im thinking of starting these games which do i play first.

[brettapuss]

do i play play borderlands 1 or borderlands the pre-sequel

[Junipercat]

Order is: BL1, BL2, BL TPS, BL3.

Bordlerands The Pre Sequel (TPS) was released after BL2 and was designed with the intent you had played BL2 for it. Think of it as extended DLC for BL2 as fleshes out backstory.

[Nakos]

I concur with Junipercat.

Although, I will say that I personally played BL2 first.

[kmpt]

BL1 -> BL2 -> BL3. You can skip TPS and Tiny Tina Wonderlands.

[Darth Zed]

Originally posted by Junipercat:

Order is: BL1, BL2, BL TPS, BL3.

Bordlerands The Pre Sequel (TPS) was released after BL2 and was designed with the intent you had played BL2 for it. Think of it as extended DLC for BL2 as fleshes out backstory.

yeah this, pre sequel is basically at the end of borderlands 2 where one character is now recounting events from before borderlands 2 that led up to borderlands 2. and it kinda spoils some stuff for 2 if you play it first, since it literally takes place right after the end of 2.

[Junipercat]

Originally posted by kmpt:

BL1 -> BL2 -> BL3. You can skip TPS and Tiny Tina Wonderlands.

TPS is part of the main games.

Wonderlands is a spin-off inspired by a BL2 DLC.

Sure the OP can skip TPS just like they can skip all the other games and not play any of them. Their question was about the order, which to play first. Your feeling TPS should be skipped doesn't change the answer to the OP's question.

[Nakos]

Yeah, BL:TPS is part of the main storyline. Not to mention, BL2 and BL:TPS are the two (complete) games that had the same primary writer, so they have the most internal consistency.

It's hardly perfect, it reuses map assets a bit more than BL2, and a lot of people disliked the Australian flavor to the humor, and overall, it's got less total content than BL2 (because it doesn't have an endless stream of DLCs). But it is pretty much exactly the same UI and game as BL2, with some fun improvements. It's got Oz kits, variable atmosphere environments, variable gravity, double jumping, butt-slams, Cryo (which replaces Slag) and Lasers. And some incredibly cool "space" themed environments.

It also has the Claptastic Voyage, which, along with the Tiny Tina DLC was one of the ones actually built in-house by Gearbox and is widely considered to be one of the best DLCs in the entire series.

I'd recommend playing it, I'd also slot it in order right after BL2 (that is the order the two games were made in, and the framing story does contain some spoilers for the BL2 story).

[Casurin]

If you care about story then as Juniper said.
1 doesn't have much story so you would miss out on the background but not much story.
2 and TPS have the most and most consistent story (also by far the best)
Tales - the first tales is OK - basically watching a movie.
3 - it has something that some people would claim resembles a story. Play it once and then you likely are searching for a mod to skip all dialogs.

If you only care about gameplay and gunplay: 3.
If you want replayability: 2

[Wiesshund]

Originally posted by Junipercat:

Order is: BL1, BL2, BL TPS, BL3.

THis is the best answer

[Ganny]

TPS is a getting too much flak! The gravity mechanic/o2 gear is fun. Also, it has some of the best Vault hunters of all! Jacks banter all game make TPS worth it, IMO. The main reason people regard it as less than is because there is no endgame compared to 2. So after beating it you have no reason to play. In 2, There is much more to do!
Basically, if you do play 2 and loved it the way many of us do, TPS is absolutely worth a play through.
Tbh just watching a video of 1 and going in to BL2 would be my recommendation, 2 is just that much better... But many might not like the idea of skipping 1. Although, I started with 2 myself.
The gameplay/gunplay gets better and better, it's amazing in 3 but 2 is widely considered as the best entry!
Every one of these games have community patches. Maybe don't change it too much on first run. But they are worth looking into.
I am excited for you and jealous you get your first play through lol.
Welcome to Borderlands Vault Hunter!!! =]

[Nakos]

Originally posted by Ganny:

TPS is a getting too much flak!

While I'll agree that BL:TPS does tend to get a lot of undeserved negativity, I think folks in this thread have been pretty positive about it.

My biggest complaint has always been that it just doesn't have enough content. I really wish they'd finished Luxy's Space Adventure.

[Paul von Nod]

U r all wrong actually ;)

Correct order is:
Borderlands
Borderlands 2 (without Commander Lilith DLC)
Tales From The Borderlands
The Pre - Sequel
Commander Lilith DLC for Borderlands 2
Borderlands 3
New Tales From Borderlands
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (optional, it's a spin off)

At least that is the order I would use, taking into account the logical flow of the story.
I am not mentioning specific DLCs for any of those games apart from Commander Lilith, which is tied to main story line of the saga.
But if OP don't care about the story at all, it doesn't really matter which game they will play first, does it?

[Junipercat]

Originally posted by Paul von Nod:

U r all wrong actually ;)

But if OP don't care about the story at all, it doesn't really matter which game they will play first, does it?

Since the question was BL1 or TPS first, our putting main games in order was correct for the OP. So you are wrong for taking way out of context.

And where does the OP mention if they care about the story or not? Even if they don't, I would still recommend in release order to see the progression of game mechanics.

[Paul von Nod]

I showed story order for all of games in the franchise. I fail to see how it is out of context. OP asked about B1 and TPS, meaning he/she did at least a little bit of research about the story progression. Showing order of remaining games would be actually beneficial, don't u think?
Also I didn't say OP don't care about the story, I was merely suggesting that IF he/she does not, they shouldn't care which game to play first.

[Junipercat]

It does not guarantee research of the story. By it being called "The Pre Sequel" it would be reasonable to ask if it happens before BL1. In this case it is a Pre Sequel to BL2, so is meant to be played after BL2 as that is when it was released plus it is written as if you have played BL2.

Adding in the Tales and the spin-off Wonderlands shouldn't be assumed to be beneficial. They are just starting so keeping it simple to the main games would be the reasonable way to go.

Even if you don't care about the story (I'm getting the feel that you don't), it still matters which game you play first. Game mechanics evolve, and going back to play an older game is usually frustrating especially if you never played it. So going in order is a smoother transition.

[Paul von Nod]

I do care about a story, which is why I feel that playing first Tales is important. And I still feel that if someone care about events in the Borderlands franchise, they should use my order of playing.

Besides, this topic was meant to answer question about order of playing, or at least how we, players, see it. Not to bicker among ourselves. I did my job, as did You. We can stop arguing.