First off: I can fundamentally recommend Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands to any fans of the Borderlands series. It offers the familiar gameplay loop, crazy stories, and exaggerated skill and weapon combos.
However, this strongly depends on whether you can get along with the fantasy setting in the Borderlands style. And whether you are ready for more Borderlands.
I consciously skipped Borderlands 3. After heavy grinding in Borderlands 2 and an extensive excursion into the “Pre-Sequel,” I was oversaturated with the usual Borderlands mechanics.
Wonderlands is unique due to its setting but does not redefine the Borderlands wheel.
I would have liked a bit more innovation, a special twist that refreshes the gameplay. For example, flight-like movement as in Destiny.
That worked incredibly well in the Pre-Sequel and would have been a strong addition for Wonderlands. It brings a completely different gameplay feeling and could have redefined Borderlands battles along with the spell attacks.
Overall, however, I am satisfied with the experience and had a good time in the game. Tiny Tina is a wonderful character who brings an exciting dynamic to the story with her controlled madness.
I found the main campaign to be too predictable. However, this is more than balanced out by the side quests.
I am actually looking forward to the endgame when I tackle Wonderlands again after the release. I definitely want to push the singularity build to the maximum and burn dozens of enemies in the air.
If I can then manage to timely hand in the rot essence for the next quest, I can finally and deservedly be knighted by the honorable Queen Arschgaul into the knight of the realm.
Maik Schneider Freelance author at MeinMMO
In addition to the equipment with active effects, there are also defensive equipments with passive bonuses – 2 rings, an amulet, and armor. High-quality armors provide skill points for the skill trees of different classes.
The Endgame – Chaos Without End
After the last boss yielded to my power, I unlocked the “Chambers of Chaos.” These are random-generated dungeons that provide me with new battles repeatedly.
There are normal and extended runs that differ only in length. Then there’s the feature run and the chaos trials.
Feature run is the same for all players, and achievements can be compared
Chaos trials increase the chaos level to raise the overall difficulty of the world
At the end of a run, there are exciting statistics
At the end, there is always one of the bosses from the game waiting for you. In my test run, it was even the last boss fight that I had just played. With joy, I kicked the Halfcock again in his imaginative genitalia.
If the game should throw more obstacles in my way, I can increase the chaos level. More chaos means tougher enemies, more loot, and modifiers that influence the gameplay – in all areas.
However, the best loot can be found in the Chambers of Chaos. I collect crystals during the runs, which I hand over to the Bunny statues at the end as proof of my submission.
Bunnies provide targeted loot
This gives me targeted loot because all bunnies represent one equipment item each. If I want to farm armor or a specific weapon type, that is now possible.
In between, I can increase the difficulty of a run through curses and thus scoop more crystals. If I want it a bit easier, I can use crystals to enhance certain attributes of my build.
We talked to the developers about the endgame, and you can find more details in our article:
At the maximum level of 40, you unlock the “mythos rank”. Collected experience points can be transformed into further small boosts for my attributes.
Furthermore, after completing the campaign, an additional currency is introduced – moon orbs. These can be used to reroll specific attributes of equipment parts.
The endgame thus focuses on perfecting my outrageous builds and does not include different endgame activities like in Borderlands 3. There is also no New Game+ in the game.
Pros, Cons, and Personal Conclusion
To conclude our little journey into the confused mind of a 14-year-old game master with psychotic tendencies, I would like to give you a small insight into my overall thoughts on Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.
Fantastic effect fireworks thanks to crazy builds and skill combos
Very good German voice acting and translations
Few bugs, almost no performance issues
Contra
Replaying value depends on whether you want to try out multiple classes
Campaign story is not a showstopper
Few innovations or experiments – except for the setting
Conclusion: Expectations met, but not exceeded
First off: I can fundamentally recommend Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands to any fans of the Borderlands series. It offers the familiar gameplay loop, crazy stories, and exaggerated skill and weapon combos.
However, this strongly depends on whether you can get along with the fantasy setting in the Borderlands style. And whether you are ready for more Borderlands.
I consciously skipped Borderlands 3. After heavy grinding in Borderlands 2 and an extensive excursion into the “Pre-Sequel,” I was oversaturated with the usual Borderlands mechanics.
Wonderlands is unique due to its setting but does not redefine the Borderlands wheel.
