For a first playthrough, use release order: Borderlands → Borderlands 2 → Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel → Tales from the Borderlands → Borderlands 3 → New Tales from the Borderlands → Borderlands 4. This keeps the series’ introductions in sequence while including the story adventures that connect to the numbered games. The Pre-Sequel’s story reaches back to an earlier period, but it is best played after Borderlands 2 on a first run.
Recommended Borderlands play order
- Borderlands — Begin with the original game and its introduction to the series. It is one of the six games included in 2K’s Pandora’s Box collection.
- Borderlands 2 — Continue with the numbered sequel.
- Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel — Play it after Borderlands 2 for release order, even though its story is set earlier in the franchise’s history.
- Tales from the Borderlands — This episodic narrative adventure fits between Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3. 2K describes it as a five-part game and a crucial chapter of canon on its official store page.
- Borderlands 3 — Move to the next numbered shooter after Tales.
- New Tales from the Borderlands — Play after Borderlands 3 for its story setting. Xbox Wire says it takes place within a year after Borderlands 3, while noting that its story is self-contained.
- Borderlands 4 — Finish with the newest numbered installment. 2K announced its worldwide launch for September 12, 2025, with the story set on Kairos.
The release information and franchise entries can also be checked on Steam’s Borderlands franchise page. Release order is a practical first-run recommendation, not an official required sequence.
Release order versus story chronology
Release order is the easiest route for a newcomer: it preserves how the games and their story elements were introduced. Story chronology is less straightforward. The Pre-Sequel is a prequel-era entry released after Borderlands 2, so moving it earlier may disrupt the intended first-play progression. Official sources establish two useful later placements: Tales from the Borderlands falls between Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3, and New Tales follows Borderlands 3. They do not establish a complete authoritative timeline for every game and DLC, so a more granular chronology should not be treated as settled fact.
Are the Tales games required?
Tales from the Borderlands
It is optional if you only want the shooter campaigns, but it matters to the broader story: 2K positions it between Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3 and calls it a crucial canon chapter. Include it there if you want the narrative connective tissue.
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New Tales from the Borderlands
It is also a narrative adventure rather than a mainline shooter. Xbox Wire’s 2022 announcement says the game takes place within a year after Borderlands 3 and that “you don’t need to have played any previous Borderlands game to enjoy this self-contained story.” That makes it approachable on its own, though playing Borderlands 3 first preserves the setting’s sequence.
Where does Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands fit?
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is an optional spin-off, not one of the six Pandora’s Box games. Borderlands Support explains that it is excluded because it does not take place on Pandora: “As Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands doesn’t take place on Pandora, it isn’t in the box!” The support article was updated July 1, 2026. The cited official information does not give the spin-off a precise place in the series chronology, so keep it separate rather than inserting it into the ordered list.
Rank #2
- Two critically acclaimed Borderlands games in one package – experience Handsome Jack’s rise to power in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and his reign as maniacal Hyperion CEO in Borderlands 2.
- Over $100 in value and hundreds of hours of gameplay: includes all campaign add-ons, playable character packs, level cap upgrades, and assorted combat arenas previously released as downloadable content for both titles, plus dozens of additional character customizations.
- Borderlands: The Handsome Collection supports four different players on a SINGLE split screen – next generation power fully utilized!
- Pick up right where you left off! Transfer your Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or PS Vita save files onto next-gen with cross-save.
- Explore the mayhem filled world of Pandora and its moon in amazing high definition with smooth high performance frame rates never before seen in Borderlands on consoles.
What is in Pandora’s Box?
2K’s Pandora’s Box collection includes six games: Borderlands, Borderlands 2, Borderlands 3, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Tales from the Borderlands, and New Tales from the Borderlands. It excludes Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. The collection is a useful reference for which games belong to that set, but the recommended order above also includes Borderlands 4, which launched in 2025.
Quick Recap
Best Value
![Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box Standard - PC [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Sg3bMiKOL._SL160_.jpg)
- MAKE COMPLETE MAYHEM: Venture across the desert planet of Pandora and the brutal worlds beyond, playing as badass Vault Hunters in search of legendary loot. Every Borderlands game is packed with larger-than-life characters, treacherous worlds, and unforgettable stories.
- GO SOLO OR TEAM UP: Borderlands' intense looter-shooter action gets amped all the way up when you're in a co-op party of up to four players online! Grab your friends and share the joys of firing bazillions of guns, crafting perfect builds, and conquering fearsome bosses!
- EXPERIENCE THE SAGA SO FAR: Whether you're new to the Borderlands or reuniting with old friends, you'll love making Mayhem with the series' eccentric cast. From Lilith's heroic ascension to Handsome Jack's infamous rise and fall, you’ll meet an unforgettable group of bandits, rebels, heroes—and Claptrap, who is also there.
Rank #4
- TWO CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED BORDERLANDS GAMES IN ONE PACKAGE - experience Handsome Jack's rise to power in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and his reign as maniacal Hyperion CEO in Borderlands 2.
- OVER USD100 IN VALUE AND HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF GAMEPLAY: includes all campaign add-ons*, playable character packs, level cap upgrades, and assorted combat arenas previously released as downloadable content for both titles, plus dozens of additional character customizations.
- BORDERLANDS: THE HANDSOME COLLECTION SUPPORTS FOUR DIFFERENT PLAYERS ON A SINGLE SPLIT SCREEN - next generation power fully utilized!
- PICK UP RIGHT WHERE YOU LEFT OFF! Transfer your Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or PS Vita save files onto next-gen with cross-save**.
- EXPLORE THE MAYHEM-FILLED WORLD OF PANDORA AND ITS MOON in amazing high definition with smooth high performance frame rates never before seen in Borderlands on consoles.
Rank #3
- Shoot and loot as you explore the mayhem-filled world of Pandora in BORDERLANDS 2 and the lunar madness of BORDERLANDS: THE PRE-SEQUEL in BORDERLANDS: THE HANDSOME COLLECTION. Experience the award-winning FPS-RPG series, including its bazillions of guns, trademark cooperative gameplay, and all bonus add-on content, with high performance like never before on a new generation of consoles.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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