9 Best Borderlands Games in 2026: Unmatched Looter-Shooters

• The best

Borderlands

• game can mean something different to every player. Some love the wild humor, others enjoy the loot grind, and many want the most exciting co-op action. The

Borderlands

series has become a big name in the looter-shooter genre, known for its wild characters, colorful worlds, and endless supply of crazy weapons.

In this guide, I ranked all the

Borderlands

games so you can quickly see which one fits your style. Each game brings its own best parts to the table, giving fans plenty of reasons to keep coming back. Some of the titles, like

Borderlands 4

, aren’t out yet, so consider those sections more of an early preview than a final verdict. I’ll update this list with a full

Borderlands 4

review once the game is officially out.

Our Top Picks for Best Borderlands Game

The

Borderlands

universe has a lot of great entries, but a few stand out above the rest. These top three games showcase the series’ strongest points, like fun battles, clever humor, and characters you won’t forget. Here are our picks:

Borderlands 2

LOOTER SHOOTER

A sequel that made everything better from the first game. Borderlands 2 has funny lines, playable characters people still remember, and a loot system that keeps you hooked. Playing with friends is still exciting today, and the story mixes humor and action really well.

Borderlands 3

LOOTER SHOOTER

An adventure that takes you back to Pandora and beyond. Borderlands 3 introduces new characters, massive open-world areas, and lots of new guns. The game brings fresh challenges and big, exciting battles with a story full of laughs.

Tales from the Borderlands

NARRATIVE

This game focuses on story and characters. It is full of humor, emotion, and smart choices. It’s great for players who love the Borderlands world but want a story-first adventure without lots of shooting.

Keep scrolling to see the full list of every

Borderlands

game ranked from best to least, so you can find the perfect one for your next adventure.

9 Best Borderlands Games – Adventures Full of Loot and Laughs

The

Borderlands

series is full of crazy action, funny characters, and tons of loot to collect. Each game has something special, from wild stories to exciting co-op battles with friends. These picks highlight the best

Borderlands

game moments fans love.

How many of these best

Borderlands

game titles have you played?

Borderlands 2

Best Classic Borderlands Game

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• PC, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Switch
• Creator/s
• Gearbox Software / 2K Games
• Average Playtime

30–90 hours (main story + extras)

Metacritic Score 89 (critic), 8.1 (user)

Borderlands 2

is a game that anyone who’s played

Borderlands

will immediately recognize. It brings you back to the planet Pandora, a place filled with bandits, monsters, and endless loot.

You play as one of the new Vault Hunters, teaming up to fight through wild battles and face the cruel but hilarious villain, Handsome Jack. This amazing game has a colorful, cartoon-like look, fast action, and tons of weapons that make every fight exciting.

Pro tip

Do side missions early. They reward you with powerful gear and fun stories that make the main game even better.

The best part about

Borderlands 2

is how much there is to do. You can explore huge maps, find crazy loot, and go crazy in this bullet-filled mayhem. But most importantly, it’s easily one of the greatest co-op games ever made, and that’s exactly what makes it so special.

The game also has many funny characters and side quests that keep things fresh. Players love how every gun feels different, and there’s always something new to discover.

My Verdict:

Borderlands 2

mixes sharp humor, non-stop action, and one of gaming’s most unforgettable villains. It’s the best

Borderlands

game for fans who want both a great story and endless loot.

Borderlands 3

Best Open-World Borderlands Game

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• Gearbox Software / 2K Games
• Average Playtime

35–100 hours (main story + extras)

Metacritic Score 81 (critic), 5.6 (user)

Borderlands 3

takes you back to Pandora and beyond, offering massive open-world areas, tons of weapons, and fast-paced co-op battles. You play as one of the new Vault Hunters, hunting down dangerous enemies while collecting crazy loot.

This flavorful action RPG game is definitely one of the funniest gaming experiences around, keeping you laughing even while you blast your way through enemies. The game keeps the cartoon-like, colorful visuals of the series but adds more detailed environments and bigger maps to explore.

Pro tip

Experiment with different Vault Hunters to find unique skills and combos that make fights easier and more fun.

The combat is exciting, and the game gives you lots of freedom to try different character builds and strategies. Fans on Reddit and review sites praise the huge variety of guns, the updated mechanics, and the fun co-op experience that goes just as hard whether you play it online or as one of the most fun split-screen games. The story continues the saga with plenty of humor, wild characters, and epic boss fights.

My Verdict:

Borderlands 3

is the best

Borderlands

game for fans who love big worlds, crazy weapons, and action-packed adventures.

Tales from the Borderlands

Best Story-Driven Borderlands Game

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• PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mobile
• Creator/s
• Telltale Games / Telltale Games
• Average Playtime
• 10–12 hours
• Metacritic Score

85 (critic), 8.4 (user)

Tales from the Borderlands

• is a
• fantastic interactive story game
• set on Pandora between

Borderlands 2

• and

Borderlands 3

• . You play as
• Rhys
• ,
• a Hyperion worker
• , and
• Fiona
• ,
• a clever con artist
• , whose paths cross in a funny and exciting adventure. You’ll meet familiar characters like
• Handsome Jack

and some new faces, all with their own stories and hilarious antics.

