Yes, the Borderlands games are connected through recurring characters, storylines, and overarching narrative elements.
Ever wondered if the crazy adventures in Pandora and beyond are actually linked? The question of whether are the Borderlands games connected is one many new players ask. These seemingly standalone chaotic experiences do share a rich, common thread.
Characters, like the infamous Claptrap, frequently appear across the series. The story expands with each game, building on events from previous titles. It’s not just random mayhem, it is all part of a bigger, interwoven universe.
Are the Borderlands Games Connected? Exploring the Vault Hunter Universe
So, you’ve probably blasted your way through Pandora, maybe even explored other planets, and you’re wondering: are all these Borderlands games actually connected? The short answer is a big, resounding YES! They’re all part of the same crazy, loot-filled universe, sharing characters, storylines, and a whole lot of over-the-top action. But it’s not always a straightforward connection. Let’s dig into how these games link together, piece by piece.
The Shared Timeline and World
Think of the Borderlands series like a sprawling book. Each game is a chapter, adding more to the overall story. The games don’t happen randomly; they follow a chronological order, building on events from the previous games. They all occur in the same universe, a galaxy that includes planets like Pandora, Elpis, Promethea, and Eden-6. Familiar locations and characters pop up throughout the series. This shared world is crucial to understanding how everything connects. We always have a central theme of vault hunters and their journey to open vaults and sometimes defeating mega villains, these themes are generally same throughout the game.
Borderlands (2009): The Beginning
This is where it all started. The original Borderlands introduces us to Pandora, a dusty, dangerous planet hiding ancient alien vaults. We meet the first vault hunters: Mordecai, Lilith, Brick, and Roland. Their story focuses on finding a vault and dealing with the Atlas corporation. The game is set in the planet called Pandora which is the central hub of every game and always keeps coming. The main villains are Atlas corporation and its head Steele. This game is the foundation for everything that follows, introducing the concept of Vaults, Vault Hunters, and the over the top action gameplay we know and love. The game ends with the opening of the vault by the vault hunters and the defeat of Steele.
Borderlands 2 (2012): The Rise of Handsome Jack
Borderlands 2 jumps forward in time. The original vault hunters are now seasoned veterans, and a new cast of characters enters the fray: Axton, Maya, Salvador, and Zero. But the main focus here is Handsome Jack, a charismatic but evil leader of the Hyperion corporation. He’s found a new vault and wants to rule Pandora. Handsome Jack is one of the greatest villains of gaming history, his sarcasm and his evil intentions are truly epic. The game shows the vault hunters defeating Handsome Jack and opening another vault, this time called Vault of the Warrior. Many characters that we met in Borderlands are present in Borderlands 2 as well, we can clearly see that the games are connected via these characters.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014): The Jack Story
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel takes us back in time before the events of Borderlands 2. It tells the story of Handsome Jack’s rise to power. We play as characters who worked for Jack, some even joining his cause from his early days as a Hyperion programmer. This game takes place on Pandora’s moon, Elpis. This prequel gives us more insight on Handsome Jack and makes us more connected with him. The game shows the formation of Handsome Jack and his transition to becoming the main villain in Borderlands 2.
Tales from the Borderlands (2014): A Narrative Adventure
Tales from the Borderlands is a different kind of Borderlands game. It’s a story-driven adventure where choices really matter. This game shows the aftermath of the Borderlands 2 and the rise of Handsome Jack. We follow Rhys, a Hyperion employee, and Fiona, a con artist, as they get caught up in a hunt for vault treasure. This game shows the aftermath and consequences of the choices that are made in the previous games and how they impacted the universe of borderlands. The story focuses on non-Vault Hunters which provides us a different and unique take on the borderlands universe and its inhabitants. It is also canon and connected to the main storyline.
Borderlands 3 (2019): The Calypso Twins
In Borderlands 3, we have a brand new group of vault hunters: Amara, FL4K, Moze, and Zane. They are fighting the Calypso Twins, who have found a way to open multiple vaults across different planets. This game expands the Borderlands universe beyond Pandora, with exciting new locations like Promethea and Eden-6. We also see characters that we have seen from previous Borderlands games, such as Lilith, Brick, Mordecai, Claptrap and many others. Borderlands 3 builds upon the lore of previous games and introduces a new threat to the universe. This game is also heavily connected to the previous ones, but also makes a new direction for the future of the series. This game also shows the destruction of the headquarters of the Crimson Raiders, which Lilith had helped establish.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (2022): A Fantasy Spin-off
While Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is a spin-off, it’s still connected to the main Borderlands universe. The game’s story is framed as a tabletop roleplaying game, with Tiny Tina as the Dungeon Master. The characters that we play as are not canon and made by the player, but still shows the connections. This game shows the characters from Borderlands who appear in Tina’s mind. This game explores different aspects of the world by exploring the mind of Tiny Tina. While it isn’t a mainline Borderlands game, it’s a fun detour with plenty of references to the larger story. It is still canon and should be considered part of the Borderlands experience.