I would have liked a bit more innovation, a special twist that refreshes the gameplay. For example, flight-like movement as in Destiny.
That worked incredibly well in the Pre-Sequel and would have been a strong addition for Wonderlands. It brings a completely different gameplay feeling and could have redefined Borderlands battles along with the spell attacks.
Overall, however, I am satisfied with the experience and had a good time in the game. Tiny Tina is a wonderful character who brings an exciting dynamic to the story with her controlled madness.
I found the main campaign to be too predictable. However, this is more than balanced out by the side quests.
I am actually looking forward to the endgame when I tackle Wonderlands again after the release. I definitely want to push the singularity build to the maximum and burn dozens of enemies in the air.
If I can then manage to timely hand in the rot essence for the next quest, I can finally and deservedly be knighted by the honorable Queen Arschgaul into the knight of the realm.
Maik Schneider Freelance author at MeinMMO
I am actually looking forward to the endgame when I tackle Wonderlands again after the release. I definitely want to push the singularity build to the maximum and burn dozens of enemies in the air.
If I can then manage to timely hand in the rot essence for the next quest, I can finally and deservedly be knighted by the honorable Queen Arschgaul into the knight of the realm.
Maik Schneider Freelance author at MeinMMO
In addition to the equipment with active effects, there are also defensive equipments with passive bonuses – 2 rings, an amulet, and armor. High-quality armors provide skill points for the skill trees of different classes.
The Endgame – Chaos Without End
After the last boss yielded to my power, I unlocked the “Chambers of Chaos.” These are random-generated dungeons that provide me with new battles repeatedly.
There are normal and extended runs that differ only in length. Then there’s the feature run and the chaos trials.
Feature run is the same for all players, and achievements can be compared
Chaos trials increase the chaos level to raise the overall difficulty of the world
At the end of a run, there are exciting statistics
At the end, there is always one of the bosses from the game waiting for you. In my test run, it was even the last boss fight that I had just played. With joy, I kicked the Halfcock again in his imaginative genitalia.
If the game should throw more obstacles in my way, I can increase the chaos level. More chaos means tougher enemies, more loot, and modifiers that influence the gameplay – in all areas.
However, the best loot can be found in the Chambers of Chaos. I collect crystals during the runs, which I hand over to the Bunny statues at the end as proof of my submission.
Bunnies provide targeted loot
This gives me targeted loot because all bunnies represent one equipment item each. If I want to farm armor or a specific weapon type, that is now possible.
In between, I can increase the difficulty of a run through curses and thus scoop more crystals. If I want it a bit easier, I can use crystals to enhance certain attributes of my build.
We talked to the developers about the endgame, and you can find more details in our article:
At the maximum level of 40, you unlock the “mythos rank”. Collected experience points can be transformed into further small boosts for my attributes.
Furthermore, after completing the campaign, an additional currency is introduced – moon orbs. These can be used to reroll specific attributes of equipment parts.
The endgame thus focuses on perfecting my outrageous builds and does not include different endgame activities like in Borderlands 3. There is also no New Game+ in the game.
Pros, Cons, and Personal Conclusion
To conclude our little journey into the confused mind of a 14-year-old game master with psychotic tendencies, I would like to give you a small insight into my overall thoughts on Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.
Fantastic effect fireworks thanks to crazy builds and skill combos
Very good German voice acting and translations
Few bugs, almost no performance issues
Contra
Replaying value depends on whether you want to try out multiple classes
Campaign story is not a showstopper
Few innovations or experiments – except for the setting
Conclusion: Expectations met, but not exceeded
First off: I can fundamentally recommend Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands to any fans of the Borderlands series. It offers the familiar gameplay loop, crazy stories, and exaggerated skill and weapon combos.
However, this strongly depends on whether you can get along with the fantasy setting in the Borderlands style. And whether you are ready for more Borderlands.
I consciously skipped Borderlands 3. After heavy grinding in Borderlands 2 and an extensive excursion into the “Pre-Sequel,” I was oversaturated with the usual Borderlands mechanics.
Wonderlands is unique due to its setting but does not redefine the Borderlands wheel.
I would have liked a bit more innovation, a special twist that refreshes the gameplay. For example, flight-like movement as in Destiny.
