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The planet Pandora is filled with infinite treasures….if you know where to find them.

The world is filled with corporations, bandits, raiders, and dangerous natives, but they’re no match for you. You’re a Vault Hunter, and nothing will get in the way of you, and the hidden treasures of Pandora.

Borderlands is a science-fiction fantasy video game franchise that blends multiple genres. The Gearbox Software series can be described as an RPG shooter with a dash of Western and science-fiction elements thrown in. The result is one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time.

With Borderlands 4 on the horizon, you may be looking to get into the franchise. But where does Tales from the Borderlands fit in? Is Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel before or after Borderlands 2? Not to worry, Popverse has you covered. This guide will tell you everything you need to know before becoming a Vault Hunter. Let’s get started….

How to play Borderlands in release order

Are you ready to get started on Borderlands? This list covers each game in the franchise in release order. It should be noted that this list only covers new games, not ports or re-releases, or expansion packs. For example, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection isn’t on this list because it’s a compilation of previously released games. Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep isn’t listed because it’s an expansion pack/DLC add-on for Borderlands 2. Therefore, we consider it part of Borderlands 2, rather than its own unique release.

With that, here is the Borderlands franchise in release order….

• Borderlands (2009)
• The Border Lands (2012)
• Borderlands 2 (2012)
• Borderlands Legends (2012)
• Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014)
• Tales from the Borderlands (2014)
• Borderlands 3 (2019)
• Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (2022)
• New Tales from the Borderlands (2022)
• Borderlands: Vault Hunter Pinball (2023)
• Borderlands 4 (2025)
  
  

How to play Borderlands in chronological order

Now that you know the Borderlands release order, let’s cover the chronological order. A few tie-in games were released between entries of the main series, and some take place at different points in the timeline. For example, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is set before Borderlands 2, even though it was released two years later. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is also set earlier, before Tales from the Borderlands. Aside from that, the chronology is mostly the same as the release order. Just follow this chronological order list, and you should be all set.

• Borderlands (2009)
• Borderlands Legends (2012)
• Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014)
• Borderlands 2 (2012)
• Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (2022)
• Tales from the Borderlands (2014)
• Borderlands 3 (2019)
• New Tales from the Borderlands (2022)
• Borderlands 4 (2025)
  
  

Other Borderlands games

This list covers Borderlands games that are part of the franchise, but don’t have a place in the larger chronology. In other words, don’t worry about canon when playing these games.

• The Border Lands (2012) – A retro-style browser game that reimagines the 2009 Borderlands game as a '90s-era DOS game.
• Borderlands: Vault Hunter Pinball (2023) – Just what it sounds like, a pinball game with Borderlands graphics and gameplay elements.
  
  

When does the next Borderlands game come out?

Borderlands 4 is the next game in the Borderlands franchise. The game will be released on September 23, 2025 for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game will have a solo mode and a co-op mode for up to three other players. Borderlands 4 will follow a new group of Vault Hunters exploring a new planet called Kairos.

Whatever happened to Borderlands Online?

Borderlands Online was a planned online shooting game for Chinese territories. The game would’ve allowed players to form guilds, craft weapons, go on quests, and battle in PVP arenas. The game was initially announced in 2014, and development got far enough for an official trailer to be released in 2015. Unfortunately 2K China, the developers behind the game, shut down in late 2015, cancelling Borderlands Online and all their other projects.

Is Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel just the original Borderlands?

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is not the same game as Borderlands 1. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel has a new storyline, focusing on Handsome Jack and a group of Vault Hunters liberating Helios from the Lost Legion. The game is set after the original Borderlands, but before the events of Borderlands 2, which is why it’s called a “pre-sequel.”

Does Borderlands: The Handsome Collection include Borderlands 1?

Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is a 2015 compilation game, featuring ports of Borderlands 2, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and all related supplemental material. The compilation doesn’t include the original 2009 Borderlands game. However, if you want to play Borderlands 1, the game was remastered in 2019 as Borderlands Game of the Year Edition. In addition, a port of the game was included on the 2020 compilation Borderlands Legendary Collection.

Are the Borderlands comic books canon?

In 2012 IDW published Borderlands: Origins, a four-issue miniseries chronicling the backstories of Roland, Lilith, Mordecai, and Brick. This was followed by an eight-issue miniseries in 2014 titled Borderlands: Fall of Fyrestone.

In 2024 Dark Horse Comics began publishing Borderlands tie-in comics, including Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands: Land of the Giants and Borderlands: Moxxi’s Mysterious Memento.

The comics are considered canon. However, like most tie-in material, this can all change if the video games decide to include storyline elements which contradict the comics. It’s worth noting that the IDW comics were written by Mikey Neumann, a creator who served as writer and creative director for the Borderlands video games.

Are the Borderlands novels canon?

In 2011 Pocket Books began publishing a series of Borderlands tie-in novels. Borderlands: The Fallen was released in 2011, followed by Borderlands: Unconquered in 2012, and Borderlands: Gunsight in 2013. All three novels were written by John Shirley, a novelist who specializes in science fiction and fantasy.

In 2024 Titan Books published Borderlands: Debt of Alive, a novel that follows up on the events of Tales from the Borderlands. The book was written by Anthony Burch, the writer behind Borderlands 2. While the novels have some small discrepancies, they are considered canon.

Where does the Borderlands movie fit in?

In 2024 Lionsgate Films released Borderlands, a science fiction action comedy based on Gearbox Software’s video game franchise. The movie is a retelling of the events of the first game, with characters and concepts from later games thrown in. The film is set in a separate continuity from the video games. In other words, it’s not canon to anything but itself and any potential sequels. Although the film was a box office failure, Take Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that it helped the sales of the video game franchise. What’s the best Borderlands game to start with?

The original 2009 game is a great place to start. Borderlands 1 may be 16 years old, but the storytelling, world-building, and gameplay have held up well. Plus, the remasters and ports of the game are easily available. Not only was it the first game in the franchise, but it’s also the earliest chronologically, making it a great introduction to the Borderlands saga.

Now you have everything you need to begin playing Borderlands. Later, Vault Hunter!

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