Best Borderlands games: Full series ranked in time for Borderlands 4

A series that started over 15 years ago and spawned multiple games and spin-offs, The Borderlands series is still going strong. With Borderlands 4 just released, the franchise now sees its seventh game in the series. While the mainline Borderlands games are all looter-shooters, there are a few spin-offs that tackle different genres too. 

There were loot-based games before, and there were shooters. However, Borderlands successfully combined the best of both worlds and really helped define the looter-shooter genre. Borderlands 4’s release date is here, but it’s too early to include it, so with that in mind, we take a look back at the series and rank each entry.

The Escapist recaps

• There are four mainline looter-shooters in the Borderlands series.
• Two additional Telltale, story-driven Borderlands games were also released. 
• The main games are a mix of RPGs and shooters, revolving around loot-based builds. 
• The series’ main hook is a thrilling story campaign and four-player co-op. 
• Borderlands 4 was released on September 11, 2025.

All Borderlands games ranked

8. Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep

Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure might have a long name, but it’s one of the shortest Borderlands games. It’s the standalone version of the fourth DLC for Borderlands 2. The game doesn’t require the base game to play and is a small slice of fantasy looting and shooting. 

After Borderlands 2 ends, Tiny Tina gathers the Vault Hunters from the first game and plays a game of Bunkers and Badasses. This is Pandora’s version of Dungeons and Dragons, so there is a lot of fantasy along with the usual serving of guns and grenades.

7. New Tales from Borderlands 

Seeing the New Tales from Borderlands game trailer was a surprise, coinciding with Telltale Games’ demise. A sequel to the well-received 2014 point-and-click adventure, New Tales had a lot of potential. While it doesn’t reach the same highs as the first game, it still boasts a well-written narrative that will capture your attention. 

It’s a simple-to-play game that can pique the interest of any non-gamer in the series. The voice acting and animation are stellar, bringing the entire story to life with some laugh-out-loud moments. The game is also a fun title to play on a portable PC, like the Steam Deck. 

6. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel 

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel remains the only game not developed by Gearbox. While not a terrible game, it didn’t sit well with many fans. To make matters worse, the story had no impact and was inconsequential to the wider narrative. Many dubbed it a placeholder until a true Borderlands sequel arrived.

The space mechanic was unique, requiring Vault Hunters to manage their oxygen supply strategically. The jumping mechanic is now making its way to Borderlands 4, too. The narrative delves into Handsome Jack’s origins, providing additional details to his villainous arc. The lack of a proper endgame sealed the fate of The Pre-Sequel. 

5. Borderlands 3

Borderlands 3 introduced numerous improvements to the series. It removed the “Slag” element from the game, had an extensive endgame, and had substantial DLC support. However, it also forgot what made the earlier games so great. Co-op performance just wasn’t given the care it had previously enjoyed on consoles, and the PC port also struggled to keep a steady frame rate.

Most importantly, where Borderlands 2 shone with its writing and antagonist, Borderlands 3 failed to provide anything as engaging as Handsome Jack. The Calypso Twins weren’t as impactful, and the humor didn’t land well. Thankfully, Gearbox is making changes, and fans are excited for Borderlands 4.

4. Tiny Tina’s Wonderland 

Tiny Tina’s Wonderland is the first game that lets you make your own Vault Hunter. It also made melee a staple in every character’s arsenal. The magic-themed adventure takes place in a D&D-like imagination, which makes it a lot more wacky and fun than regular Borderlands. The cast included comedic actors like Andy Samberg and Will Arnett, lending to the humor.

With spells replacing grenades and guns becoming magical, Tiny Tina’s Wonderland went all-in with its medieval magical theme. It’s a shorter experience, with nothing to really grind for, so the fan base quickly moved on. However, as a one-shot Borderlands title, Tiny Tina’s Wonderland delivered all the hits. 

3. Borderlands 

The first game that started it all, Borderlands, remains among the best adventures in the series. Despite its humble-looking visuals, by today’s standards, and less explosive gameplay, the first Borderlands is still very playable. It’s also still the best entry point.

Borderlands had four unique Vault Hunters (characters) who play very differently from each other. Combine that with local co-op, and you have a game that’s perfect for single-console, multiple-controller hangouts. The game had a more serious tone compared to what came after, but still had that classic humor bubbling beneath the surface. 

2. Tales from the Borderlands 

Tales from the Borderlands is not a typical Borderlands game. There is no shooting or looting involved in this game. However, it more than makes up for the lack of action with great narrative and genuinely well-written characters. By the end of the game, you will fall in love with Pandora and its inhabitants. 

The point-and-click adventure involves four Vault Hunters going on a fun wild goose chase. The graphics are in typical Borderlands cell-shaded style, which helps it feel like part of the universe. Telltale Games didn’t just make a hilarious Borderlands game; they made one of the funniest games ever. Will Borderlands 4 top it? That remains to be seen. 

1. Borderlands 2 

Borderlands 2 is one of the rare sequels in video games that refined, polished, and improved the first game’s formula in every way. The game shaped its own identity; the looter-shooter core remained intact, but the game incorporated more humor and heart. The gameplay loop was so addictive that it created a whole genre centered around chasing shiny loot in first-person view. 

The game had great visuals, creative playable characters, and a genuinely fun mission structure. Apart from the “Slag” boiling the endgame to specific viable builds, it was a fantastic experience. The DLC characters also added replayability to an already massive game. Krieg the Psycho remains one of the best Borderlands characters to date. 

This is the game where the series really arrived and cemented itself, and remains the best entry in the Borderlands franchise to date.

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