That worked incredibly well in the Pre-Sequel and would have been a strong addition for Wonderlands. It brings a completely different gameplay feeling and could have redefined Borderlands battles along with the spell attacks.
Overall, however, I am satisfied with the experience and had a good time in the game. Tiny Tina is a wonderful character who brings an exciting dynamic to the story with her controlled madness.
I found the main campaign to be too predictable. However, this is more than balanced out by the side quests.
I am actually looking forward to the endgame when I tackle Wonderlands again after the release. I definitely want to push the singularity build to the maximum and burn dozens of enemies in the air.
If I can then manage to timely hand in the rot essence for the next quest, I can finally and deservedly be knighted by the honorable Queen Arschgaul into the knight of the realm.
Maik Schneider Freelance author at MeinMMO
First off: I can fundamentally recommend Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands to any fans of the Borderlands series. It offers the familiar gameplay loop, crazy stories, and exaggerated skill and weapon combos.
However, this strongly depends on whether you can get along with the fantasy setting in the Borderlands style. And whether you are ready for more Borderlands.
I consciously skipped Borderlands 3. After heavy grinding in Borderlands 2 and an extensive excursion into the “Pre-Sequel,” I was oversaturated with the usual Borderlands mechanics.
Wonderlands is unique due to its setting but does not redefine the Borderlands wheel.
I would have liked a bit more innovation, a special twist that refreshes the gameplay. For example, flight-like movement as in Destiny.
That worked incredibly well in the Pre-Sequel and would have been a strong addition for Wonderlands. It brings a completely different gameplay feeling and could have redefined Borderlands battles along with the spell attacks.
Overall, however, I am satisfied with the experience and had a good time in the game. Tiny Tina is a wonderful character who brings an exciting dynamic to the story with her controlled madness.
I found the main campaign to be too predictable. However, this is more than balanced out by the side quests.
I am actually looking forward to the endgame when I tackle Wonderlands again after the release. I definitely want to push the singularity build to the maximum and burn dozens of enemies in the air.
If I can then manage to timely hand in the rot essence for the next quest, I can finally and deservedly be knighted by the honorable Queen Arschgaul into the knight of the realm.
Maik Schneider Freelance author at MeinMMO
In addition to the equipment with active effects, there are also defensive equipments with passive bonuses – 2 rings, an amulet, and armor. High-quality armors provide skill points for the skill trees of different classes.
The Endgame – Chaos Without End
After the last boss yielded to my power, I unlocked the “Chambers of Chaos.” These are random-generated dungeons that provide me with new battles repeatedly.
There are normal and extended runs that differ only in length. Then there’s the feature run and the chaos trials.
Feature run is the same for all players, and achievements can be compared
Chaos trials increase the chaos level to raise the overall difficulty of the world
At the end of a run, there are exciting statistics
At the end, there is always one of the bosses from the game waiting for you. In my test run, it was even the last boss fight that I had just played. With joy, I kicked the Halfcock again in his imaginative genitalia.
If the game should throw more obstacles in my way, I can increase the chaos level. More chaos means tougher enemies, more loot, and modifiers that influence the gameplay – in all areas.
However, the best loot can be found in the Chambers of Chaos. I collect crystals during the runs, which I hand over to the Bunny statues at the end as proof of my submission.
Bunnies provide targeted loot
This gives me targeted loot because all bunnies represent one equipment item each. If I want to farm armor or a specific weapon type, that is now possible.
In between, I can increase the difficulty of a run through curses and thus scoop more crystals. If I want it a bit easier, I can use crystals to enhance certain attributes of my build.
We talked to the developers about the endgame, and you can find more details in our article:
At the maximum level of 40, you unlock the “mythos rank”. Collected experience points can be transformed into further small boosts for my attributes.
Furthermore, after completing the campaign, an additional currency is introduced – moon orbs. These can be used to reroll specific attributes of equipment parts.
The endgame thus focuses on perfecting my outrageous builds and does not include different endgame activities like in Borderlands 3. There is also no New Game+ in the game.
Pros, Cons, and Personal Conclusion
To conclude our little journey into the confused mind of a 14-year-old game master with psychotic tendencies, I would like to give you a small insight into my overall thoughts on Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.
