The Borderlands franchise is a game series oozing zany fun and absolutely insane, chaotic combat, amassing a generously sized fanbase that has afforded the title enough success to call for sequels, spin-offs, and prequels.

Related
9 Best Spin-Off Games
These spin-off titles could even rival the main entries of the game series they came from.

Each Borderlands game feels different enough to be fun while keeping the vibe fans have come to know and love, bringing in fresh new faces to love or old faces to celebrate the return of. While not every Borderlands game can reach the top, each of them is deserving of the praise gamers heap on them years after they were released.

Updated on December 13, 2023, by Mara Cowley: Borderlands remains one of the best and most influential gaming series of all time, spinning grand tales about Vault Hunters and the futuristic, fictional settings and the epic battles taking place to be the one to open these sacred vaults. It has spawned many games in its series and spin-off titles, and undoubtedly, fans have not seen the last of Borderlands. As such, it is time to revisit this ranking to see which title is truly the best Borderlands game, ensuring every title is included and given the ranking it deserves.

11 Borderlands 2: Commander Lilith And The Fight For Sanctuary

Metacritic Score: N/A

Borderlands 2_ Commander Lilith and the Fight For Sanctuary
  • Released: June 9, 2019
  • Developer: Gearbox Software
  • Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

This DLC for the smashing success of Borderlands 2, Commander Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary adds new missions, locations, and loot for fans of the game to strap in and enjoy. Sanctuary is under attack, the Vault Map has been stolen, and Pandora has been poisoned by a noxious gas. It is up to the player to try and remedy all of this, taking on the roles of Lilith and the Crimson Raiders to defend the planet.

All of this sounds fine in theory, but this DLC made many fans feel cheated by the fact that character level 80 was locked behind a paid DLC. This otherwise would have been a well-received DLC, as its fun and familiar gameplay is praised, as are the new levels and fights.

10 Borderlands Legends

Metacritic Score: 52

Collage Maker-09-Mar-2023-05-04-PM-163

  • Released: October 23, 2012
  • Developer: Gearbox Software
  • Platforms: iOS

Borderlands Legends is a spin-off title most players wouldn't expect, as it brings characters and gameplay fans know and love to the mobile phone platform. Its release coincided with that of the much anticipated Borderlands 2, which overshadowed the release of this mobile game tie-in.

While the gameplay was heralded as fun by many of its players, there was a glaring lack of content which meant that the game could grow stale pretty fast. Nevertheless, it served as a good drop-in drop-out style game that could definitely help players while away some hours doing something fun without requiring much thought or concentration on the players' end.

9 New Tales from the Borderlands

Metacritic Score: 69

new tales from the borderlands intro
New Tales From the Borderlands

Platform(s)
PC , Switch , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
Released
October 21, 2022
Developer(s)
Gearbox Software
Genre(s)
Adventure

Borderlands' foray into the world of episodic games came in the form of Tales from the Borderlands, the fame and popularity of the first quickly resulting in a demand for more. New Tales from the Borderlands was the answer, bringing a new tale as three plucky people, Anu, Octavio, and Fran, try to change the world.

It lacked a lot of the charm and genuine humor of the original TFTB, resulting in a lot of cringe dialogue and characters that some players could not get invested with. But, this episodic game still holds a narrative that players can influence. Hardcore Borderlands fans should still give it a try, to experience some more previously untold tales.

8 Borderlands 2 VR

Metacritic Score: 72

Zero fighting aliens

Borderlands 2 VR
Platform(s)
PS4
Developer(s)
Gearbox Software
Publisher(s)
2K
Genre(s)
First-Person Shooter

Borderlands 2 alone is a fantastic entry in the series, bringing back the familiar feel and gameplay with a whole host of new characters and adventures to dive into on the world of Pandora. And like most games that gain enough notoriety and fans, a VR version was soon put into development and released for PlayStation and PC VR headsets.

However, the VR version of Borderlands 2 was not heaped with the praise the base game was. Some players pointed out a lot of flaws with the VR controls, and the removal of co-op play was seen as heresy to hardcore Borderlands fans. But, players who enjoyed the second game and are curious to experience it in a VR setting will still find fun to be had here.

7 Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

Metacritic Score: 75

Claptrap at the front of a group shot of the Vault Hunters from Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!
Platform(s)
PS4 , PS3 , Xbox One , Xbox 360 , Switch , PC
Developer(s)
Gearbox Software
Genre(s)
FPS
Publisher(s)
2K Games

The head-scratchingly named Pre Sequel is a Borderlands game set between the first and second game, telling a new tale featuring old characters that were non-playable before, and bosses that fans might recognize from games they have already played.

The game follows the story of Helios employee Jack (yes, that Jack) as he fights to free Helios from the clutches of an enemy faction called the Lost Legion, and also gain access to the Vault on Elpis, Pandora's moon before anyone else does. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is unique in terms of characters and level design, but the plot and core gameplay mechanics remain the same as previous titles. But if it's not broken, why fix it?

6 Tiny Tina's Wonderlands

Metacritic Score: 78

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands image
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands

Platform(s)
PS5 , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One , PC
Released
March 25, 2022
Developer(s)
Gearbox Software
Genre(s)
Action RPG , FPS

Tiny Tina has become a much-loved character in the Borderlands franchise, bringing some truly fun and unique adventures in her spinoff games that revolve around a fantasy-themed TTRPG a la Dungeons and Dragons.

