All 10 Borderlands Games, Ranked

Borderlands is a series that consistently balances incredible gameplay with utter craziness. It pioneered the ‘looter-shooter’ style, blending fast-paced gunfights with a vibrant, chaotic world. The games aren’t something you can just sit back and watch – they demand your participation, and those who dive in are rewarded with memorable stories, characters, and exciting combat. Its impact is clear in many other games today, influencing how they handle loot, character progression, and over-the-top action. Even when its ideas don’t quite work, you can always appreciate the sheer ambition behind them.

Ranking all the Borderlands games is tricky – some are fantastic, while others fall short. The best ones have memorable characters, compelling stories, and satisfying combat. Others struggle with slow starts, weak plots, or gameplay that quickly becomes repetitive. This ranking covers every major game, spin-off, and expansion, highlighting the series’ best moments and pointing out where it misses the mark. It shows the full range of quality the franchise has delivered over the years – which games are truly great, and which aren’t.

10. Borderlands Legends

Borderlands Legends was Gearbox’s attempt to bring the fast-paced action of Pandora to mobile devices, but it didn’t quite succeed. Though combining loot, familiar characters, and tower defense elements sounded interesting, the game didn’t really capture what makes Borderlands special. The controls felt clunky, and the gameplay became repetitive quickly. While it didn’t translate the core Borderlands experience to a mobile strategy game, it did demonstrate Gearbox’s willingness to try new things.

While it didn’t succeed, this game deserves recognition for trying a new approach. It highlights what makes the core Borderlands games special – things that don’t translate well to a mobile strategy format. There’s some clever design to appreciate, but ultimately, the game feels lacking in depth and isn’t very memorable. Even the developers, Gearbox, seemed to agree, as they eventually removed it from app stores and it’s no longer available to play. The idea was ambitious, but the fun and unpredictable energy of the Borderlands franchise is mostly missing here.

9. Borderlands 3

Borderlands 3 is a bit of a mixed bag. While the gameplay itself is excellent – the shooting is satisfying, the weapons are diverse and fun, and the worlds look fantastic – the story is a major letdown. The villains, Troy and Tyreen, aren’t scary or compelling, just annoying, and beloved characters like Lilith and Claptrap are underused. The game also drops interesting plotlines and relies on humor that doesn’t quite land. Ultimately, the story feels rushed and lacks emotional impact, leaving it feeling empty.

Despite strong combat and exploration, the story significantly detracts from the overall experience, surprisingly even impacting how fun the gameplay is. Important moments feel rushed, and major plotlines don’t deliver satisfying conclusions. Even when plot points *are* resolved, the writing isn’t strong enough to make it feel rewarding, leading to disappointment. The narrative is full of wasted potential and awkward writing, making it hard to become invested in the story. While *Borderlands 3* is technically impressive and enjoyable in short sessions, the story is a major letdown for the series and ultimately holds it back, despite some bright spots.

8. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

The *Pre-Sequel* aimed to show how Handsome Jack became powerful and introduced interesting new gameplay features like low-gravity fights and limited oxygen. At first, these additions felt fresh and made combat more exciting. However, it quickly became clear that this game was essentially a very large expansion for *Borderlands 2*. The story also felt a bit weak and didn’t always make sense. Adding to the frustration was the amount of content you actually got for the price. The *Pre-Sequel* was disappointing to play, especially considering its high launch price and relatively short length.

Despite some creative weapons and gameplay ideas, this game feels more like a stopgap between *Borderlands* and *Borderlands 2* than a worthwhile experience on its own. It does expand on Handsome Jack’s backstory, which is a plus, but its high price, weak story, and repetitive nature hold it back. While dedicated fans might appreciate its experimentation, the limited content doesn’t quite justify the cost.

7. New Tales from the Borderlands

Okay, so I just finished *New Tales from the Borderlands*, and honestly? It didn’t quite live up to the hype. The first game with Rhys and Fiona was amazing – seriously, the story, the characters, the jokes… it was all top-notch. This one just felt…off. The new characters weren’t as compelling, the story was pretty predictable, and a lot of the humor just didn’t land for me. It lacked the cleverness and emotional punch of the original, and as a big fan of the first game, I was definitely left feeling a bit disappointed. I was really hoping for something just as good, but it just didn’t quite get there.

Despite its flaws, the game isn’t entirely without merit. There are some witty conversations and funny scenes that make it fun in small doses, but they don’t significantly improve the overall experience. It proves that good writing and gameplay aren’t enough to overcome weak characters or a story that doesn’t feel genuinely important. While it’s a decent effort to follow up on the original, it doesn’t live up to the high expectations set by its predecessor.