Fantastic effect fireworks thanks to crazy builds and skill combos
Very good German voice acting and translations
Few bugs, almost no performance issues
Contra
Replaying value depends on whether you want to try out multiple classes
Campaign story is not a showstopper
Few innovations or experiments – except for the setting
Conclusion: Expectations met, but not exceeded
First off: I can fundamentally recommend Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands to any fans of the Borderlands series. It offers the familiar gameplay loop, crazy stories, and exaggerated skill and weapon combos.
However, this strongly depends on whether you can get along with the fantasy setting in the Borderlands style. And whether you are ready for more Borderlands.
I consciously skipped Borderlands 3. After heavy grinding in Borderlands 2 and an extensive excursion into the “Pre-Sequel,” I was oversaturated with the usual Borderlands mechanics.
Wonderlands is unique due to its setting but does not redefine the Borderlands wheel.
I would have liked a bit more innovation, a special twist that refreshes the gameplay. For example, flight-like movement as in Destiny.
That worked incredibly well in the Pre-Sequel and would have been a strong addition for Wonderlands. It brings a completely different gameplay feeling and could have redefined Borderlands battles along with the spell attacks.
Overall, however, I am satisfied with the experience and had a good time in the game. Tiny Tina is a wonderful character who brings an exciting dynamic to the story with her controlled madness.
I found the main campaign to be too predictable. However, this is more than balanced out by the side quests.
I am actually looking forward to the endgame when I tackle Wonderlands again after the release. I definitely want to push the singularity build to the maximum and burn dozens of enemies in the air.
If I can then manage to timely hand in the rot essence for the next quest, I can finally and deservedly be knighted by the honorable Queen Arschgaul into the knight of the realm.
Maik Schneider Freelance author at MeinMMO
I am actually looking forward to the endgame when I tackle Wonderlands again after the release. I definitely want to push the singularity build to the maximum and burn dozens of enemies in the air.
If I can then manage to timely hand in the rot essence for the next quest, I can finally and deservedly be knighted by the honorable Queen Arschgaul into the knight of the realm.
Maik Schneider Freelance author at MeinMMO
First off: I can fundamentally recommend Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands to any fans of the Borderlands series. It offers the familiar gameplay loop, crazy stories, and exaggerated skill and weapon combos.
However, this strongly depends on whether you can get along with the fantasy setting in the Borderlands style. And whether you are ready for more Borderlands.
I consciously skipped Borderlands 3. After heavy grinding in Borderlands 2 and an extensive excursion into the “Pre-Sequel,” I was oversaturated with the usual Borderlands mechanics.
Wonderlands is unique due to its setting but does not redefine the Borderlands wheel.
I would have liked a bit more innovation, a special twist that refreshes the gameplay. For example, flight-like movement as in Destiny.
That worked incredibly well in the Pre-Sequel and would have been a strong addition for Wonderlands. It brings a completely different gameplay feeling and could have redefined Borderlands battles along with the spell attacks.
Overall, however, I am satisfied with the experience and had a good time in the game. Tiny Tina is a wonderful character who brings an exciting dynamic to the story with her controlled madness.
I found the main campaign to be too predictable. However, this is more than balanced out by the side quests.
I am actually looking forward to the endgame when I tackle Wonderlands again after the release. I definitely want to push the singularity build to the maximum and burn dozens of enemies in the air.
If I can then manage to timely hand in the rot essence for the next quest, I can finally and deservedly be knighted by the honorable Queen Arschgaul into the knight of the realm.
Maik Schneider Freelance author at MeinMMO
In addition to the equipment with active effects, there are also defensive equipments with passive bonuses – 2 rings, an amulet, and armor. High-quality armors provide skill points for the skill trees of different classes.
The Endgame – Chaos Without End
After the last boss yielded to my power, I unlocked the “Chambers of Chaos.” These are random-generated dungeons that provide me with new battles repeatedly.
There are normal and extended runs that differ only in length. Then there’s the feature run and the chaos trials.
Feature run is the same for all players, and achievements can be compared
Chaos trials increase the chaos level to raise the overall difficulty of the world
At the end of a run, there are exciting statistics
At the end, there is always one of the bosses from the game waiting for you. In my test run, it was even the last boss fight that I had just played. With joy, I kicked the Halfcock again in his imaginative genitalia.
If the game should throw more obstacles in my way, I can increase the chaos level. More chaos means tougher enemies, more loot, and modifiers that influence the gameplay – in all areas.
