Over the years, Borderlands has grown into one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. From its cel-shaded art style and gun-crazed Psycho mascot to its trademark mix of looter-shooter chaos and crude humor, it’s become a pop-culture staple. Beyond games, the series has expanded into comics, novels, and even a recent Eli Roth–directed film adaptation.
With Borderlands 4 set to launch on September 12, 2025, now’s the perfect time to revisit Pandora (and beyond) to see how it all fits together. Whether you’re brand-new to the series or looking for a refresher, here’s a breakdown of the main Borderlands games in both chronological and release order.
How Many Borderlands Games Are There?
There are seven canon games in the Borderlands universe, plus two smaller non-canon titles (Borderlands: Vault Hunter Pinball and Borderlands Legends).
Where Should You Start?
If you’re new, the safest entry point is still Borderlands (2009). It introduces the universe, tone, and Vault Hunters while setting up the saga that runs across every sequel. That said, the core trilogy (Borderlands 1–3) can each stand on their own if you only care about gameplay.
Borderlands Games in Chronological Order
1. Borderlands (2009)
The original Vault Hunters—Lilith, Roland, Brick, and Mordecai—head to Pandora in search of the mythical Vault. The game’s mix of RPG mechanics, co-op, and near-endless loot drops launched the looter-shooter genre into the spotlight.
2. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014)
Set between Borderlands 1 and 2, this spin-off follows Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha, and Claptrap on Pandora’s moon, Elpis. Most importantly, it chronicles Handsome Jack’s rise to power, turning him into the villain players face in Borderlands 2.
3. Borderlands 2 (2012)
Arguably, the fan favorite. Maya, Zer0, Axton, and Salvador take the fight to Handsome Jack, delivering a tighter story, bigger world, and even more absurd guns. Its expansions remain some of the best in the series.
4. Tales From the Borderlands (2014–2015)
Telltale’s episodic adventure swaps out Vault Hunters for con artists Rhys and Fiona, weaving a choice-driven narrative that still feeds into the mainline series. Many of its characters resurface in later games.
5. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (2022)
What started as a DLC for Borderlands 2 (Assault on Dragon Keep) became a full fantasy spin-off. Tina runs the show as dungeon master in this guns-and-goblins RPG hybrid.
6. Borderlands 3 (2019)
A new cast—Amara, Zane, FL4K, and Moze—faces the Calypso twins, Tyreen and Troy, in a galaxy-spanning adventure. It introduces multiple planets to explore while keeping the loot-driven chaos intact.
7. New Tales From the Borderlands (2022)
Gearbox’s narrative sequel introduces Anu, Octavio, and Fran in a story that pits them against the Tediore corporation. Like the first Tales, choices matter here.
8. Borderlands 4 (2025)
Launching September 12, 2025, the fourth mainline entry takes place on the new planet Kairos and picks up after Borderlands 3. Details remain under wraps until release, but Gearbox promises revamped RPG mechanics, new Vault Hunters, and a more grounded tone.
Borderlands Games in Release Order
- Borderlands (2009)
- Borderlands 2 (2012)
- Borderlands Legends (2012) – non-canon
- 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) – non-canon
- Borderlands 4 (2025)
What’s Next for Borderlands?
Beyond Borderlands 4, publisher Take-Two has signaled that the franchise is a long-term focus following its acquisition of Gearbox. That means more expansions, more spin-offs, and—if the movie is any indication—likely more cross-media projects too.