Recurring Characters: The Glue That Binds
One of the biggest ways the Borderlands games connect is through recurring characters. These familiar faces show up in different games, often with updated roles and stories. This creates a sense of continuity and shows how the events of one game affect another.
Key Characters and Their Appearances:
- Claptrap: The annoying but lovable robot is present in every single Borderlands game. He’s a staple of the series, always providing comedic relief and (sometimes) assistance.
- Lilith: A siren with powerful elemental abilities, she is one of the main characters from the first Borderlands, who appears in the Borderlands 2, 3, and Tales from Borderlands. Her story is central to the series, from vault hunter to leader of the Crimson Raiders.
- Mordecai and Brick: These original Vault Hunters continue to appear in the games, often as supporting characters in Borderlands 2 and 3, offering support, insights, and of course some epic action.
- Marcus Kincaid: The arms dealer appears in almost all of the Borderlands games. He is the vendor for many of the different locations, he is one of the most interesting and important characters of the borderlands universe.
- Tannis: The eccentric scientist who studies the vaults. She first appears in the first Borderlands and becomes a crucial character in later games. She also appears in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.
- Handsome Jack: Though his main story is told in Borderlands 2 and The Pre-Sequel, his impact is felt throughout the series, even in Tales from the Borderlands and Borderlands 3.
- Tiny Tina: First introduced in Borderlands 2 DLC, Tiny Tina is a recurring and popular character, with her own spin-off game, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. She also plays a key role in the story of Borderlands 2 and 3.
- Zer0: Appears in borderlands 2,3, Tales from Borderlands. He is the silent killer and a fan favourite character.
Story Threads and Lore
The connections aren’t just about characters; they’re also about shared plot threads and lore. Here are a few examples:
The Vaults and Sirens
The concept of Vaults—ancient alien prisons or treasure troves—is the driving force behind the entire series. The idea of vault hunters venturing across the universe to discover the vaults are the main plot line for each and every game. The Sirens, powerful women with special abilities, also play a key role, with their powers being connected to the vaults. Their importance is constantly reiterated throughout the games, showing the importance of the vaults and sirens.
Corporations and Conflict
The different corporations like Atlas, Hyperion, and Dahl, are constant sources of conflict in the Borderlands universe. Their power struggles and influence affect the characters and storylines in each game. Their technology, goals and presence are heavily ingrained in the world and it shows in each and every game.
The Crimson Raiders
This resistance group, formed by Lilith and other vault hunters, appears in several games and plays a significant role in battling against the powerful corporations. The Crimson Raiders are shown as the good force and trying to help all those who are in need in borderlands universe, making them one of the most important factions in the Borderlands universe.
How to Play the Games in Order
If you want to experience the full story of Borderlands, the best way to play is in the following order:
- Borderlands (2009)
- Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014)
- Borderlands 2 (2012)
- Tales from the Borderlands (2014)
- Borderlands 3 (2019)
- Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (2022)
Playing them in this order allows you to see how the story develops and how characters evolve. The Pre-Sequel comes before Borderlands 2 chronologically, so it’s best to experience it in that order.
Can You Play Them Out of Order?
While it’s best to play them in order to get the complete picture, you can still enjoy the games out of sequence. Each main Borderlands game has its own self-contained story. However, you’ll definitely catch more of the callbacks, references, and character development if you play in the suggested order. It just enhances the experience more.
The main takeaway is that yes, the Borderlands games are very much connected. They build upon each other, expanding the universe, adding new characters, and developing the storylines. You can dive into them in any order, but experiencing them in order of release lets you enjoy all of the references and connections the developers created throughout the series. Each game contributes to the grand narrative, making the Borderlands series a fun, action packed and interconnected journey. Playing through all of the Borderlands games provides the player with a complete experience and more understanding of the games and the lore behind them.
Which Borderlands Game Should You Play First?
Final Thoughts
Yes, the Borderlands games are connected. The narrative threads continue between titles, with characters and events carrying over. You must play them in order to fully appreciate the evolving story.
Each main game builds upon the previous one’s lore. Understanding the past makes the newer game’s plot much more meaningful. So, to answer: are the borderlands games connected? Absolutely, they are.