However, the best loot can be found in the Chambers of Chaos. I collect crystals during the runs, which I hand over to the Bunny statues at the end as proof of my submission.
Bunnies provide targeted loot
This gives me targeted loot because all bunnies represent one equipment item each. If I want to farm armor or a specific weapon type, that is now possible.
In between, I can increase the difficulty of a run through curses and thus scoop more crystals. If I want it a bit easier, I can use crystals to enhance certain attributes of my build.
We talked to the developers about the endgame, and you can find more details in our article:
At the maximum level of 40, you unlock the “mythos rank”. Collected experience points can be transformed into further small boosts for my attributes.
Furthermore, after completing the campaign, an additional currency is introduced – moon orbs. These can be used to reroll specific attributes of equipment parts.
The endgame thus focuses on perfecting my outrageous builds and does not include different endgame activities like in Borderlands 3. There is also no New Game+ in the game.
Pros, Cons, and Personal Conclusion
To conclude our little journey into the confused mind of a 14-year-old game master with psychotic tendencies, I would like to give you a small insight into my overall thoughts on Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.
Fantastic effect fireworks thanks to crazy builds and skill combos
Very good German voice acting and translations
Few bugs, almost no performance issues
Contra
Replaying value depends on whether you want to try out multiple classes
Campaign story is not a showstopper
Few innovations or experiments – except for the setting
Conclusion: Expectations met, but not exceeded
First off: I can fundamentally recommend Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands to any fans of the Borderlands series. It offers the familiar gameplay loop, crazy stories, and exaggerated skill and weapon combos.
However, this strongly depends on whether you can get along with the fantasy setting in the Borderlands style. And whether you are ready for more Borderlands.
I consciously skipped Borderlands 3. After heavy grinding in Borderlands 2 and an extensive excursion into the “Pre-Sequel,” I was oversaturated with the usual Borderlands mechanics.
Wonderlands is unique due to its setting but does not redefine the Borderlands wheel.
I would have liked a bit more innovation, a special twist that refreshes the gameplay. For example, flight-like movement as in Destiny.
That worked incredibly well in the Pre-Sequel and would have been a strong addition for Wonderlands. It brings a completely different gameplay feeling and could have redefined Borderlands battles along with the spell attacks.
Overall, however, I am satisfied with the experience and had a good time in the game. Tiny Tina is a wonderful character who brings an exciting dynamic to the story with her controlled madness.
I found the main campaign to be too predictable. However, this is more than balanced out by the side quests.
I am actually looking forward to the endgame when I tackle Wonderlands again after the release. I definitely want to push the singularity build to the maximum and burn dozens of enemies in the air.
If I can then manage to timely hand in the rot essence for the next quest, I can finally and deservedly be knighted by the honorable Queen Arschgaul into the knight of the realm.
Maik Schneider Freelance author at MeinMMO
MeinMMO author Maik Schneider was allowed to play through Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands and experienced a sparkling firework of puns, accompanied by exaggerated spell combos and dark humor. He shares his impressions of the great adventure with Queen Arschgaul.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is the latest installment of the crazy shooter series Borderlands. The spin-off will be released on March 25 and immerses me in a world full of wonders, fantastic creatures, and magical events.
As the “bringer of fate,” I was chosen to defeat the fearsome Dragon Lord and bring peace back to the Wonderlands.
Queen Arschgaul herself gave me the most important task of my brief life as a character from “Bunkers & Badasses.”
The honorable Queen Arschgaul in front of Castle Glorious Hoof
It quickly became clear – even as the main character, I was no more than a side character. Because the real star of the crazy adventure was the ludicrous story, which made me laugh, shake my head, and roll my eyes frequently.
I will tell you about this unusual adventure. Show you what magical power I was able to gain, how I rose to become the savior of all Wonderlands. Why all my expectations were met, yet I still have a few complaints.
More about the author: Maik has been playing shooters since the N64 invented the Z-trigger and is also well-versed in the Borderlands series. At MeinMMO, he usually plays Call of Duty and is recognized as a professional know-it-all for the Battle Royale Warzone.
He has played Borderlands 1 & 2, as well as the Pre-Sequel, extensively. However, he felt burnt out, and the gameplay loop no longer appealed to him. Borderlands 3 didn’t even make it onto his Steam wishlist.