6. Borderlands (Original)

The first *Borderlands* game is a classic and still holds up today. It originally introduced players to the wild and hilarious world of Pandora, a place brimming with loot and, well, a lot of crazy people eager to shoot you. While it might feel a bit bare-bones compared to later games and some missions repeat, it perfectly captured the unique art style, humor, and satisfying gameplay that would become hallmarks of the series. Gearbox took a risk by blending the addictive loot hunt of games like *Diablo* with fast-paced gunplay, and it paid off. Even with its imperfections, the thrill of finding ridiculous weapons and using them to defeat enemies kept players hooked.

Despite its imperfections, the original Borderlands remains beloved because it perfectly captures the fun and excitement of the Pandora universe. Things like Claptrap’s silly behavior and unexpectedly finding yourself in a tough fight felt new and exciting when the game first came out, and still do today. The game’s lasting impact isn’t about being flawless; it’s about establishing everything that came after and introducing players to a world that was both engaging and hilarious. Without this first game, we wouldn’t have had Borderlands 2 or Tales from the Borderlands. It’s important to remember that.

5. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

Following the popularity of *Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep*, *Wonderlands* builds on Tina’s wild character and creates a larger, full-fledged fantasy world beyond Pandora. Though the story isn’t quite as strong as the original, it’s still a fantastic game. It explores Tina’s grief over Roland, who is destined to die, adding unexpected emotional weight to a narrative that remains consistently unpredictable and over-the-top.

The game’s combat feels refined, combining the familiar Borderlands shooting with exciting new magic, character types, and enemies. While the fast pace and Tina’s energetic personality sometimes overshadow the story, the game still stands out thanks to its fresh take on the Borderlands formula. It’s a particularly enjoyable experience for fans of the character and series, proving that Tiny Tina can successfully lead her own game while maintaining the series’ unique style.

4. Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep

Although officially an expansion, *Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep* is a standout story in the whole series. It’s much more than just an add-on; it’s a complete adventure that combines hilarious comedy with smart writing, and really showcases Tiny Tina’s personality. Set in a world inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, the game takes classic fantasy elements and turns them into crazy, surprising situations. Every encounter feels meaningful, bringing moments of laughter, suspense, or genuine emotion.

This story is surprisingly excellent, even compared to the main games, showing that a shorter experience can still be incredibly impactful. It expertly blends Tina’s wild personality with touching, thoughtful moments, creating a story that stays with you. With smart writing, characters you won’t forget, and a perfect use of humor, it’s easily one of the best parts of the *Borderlands 2* series for many players.

3. Borderlands 4

Borderlands 4 is a strong step forward for the series, improving the core gameplay in ways that bring it back to its best. The game stands out thanks to its updated mechanics and new features that really change the Borderlands experience. Notably, it now features a true open world, letting players explore freely and find trouble at their own speed. The new system of weapon parts adds a lot more depth to the loot you find, making fights more exciting and rewarding, and improvements to shooting and movement feel great. All of this – the exploration, the customization, and the smooth gameplay – combine to create a consistently fun experience.

Though not flawless, *Borderlands 4* is a significant step forward for the series, recapturing the magic that recent games lacked. The open world is a joy to explore thanks to new ways to move around, and the addictive loot system has been improved with some clever additions. Essentially, *Borderlands 4* takes the classic Borderlands formula and builds on it, making everything even more engaging. While the story and characters aren’t particularly memorable, the game as a whole is a lot of fun.

2. Tales from the Borderlands

Okay, so Telltale’s *Tales from the Borderlands* is seriously amazing. It totally proved to me that Borderlands doesn’t *need* all the shooting and loot to be great – the story is what really carries it. The writing is just top-notch, with twists I didn’t see coming and characters, like Rhys and Fiona, that I genuinely cared about. They’ve become some of my favorites in the whole Borderlands universe thanks to this game. It nails the balance between funny moments, suspense, and actually making you *feel* something. By the end, I was completely hooked and immediately wanted to know what happened next – that’s how good the storytelling was! Everything, from how the story unfolds to the dialogue, feels super polished and well-crafted. It’s honestly one of the best experiences the franchise has to offer.

This game consistently delivers a fantastic story, memorable characters, and satisfying plot points, which is why it’s so highly rated. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the series, you’ll be captivated by its perfect blend of humor, thrills, and emotional moments. It proves that Borderlands offers much more than just exciting gunplay.

1. Borderlands 2

Borderlands 2 is widely considered the best game in the series, offering the ultimate Vault Hunter experience. Its compelling story, memorable characters—especially the iconic villain Handsome Jack—and blend of humor, chaos, and genuine emotion set it apart. The gameplay is a significant improvement over the first game, with more refined combat and a wider variety of loot, all while staying true to the series’ signature over-the-top style.

The story is truly exceptional and deserves all the praise it gets. From beginning to end, it’s filled with surprising twists, compelling characters, and a pace that immediately draws you in. Many consider it the best Borderlands game ever created, skillfully blending a fantastic story with perfectly matched gameplay. It’s a prime example of what Gearbox can achieve when everything clicks, making the franchise incredibly strong. For Borderlands fans, this game sets the standard for everything the series should be, and that’s why it tops this list.

2025-10-08 04:42