Related
Video Games To Play If You Love Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons inspired countless CRPGs over the years, but which games should a fan of the Tabletop franchise try?

In typical Borderlands fashion, the game features first-person shooting gameplay mechanics, but there are some divergences from the main series, such as the players controlling characters that differ from the vault hunters they might expect, with fully realized personalities and unique voice lines. Players can mix and match the characters' abilities and powers, and level them up using hero points. As far as Borderlands games go, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a truly unique game that will offer something refreshingly different without being too different from the series they know and love.

5 Borderlands 3

Metacritic Score: 81

borderlands-3-handsome-jackpot-moxxi-close-up
Borderlands 3

Released
September 13, 2019
Developer(s)
Gearbox Software
Genre(s)
First-Person Shooter , Action , RPG

The much anticipated Borderlands 3 was released in 2019, bringing a fantastic new story set in the world of Pandora, bringing in a squad of new playable characters as well as bringing back faces from previous titles such as sirens Lilith and Maya from Borderlands and Borderlands 2 respectively. In this game, players must protect the vaults from the dangerous twins Troy and Tyreen, who are hoping to possess whatever lies in the Great Vault.

Fans of the previous Borderlands games will find very little to dislike, as it brings in much-loved gameplay mechanics from previous entries and fan-favorite characters. Though the twins can't match the stage presence of the megalomaniac Handsome Jack they are still threatening enough the players feel the strain of the threat they possess, and Borderlands 3 remains a game deserving of much praise, especially following on from the success of its predecessor.

4 Borderlands 2: Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep

Metacritic Score: 86

Screenshot guy pointing to plant.
  • Released: June 25, 2013
  • Developer: Gearbox Software
  • Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Combining Borderlands with a rip-off D&D game is something that definitely is a unique idea, and serves as a basis for this standalone DLC campaign, Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep. Though an expansion for the second game, its uniqueness definitely means that it is a game in its own right.

Tiny Tina takes on the role of Games Master, narrating the adventure as the Borderlands characters players are familiar with play through her game. It continues the looting shooting gameplay but also brings in some platforming and puzzles, which some Borderlands fans might be unaccustomed to, and see as an unwelcome interruption to the expected gameplay.

3 Borderlands

Metacritic Score: 84

Borderlands 4 lilith psycho
  • Released: October 20, 2009
  • Developer: Gearbox Software
  • Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

The game that started it all: the very first Borderlands. Released in 2009, it was a truly one-of-a-kind cyberpunk game that laid the groundwork for the games that would follow, from the playable four main characters, each a unique class with their own abilities, and the stories of Vault Hunters scouring Pandora and other planets in hopes of hunting down one of the illusive vaults.

In the distant future, mega-corporations vie for control of planets to mine them of their resources, with Atlas in the lead after they uncovered a Vault filled with alien technology that put them ahead in the tech race. Now everyone is searching for these Vaults, including the four playable characters Lilith, Brick, Mordecai, and Roland.

2 Tales From The Borderlands

Metacritic Score: 85

Tales from the Borderlands
  • Released: November 25, 2014 (first episode)
  • Developer: Telltale Games
  • Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch

There are very few Borderlands fans who have looked at their series and wished it got the Telltale treatment, as the 2K game varies vastly in terms of gameplay from Telltales' episodic adventures. And yet, that is exactly what fans got in the form of Tales from the Borderlands. It came as a pleasant surprise, with a fascinating story to follow, a colorful cast of characters, and plenty of Borderlands-esque humor to enjoy.

Related
The 29 Best Telltale Games, Ranked
The best Telltale Games titles provide players with thought-provoking narratives and interactive excellence that few other developers can match.

Tales from the Borderlands put players into the shoes of Rhys, a Hyperion employee, and Fiona, a conwoman. Along with Vaughn (Rhys's best friend) and Sasha (Fiona's younger sister), they find themselves thrown together in unlikely partnerships to hunt vaults and survive. While it diverges greatly from the gameplay fans expected, it is a great, unforgettable, and hilarious experience that fans should not sleep on, as they might find it more enjoyable than some entries in the main series.

1 Borderlands 2

Metacritic Score: 89

Borderlands 2
Borderlands 2

Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , PS3 , macOS , Linux , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , PS Vita , Android , Switch
Released
September 18, 2012
Developer(s)
Gearbox Software
Genre(s)
Shooter

Borderlands laid down the groundwork, but Borderlands 2 perfected it. Hailed as one of the greatest games in the entire series, it is no surprise as to why. Though it does bring back very familiar stories with a Vault in need of looting and old settings in the form of the world of Pandora, it brought in one of the game's greatest villains in the form of Handsome Jack. Though not the protagonist himself, he definitely outshines the hero with his stage presence and charisma.

Five years after the events of Borderlands, Pandora is known under the iron fist of the tyrannical Handsome Jack who rules it from his space station Helios. Rumors have started circling about a large Vault, and now it's a race to see who can find it and plunder its contents first. Thrilling, fast-paced, and action-packed, Borderlands 2 is everything a Borderlands game should be.

borderlands-series-game-franchise
Borderlands

Video Game(s)
Borderlands , Borderlands 2 , Borderlands 3 , Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! , Tiny Tina's Wonderlands , Tales From The Borderlands
Creation Year
2009