But there was one bright spot – the DLC from Borderlands 2: Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep. His highlight of the entire series. Getting that DLC setting as a complete game is a real treat for him, with fire damage and cooldown bonuses.
To give you a closer look at these wonderful experiences, I will divide the report into several sections:
Now let’s begin the adventure in the Wonderlands. I make sure not to give you any spoilers in my accounts. If you want to check all the release info beforehand, then take a look here:
Wonderful Wonderlands full of wondrous creatures
Borderlands is known for its nonsense, excessive violence, and outrageous puns. Wonderlands also relies on this formula – but it has a great advantage: it is not bound by any “rules.”
Due to the fantasy setting within the framework of the tabletop RPG “Bunkers & Badasses,” any crazy scenario can come to life.
Borderlands has always tested the limits of insanity and tastelessness. In Wonderlands, these borders completely blur.
On my heroic path to battle the grand and powerful antagonist, I visited many wondrous worlds that offered a main quest and several side quests.
The individual areas provide distinct settings. Pirates, swamp creatures, nasty demons – a colorful potpourri of wildly exaggerated characters and enemies.
Crazy encounters are the order of the day
Some are part of the campaign quest and advance the story. Others send you through their own main quests that have nothing to do with the story. However, they all have a big boss waiting for you at the end.
By the way, the German localization is wonderful. The voice actors match their roles very well, and the translations are extremely creative, with Tina being voiced by her usual brilliant voice.
The side quests are the butter in the greasy Wonderlands cake
One side quest that stuck with me involved the “Lümpfe.” Little creatures with perched caps, whose existence is threatened by a plague. Due to the plague, the whole population gradually transforms into so-called “Blues.”
Blue Lümpfe, that is… and of course, the plague was developed by a sexually frustrated wizard.
Dozens of little blue figures attacked me. With a sucking singularity spell, I caused a group cuddle of the painful kind, and the miniature enemies dissolved like effervescent tablets in lukewarm tap water.
Keep going, there are no copyright violations to see here, please move along!
The whole thing was rounded off with an iconic Star Wars quote. By now, I was excitedly rubbing my hands and looking forward to the next steps in my somewhat unusual adventure.
In retrospect, I was most fascinated by the side quests. Overall, the campaign story lived up to its promise of madness.
One crazy idea chases the next, and every bad pun gets topped again; and when I thought it couldn’t get any dumber, the next sarcastic demon was already waiting around the corner.
If you want to learn a bit more about the main quest, then open the spoiler box. I won’t reveal the story, but I will give a brief insight and a little assessment.
Mini-introduction to the campaign
The main story revolves around the dark antagonist, Dragon Lord. He attacks the Castle Glorious Hoof of Queen Arschgaul, and you set out as the bringer of fate to take revenge and thwart the evil plans of the dark lord.
A bit of bloodlust also plays a role.
Overall, the campaign story is a clear “I will smash the villain” story without many surprises, but with a spectacular boss fight at the end that resembles a lightning storm of spell shenanigans.
How long does the campaign last? Since I didn’t know how long this would take, I raced through the story and only dealt with other tasks when the game recommended a higher level.
The campaign can be completed in about 15 hours. However, if you get distracted by anything that sparkles, you could experience multiples of that.
Each Wonderland offers enough quests, adventures, and secrets for you to spend 5 to 7 hours in one area alone. At launch, there are 8 areas – 4 of which are part of the campaign quest. Later, more areas will be added via DLC.
Additionally, there is the time spent in the overworld, which connects all the areas and invites exploration.
You can watch a preview of the DLC in this video:
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands: The Season Pass brings even more monsters and loot
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands: The Season Pass brings even more monsters and loot
The Overworld – Most Innovative Feature in Wonderlands
To emphasize the pen & paper feeling, you chase from one adventure to another in the overworld. Instead of just moving through fast travel, I enter the areas via a decorated game board.
A small figure of myself with an oversized head runs across the different settings of the areas. There are also quests that can even be solved in the overworld.
“Yes, I mean erotic love.” The colorful overworld also invites exploration
Additionally, there are different collectible items that promise passive character bonuses. Enemies occasionally attack me, and I visit dungeons that drag me into a combat arena to beat up some foes.
This feels cohesive and innovative but does not elevate the game to another level. However, it is an exciting diversion where several hours can be spent.
