Guns, Glitches, and Glory: Ranking Borderlands Games

Gearbox used the success of the first game to increase the budget. This let Gearbox massively improve the original game, making every aspect bigger and better in 2012.Borderlands 2Borderlands 2 ups the pace and gives players deep weapon customization and more enemy types. Gearbox expanded Pandora, making it a busy, lively place instead of the original desert. Critics praised the visuals, story, writing, gameplay, and online multiplayer. The game also introduced the popular character Handsome Jack, based on writer Anthony Burch. Ashly Burch voices another iconic character, Tiny Tina.

Major Expansions: Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty; Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage; Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt; Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep

First released October 2009.Borderlands Gearbox called Borderlands a "role-playing shooter." This came from mixing first-person shooter action with character building. The game has elements like a loot system that generates things randomly, skills you can upgrade, side quests, co-op play, and more. Four vault hunters search for a Vault full of alien loot on Pandora. Critics liked the game's quirky humor and unique cartoon visuals, plus the exciting gameplay. It was runner-up for Game of the Year 2009.

Major Expansions: The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned; Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot; The Secret Armory of General Knoxx; Claptrap's New Robot Revolution

The fourth main entry to theBorderlandsseries,Borderlands 3Borderlands 3 improves many gameplay features. It shows a polished entry that longtime fans and critics like. It features over one billion guns, from shotgun shields to walking guns.Borderlands 3Borderlands 3 shows many creative weapon designs. These designs capture player imagination and excite them with unique weapons found only in a Borderlandsgame. The game proves itself an exciting, long-awaited addition to the series, making it one of the best.

Major Expansions: Moxxi's Heist of the Handsome Jackpot; Guns, Love and Tentacles: The Marriage of Wainwright & Hammerlock; Bounty of Blood; Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck

The third game's odd name comes from its story events happening between BorderlandsandBorderlands 2Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!, released in 2014, puts Jack in charge of vault hunters on an expedition to a moon of Pandora. Space elements added low-gravity, freeze weapons, and oxygen tanks. New character classes appeared too. A "Grinder" machine lets players drop weapon combos for higher rarity. Moon buggies and hoverbikes also got added. 2K Australia's heavy involvement made the moon's inhabitants seem Australian, adding new humor and dialogue.

Major Expansions: The Holodome Onslaught; Claptastic Voyage and Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack 2

Tiny Tina's WonderlandsThis spin-off offers new material in a new format, inspired by fantasy tabletop and Japanese role-playing games. Tiny Tina acts as the dungeon master, instantly changing the game world. Players now customize their Fatebringer by mixing classes and skills, using melee weapons, and casting spells instead of throwing grenades. A stellar voice cast featuring Andy Samberg, Will Arnett, and Wanda Sykes, plus Ashly Burch as Tiny Tina, boosts the franchise's humor.

Major Expansions: Coiled Captors

The spin-offTales from the BorderlandsThis episodic game series ran from 2014 to 2015 across five parts. Players control the two main characters; gameplay centers on reacting to screen prompts and quick time events. This entry builds the world, tells stories, and develops character relationships. Critics praised its strong characterization, emotional depth, creative setpieces, and funny writing.

Major Expansions: N/A

A spin-off of theBorderlandsseries and a successor toTales from the Borderlands, players choose the fate of three nobodies on a mission against ruthless corporate overlords. Like before, New Tales from the Borderlands lets players enter the world, explore, complete quick-time events, and make story choices that alter the outcome.

Major Expansions: N/A

At the same time thatBorderlands 2dropped, so did the iOS spin-offBorderlands Legends. This top-down strategy game let users control all four vault hunters at once. Each hunter had a special ability, and the group fought enemy hordes for loot. The game got mixed reviews, called a decent idea with weak execution.

Major Expansions: N/A