The Ultimate Borderlands Collection: Unveiling Pandora's Box and Its Epic Revelations

Highlights

Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box is a digital package that includes all three core games, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and both Tales From The Borderlands iterations.

Fans were disappointed to find that Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, a beloved spin-off game, was left out of the collection despite its charming and chaotic world. While the storyline of the spin-off is not crucial to the original Borderlands plot, it still has connections to the franchise and should be acknowledged.

Borderlands is known for its humor, unique weapons, diverse characters, and the blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements. These aspects have contributed to the success of the looter-shooter franchise. However, with multiple games and spin-offs, it can be difficult for new fans to fully immerse themselves in the Borderlands lore. To address this and cater to both new and longtime fans, 2K and Gearbox Software released Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box. This digital package includes all three core games, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and both iterations of Tales From The Borderlands. However, some fans have expressed surprise and raised questions about the exclusion of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands from the collection.

With the anticipation for Borderlands 4 prolonging, Gearbox introduced Tiny Tina's Wonderlands as a stopgap measure. This spin-off is based on the medieval fantasy-themed Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep DLC from Borderlands 2. By presenting Wonderlands as a separate game, developers were able to explore more creative freedom and capture the attention of fans. The game showcases Tiny Tina as the main character and offers a whimsical and chaotic world filled with magical creatures and humor that aligns with the comedic style of Borderlands. The reception for Tiny Tina's Wonderlands has been positive, further strengthening the argument that it should have been included in the Pandora's Box collection, considering its departure from the mainline series, much like New Tales From The Borderlands.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Exclusion From Borderlands Collection is a Missed Opportunity

Tiny Tina took on the role of a bunker master in the Borderlands 2 Dragon Keep DLC, overseeing a game of Bunkers and Badasses that cleverly referenced other popular series like Lord of the Rings. In Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, Gearbox took the fantasy elements to new heights, introducing magical spells and classes for players to enjoy. While this spin-off deviated from the mainline series in exciting ways, it still maintained the trademark Borderlands humor that fans love in DLCs and offshoots.

The game's narrative delved into themes of friendship, grief, and imagination, receiving widespread praise from both critics and fans. That's why it's surprising that Tiny Tina's Wonderlands was excluded from the collection. 2K and Gearbox Software may argue that the spin-off's storyline diverges too much from the original Borderlands plot. However, this explanation falls short since players can clearly see how Tiny Tina's Wonderlands connects to the overarching narrative. It takes place between Borderlands 2 and 3, right after the Attack on Dragon Keep DLC, and incorporates some of the technological elements from Borderlands 3.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands has strong connections to characters from the Borderlands franchise, like Brick and Mr. Torgue, establishing its significant ties to the series. Even if the storyline of Wonderlands were to deviate from the mainline series, the Tales From the Borderlands games have consistently followed a unique narrative approach, with choices impacting the spin-off's conclusion and highlighting character dynamics. Given its inclusion in Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands should have been included in the bundle.

Regardless of the developer's reasoning for excluding Tiny Tina's Wonderlands from the Pandora's Box collection, it is truly unfortunate for the spin-off to be left out. The game deserves recognition on par with other titles and DLCs based on the Borderlands universe. Hopefully, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands will be featured in a future collection, allowing for a truly comprehensive Borderlands saga.

Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box is available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.