Classes, Equipment & Combat – Magical Options
Wonderlands does not skimp on options when it comes to character customization. The character creation editor is extensive and fun. If you play cooperatively with friends, there’s no worry about looking similar.
The first step is choosing my classes. There are 6 at launch:
Killomancer – Critical hits
Clawbringer – Fire and lightning spells
Spellshot – Focus on spells
Graveborn – Dark magic and companions
Brr-zerker – Melee with frost
Sporesman – Ranged focus
A complete overview of the classes with their specialties can be found in our special on the topic:
Compared to previous Borderlands titles, the skill tree per class is smaller. However, at a certain point in the game, I could choose a second class and had full access to the skill tree.
This brings a ton of possibilities for build crafting into the game.
Except for your primary class that you choose at the start, you can later rearrange everything, redistribute points, and try something else.
You have full access to 2 skill trees
Overall, the class and equipment system is as I remember it from Borderlands. However, there is no ultimate attack, and you can forget about grenades.
Instead of an ultimate, I choose an action skill, unique to each class. Here I have a choice of 2 skills, but I can only unlock one skill at the start.
Instead of an explosive grenade, I choose a spell that is part of the equipment. So I can loot spells, and the attacks or buffs come with plenty of modifiers that enable interesting combos.
How many modifiers should the spells have? Yes!
The same applies to the weapons and shields. These are practically active equipment that cause crazy chain reactions. For example, a shield can cause a painful lightning strike on enemies that hit you while your shield is full.
This is when it gets really fun, because the chain reactions can go completely haywire. As a solo player, it has already given me a full screen of effects. I’m a little afraid of what will happen when I tackle Wonderlands after the release in coop.
With the class “Spellshot,” I fully embraced the effect madness and sometimes hardly knew what was happening. As an example, let me explain my strongest combo:
My weapon shoots sticky projectiles that explode when reloading. Each sticky projectile increases the damage.
After I sticky a magazine to an enemy, I start a singularity to pull nearby enemies towards the explosive foe.
This also pulls the nasty explosive barrels that are standing around into the enemies.
I reload, and all enemies take the explosive damage.
At the same time, my shield sends a lightning strike at enemies who damage my shield.
However, I have a class buff that deducts part of my shield to enhance the first shot from my weapon.
So when I fire a shot, a lightning strike with area damage hits the affected enemy, affecting everyone in the singularity.
As a Spellshot, I can unleash a second spell on the crowd.
As a result, my shield recharges, sending another lightning strike into the chaos when I fire a shot.
At the end, the singularity explodes and poisons all affected enemies.
A cluster of enemies in my spell, ready to be cooked
Even after the hundredth time, it was still fun. Maybe not good for the eyes, but definitely bad for all the hostile creatures squirming in pain in the singularity.
If I can then manage to timely hand in the rot essence for the next quest, I can finally and deservedly be knighted by the honorable Queen Arschgaul into the knight of the realm.
Maik Schneider Freelance author at MeinMMO
I am actually looking forward to the endgame when I tackle Wonderlands again after the release. I definitely want to push the singularity build to the maximum and burn dozens of enemies in the air.
If I can then manage to timely hand in the rot essence for the next quest, I can finally and deservedly be knighted by the honorable Queen Arschgaul into the knight of the realm.
Maik Schneider Freelance author at MeinMMO
First off: I can fundamentally recommend Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands to any fans of the Borderlands series. It offers the familiar gameplay loop, crazy stories, and exaggerated skill and weapon combos.
However, this strongly depends on whether you can get along with the fantasy setting in the Borderlands style. And whether you are ready for more Borderlands.
I consciously skipped Borderlands 3. After heavy grinding in Borderlands 2 and an extensive excursion into the “Pre-Sequel,” I was oversaturated with the usual Borderlands mechanics.
Wonderlands is unique due to its setting but does not redefine the Borderlands wheel.
I would have liked a bit more innovation, a special twist that refreshes the gameplay. For example, flight-like movement as in Destiny.
That worked incredibly well in the Pre-Sequel and would have been a strong addition for Wonderlands. It brings a completely different gameplay feeling and could have redefined Borderlands battles along with the spell attacks.
Overall, however, I am satisfied with the experience and had a good time in the game. Tiny Tina is a wonderful character who brings an exciting dynamic to the story with her controlled madness.