The game focuses on talking with characters, making choices, and solving light puzzles instead of fighting lots of enemies. Your choices affect how the story goes, giving the game a lot of replay value.

Pro tip

Pay attention to dialogue choices. They can change friendships and lead to different endings.

The game keeps the colorful, cartoon-style look of

Borderlands

, but the slower pace lets you enjoy the jokes, emotional moments, and memorable characters. Players on Reddit and critics praise it for smart writing, clever humor, and staying true to the

Borderlands

world. Every choice matters, which makes each playthrough feel fresh and fun.

My Verdict:

Tales from the Borderlands

is the ideal game for players who want a strong story with humor and great characters.

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

Best Moon-Adventure Borderlands Game

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• PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Creator/s
• 2K Australia / Gearbox Software, 2K Games
• Average Playtime

25–70 hours (main story + extras)

Metacritic Score 75 (critic), 6.4 (user)

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

takes place on the moon of Elpis, away from Pandora.

This game fills in the story between Borderlands 1 and

Borderlands 2

, showing how Handsome Jack became the villain.

You play as one of Jack’s crew members and explore weird lunar landscapes full of bandits, aliens, and hidden loot. With low gravity and oxygen systems, every fight feels different and adds new ways to move and shoot.

Pro tip

Use the low gravity to your advantage. Jump attacks deal extra damage and help you dodge enemies more easily.

The gameplay is all about fighting enemies, collecting better weapons, and learning more about Jack’s past. The moon setting gives the game a unique look, with glowing landscapes and wild sci-fi designs.

Players enjoy the mix of humor, space combat, and the chance to see a darker side of Handsome Jack before he became the villain everyone knows.

My Verdict:

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

is perfect for players who want to learn more about Jack’s story while enjoying gravity-defying combat and a fresh setting.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

Best Fantasy-Themed Borderlands Game

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• Gearbox Software / 2K Games
• Average Playtime

25–60 hours (main story + extras)

Metacritic Score 78 (critic), 5.7 (user)

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

takes the classic

Borderlands

action and flips it into a chaotic fantasy adventure. Guided by Tiny Tina herself, you dive into a tabletop RPG world filled with castles, goblins, dragons, and plenty of loot. The game mixes immersive FPS games’ action with magic spells, melee combat, and dice rolls that add unexpected twists to every encounter.

Pro tip

Start experimenting with multiclassing early. Combining two different skill trees can create unique and powerful builds that make battles more fun.

The game’s bright, cartoon-like visuals and Tina’s nonstop commentary make the journey both funny and unpredictable. Players love the endless loot variety, the creative spells, and the chance to customize their hero in ways that feel fresh compared to past

Borderlands

games.

My Verdict:

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

is a wild mix of fantasy role-playing and

Borderlands

chaos, perfect for players who love loot, spells, and a good laugh.

New Tales from the Borderlands

Best Narrative Borderlands Game

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• Gearbox Software / 2K Games
• Average Playtime
• 10–12 hours
• Metacritic Score

69 (critic), 3.8 (user)

New

Tales from the Borderlands

continues the story-driven adventure style made famous by Telltale. Instead of fast shooting, this game focuses on choices, dialogue, and cinematic storytelling.

You’ll guide new characters through emotional and funny moments, where every decision can shape the outcome of the story. The game has the familiar

Borderlands

look, bright colors, comic-style visuals, and over-the-top humor, mixed with a more dramatic tone.

Pro tip

Take your time exploring every dialogue option. The funniest and most surprising moments often come from unexpected choices.

This game is best for players who enjoy strong characters and stories filled with twists, laughs, and drama. While the pace is slower than the mainline

Borderlands

games, fans praise its humor, personality, and social-driven storytelling.

My Verdict:

New Tales from the Borderlands

is a great pick for fans who want to dive deeper into the

Borderlands

world with a fresh story and characters.

FAQs

What is the best Borderlands game?

Many fans consider

Borderlands 2

the best because of its story, humor, and iconic villain, Handsome Jack. It also has a massive amount of content and replayability, and it still holds up perfectly well today.

How many Borderlands games are there?

There are four main

Borderlands

games, plus spin-offs like

Tales from the Borderlands

and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.

These titles have captivated players with their unique humor, fast-paced combat, and unforgettable characters, making the series a fan favorite.

When did Borderlands 1 come out?

Borderlands 1 launched in October 2009, introducing players to Pandora and the looter-shooter style that defined the series. It quickly became a hit, thanks to its unique mix of humor, exploration, and fast-paced combat.

What is Borderlands about?

Borderlands

follows Vault Hunters searching for hidden alien vaults on Pandora while fighting bandits, corporations, and monsters in a wild, chaotic world.

What type of game is Borderlands?

It’s a looter-shooter that blends first-person shooting with RPG progression. You complete quests, level up, and collect endless weapons, all the while enjoying some hilarious satirical writing.

Who made Borderlands?

The

Borderlands

series was created by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games.

Gearbox ‘s innovative approach to first-person shooters, combined with a distinctive art style and humor, has made

Borderlands

one of the most popular franchises in gaming.