Game · in order
Borderlands Games in Order
All six core Borderlands games in release and chronological order. The Pre-Sequel released in 2014 but is set between Borderlands 1 and 2, so the two orders differ.
Borderlands Games in Order — complete list
Check off what you've finished — it saves automatically · See all your lists → ·
Why this order?
Borderlands is Gearbox's gun-toting looter-shooter built around cel-shaded carnage, billions of randomized weapons, and the hunt for alien Vaults on the wasteland planet Pandora. For most newcomers, release order is the cleanest way in: it follows the studio's growing ambitions, mirrors how the writing and humor matured, and means Claptrap's running jokes and recurring villains land in the order they were designed to.
The wrinkle that trips people up is Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. It shipped in 2014, two years after Borderlands 2, but its story is set before Borderlands 2, filling in how Handsome Jack rose to power and how the moon Elpis figures into the war. That is why we offer a chronological order: Borderlands, then The Pre-Sequel, then Borderlands 2. If you care about following the timeline of events rather than the publication dates, that sequence makes Jack's arc and the bigger plot reveals hit harder.
Tales from the Borderlands sits apart from the rest. It is a Telltale Games narrative adventure built on choices and dialogue rather than loot and gunplay, set after Borderlands 2 and before Borderlands 3. It is optional for the shooting-focused player but rewarding for anyone invested in the characters, and Borderlands 3 (2019) directly acknowledges its cast.
Worth flagging: the 2024 live-action Borderlands film, directed by Eli Roth, is a separate adaptation and is not part of the game continuity. If you are coming from other Gearbox or 2K worlds, Borderlands shares looter-shooter DNA with Destiny and the spirit of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, its own fantasy-themed spin-off. Either order works; chronological just untangles The Pre-Sequel.
Timeline 2009–2025
Every entry plotted by release year — see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
How many Borderlands games are there?
There are six core Borderlands games: Borderlands (2009), Borderlands 2 (2012), Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014), Tales from the Borderlands (2014), Borderlands 3 (2019), and Borderlands 4 (2025). Spin-offs like Tiny Tina's Wonderlands exist but sit outside the numbered series.
What order should I play Borderlands in?
For most players, release order is best: Borderlands, Borderlands 2, The Pre-Sequel, Tales from the Borderlands, Borderlands 3, then Borderlands 4. If you prefer following the story timeline, play The Pre-Sequel before Borderlands 2 instead, since it is set earlier.
Where does The Pre-Sequel fit in the timeline?
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel released in 2014 but is set between the first Borderlands and Borderlands 2. It details Handsome Jack's rise to power, so chronologically it belongs before Borderlands 2 even though it came out after it.
Do I need to play Tales from the Borderlands?
It is optional. Tales from the Borderlands is a Telltale narrative adventure with choices and dialogue rather than looting and shooting. It is not required, but it is set between Borderlands 2 and 3 and its characters appear in Borderlands 3.
Is the Borderlands movie part of the game series?
No. The 2024 live-action Borderlands film, directed by Eli Roth, is a separate adaptation. It is not part of the game continuity and does not need to be watched to understand the games.
Can I skip the first Borderlands and start with Borderlands 2?
Yes. Many players start with Borderlands 2 because it is widely considered the best entry and explains its own setup. Still, the original Borderlands establishes Pandora and the Vault premise that the rest of the series builds on.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
← Browse all orders