I found the main campaign to be too predictable. However, this is more than balanced out by the side quests.
I am actually looking forward to the endgame when I tackle Wonderlands again after the release. I definitely want to push the singularity build to the maximum and burn dozens of enemies in the air.
If I can then manage to timely hand in the rot essence for the next quest, I can finally and deservedly be knighted by the honorable Queen Arschgaul into the knight of the realm.
Maik Schneider Freelance author at MeinMMO
In addition to the equipment with active effects, there are also defensive equipments with passive bonuses – 2 rings, an amulet, and armor. High-quality armors provide skill points for the skill trees of different classes.
The Endgame – Chaos Without End
After the last boss yielded to my power, I unlocked the “Chambers of Chaos.” These are random-generated dungeons that provide me with new battles repeatedly.
There are normal and extended runs that differ only in length. Then there’s the feature run and the chaos trials.
Feature run is the same for all players, and achievements can be compared
Chaos trials increase the chaos level to raise the overall difficulty of the world
At the end of a run, there are exciting statistics
At the end, there is always one of the bosses from the game waiting for you. In my test run, it was even the last boss fight that I had just played. With joy, I kicked the Halfcock again in his imaginative genitalia.
If the game should throw more obstacles in my way, I can increase the chaos level. More chaos means tougher enemies, more loot, and modifiers that influence the gameplay – in all areas.
However, the best loot can be found in the Chambers of Chaos. I collect crystals during the runs, which I hand over to the Bunny statues at the end as proof of my submission.
Bunnies provide targeted loot
This gives me targeted loot because all bunnies represent one equipment item each. If I want to farm armor or a specific weapon type, that is now possible.
In between, I can increase the difficulty of a run through curses and thus scoop more crystals. If I want it a bit easier, I can use crystals to enhance certain attributes of my build.
We talked to the developers about the endgame, and you can find more details in our article:
At the maximum level of 40, you unlock the “mythos rank”. Collected experience points can be transformed into further small boosts for my attributes.
Furthermore, after completing the campaign, an additional currency is introduced – moon orbs. These can be used to reroll specific attributes of equipment parts.
The endgame thus focuses on perfecting my outrageous builds and does not include different endgame activities like in Borderlands 3. There is also no New Game+ in the game.
Pros, Cons, and Personal Conclusion
To conclude our little journey into the confused mind of a 14-year-old game master with psychotic tendencies, I would like to give you a small insight into my overall thoughts on Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.
Fantastic effect fireworks thanks to crazy builds and skill combos
Very good German voice acting and translations
Few bugs, almost no performance issues
Contra
Replaying value depends on whether you want to try out multiple classes
Campaign story is not a showstopper
Few innovations or experiments – except for the setting
Conclusion: Expectations met, but not exceeded
First off: I can fundamentally recommend Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands to any fans of the Borderlands series. It offers the familiar gameplay loop, crazy stories, and exaggerated skill and weapon combos.
However, this strongly depends on whether you can get along with the fantasy setting in the Borderlands style. And whether you are ready for more Borderlands.
I consciously skipped Borderlands 3. After heavy grinding in Borderlands 2 and an extensive excursion into the “Pre-Sequel,” I was oversaturated with the usual Borderlands mechanics.
Wonderlands is unique due to its setting but does not redefine the Borderlands wheel.
I would have liked a bit more innovation, a special twist that refreshes the gameplay. For example, flight-like movement as in Destiny.
That worked incredibly well in the Pre-Sequel and would have been a strong addition for Wonderlands. It brings a completely different gameplay feeling and could have redefined Borderlands battles along with the spell attacks.
Overall, however, I am satisfied with the experience and had a good time in the game. Tiny Tina is a wonderful character who brings an exciting dynamic to the story with her controlled madness.
I found the main campaign to be too predictable. However, this is more than balanced out by the side quests.
I am actually looking forward to the endgame when I tackle Wonderlands again after the release. I definitely want to push the singularity build to the maximum and burn dozens of enemies in the air.
If I can then manage to timely hand in the rot essence for the next quest, I can finally and deservedly be knighted by the honorable Queen Arschgaul into the knight of the realm.
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a standalone game in the Borderlands series. The loot shooter revolves around the usual weapons, but mixed with a crazy fantasy world...
