Borderlands started as a film in theaters but did not do particularly well. Therefore, we look at the games: MeinMMO author Max Handwerk ranks six games from the series.
How was this list created? This list of the best Borderlands games is based on the author’s personal opinion and experiences with the games. Critics’ scores and similar factors do not play a role here at first.
If your ranking looks different: Let us know in the comments!
Which games are missing? Two games from the Borderlands series are missing from this list because the author has not played them yet.
- Borderlands: Legends, the iOS game from 2012
- New Tales from the Borderlands, the Tales sequel from 2022
You can find the other six games here in the ranking! And if you wanted to read something about the film, you can find here the film review of Borderlands by MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes.
6. Tales from the Borderlands
Release: 2014
That a strong game like Tales from the Borderlands lands in last place in the ranking shows how strong the game series is overall. The spin-off from Telltale Games impressed with an entertainingly told story – a point that not every Borderlands installment has fulfilled as well.
The gameplay is also fun, but it is far from the actual Borderlands DNA. Instead of plowing through hordes of enemies with skills and weapons, “Tales” relies on many cutscenes, player decisions, and a kind of point-and-click system.
This is really enjoyable, but it mainly serves to guide you through the story. Personally, I play Borderlands mainly for the action-packed combat system in conjunction with looting and leveling. Therefore, there is only room for “Tales” in the last place.
5. Borderlands
Release: 2009
This game started it all – correspondingly, it is quite old by now. When the first Borderlands was released in 2009, I wasn’t allowed to play it at my then 15 years old.
Accordingly, it took a little while before I tried it for the first time. Nevertheless, I was completely thrilled by the vault hunting on Pandora. I played the game with Mordecai and his hawk, and was immediately thrilled by the wild fights and even more by the split-screen mode.
No other shooter series can be played as well on one screen as Borderlands. That is also what originally drew me into the game.
Borderlands was a perfect entry point that I do not want to miss. However, both in terms of story and gameplay, it has simply been surpassed later – which is actually a good thing for a foundation for a game series.
4. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
Release: 2014
A perhaps underrated part, simply for the reason that there is no large number behind the name “Borderlands”. The spin-off does not fall short of the main games at all. On the contrary: It brings a very cool set of vault hunters and has its own ideas in tow, like low gravity. Thus, the Pre-Sequel stands out a bit from the other games in terms of gameplay speed.
The story is really worth playing, as you can almost follow live how Handsome Jack becomes the grand villain that he was supposed to be in Borderlands 2. Additionally, a Claptrap model is playable, whose action skill can randomly trigger various effects – sometimes better, sometimes worse. To this day, one of my favorite vault hunters.
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