresh plot, and challenging choices influencing the ending.

Optional Content

The last two titles may interest you if you want to buy a collection instead of separate games. The first is BL: The Handsome Collection, which includes BL: The Pre-Sequel and BL 2 with all its add-ons. The second is the BL Legendary Collection, a set of the first three video games in the series, each with its DLCs.

FAQ

Can you play BL out of order?
While following chronological arrangement makes the most sense, each game has a standalone storyline so you can play them out of order.

Are BL games connected?
They are, but playing in order is not necessary for grasping each installation’s plot.

Conclusion

Now that you know you can enjoy the BL series in order and not, go and lose yourself in the thrill of Vault-hunting! Also, feel free to share your thoughts on the best order to play the BL series, as we always love to hear other players’ ideas.

References