The Borderlands games are considered pioneers of the looter shooter genre, with their focus on attaining better weapons, gear, and resources that in turn enable you to take on tougher missions with even greater rewards. But if there is one aspect that has come to define the series over the years, other than the aforementioned gameplay loop, it's the colorful art style and overall sense of humor.
Aside from the mainline entries, there have also been multiple spin-off titles like Tales of the Borderlands by Telltale Games. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is the latest. It ditches the series' sci-fi setting for a fantasy-themed one while retaining many of the elements that form the core games. Because of this, players of the new game experiencing either those elements or the series for the first time might be clamoring for more of the same. So on that note, here are a few similar games that should help scratch that itch.
5 Borderlands 2
You really can't go wrong by choosing any of the mainline Borderlands games as an entry point into the core series. But if there is one entry that can be considered quintessential Borderlands at its finest, then it's Borderlands 2.
Released on the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 in 2012, with a remaster on PS4 and Xbox One via The Handsome Collection. The sequel had served as a refinement of the first game, with a much bigger budget made possible by its predecessor's unexpected success. One of the areas that were improved was its story, which once again had a group of Vault Hunters trying to foil the plans of the series antagonist, Handsome Jack. The game was lauded for its gameplay, visuals, and improvements to its overall design. It would go on to sell more than 22 million copies, making it the highest-selling entry in the entire series.
4 Tiny Tina's Assault On Dragon Keep
Speaking of the success of Borderlands 2, one of the things that contributed to its overall appeal and longevity was the release of DLC for the game. A total of five were released, each one serving as a continuation of the story from the core game. Tiny Tina's Assault On Dragon Keep was one of them.
The game is set within the fantasy-themed world of a tabletop RPG known as Bunkers and Badasses (an in-universe parody of Dungeons and Dragons), in which Tiny Tina plays the role of game master for a group of up to four adventurers. It takes place immediately before the events of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, meaning that it should offer some backstory for players interested in learning more about the lore of this specific slice of the in-game universe. A standalone version of the game was re-released in 2021 as Tiny Tina's Assault On Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure, which is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
3 Into The Pit
Developed by Nullpointer Games and released by Humble Games in 2021, Into The Pit is a retro-styled FPS with rogue-lite elements. It is a throwback to fantasy-themed shooters like Heretic and Hexen from the mid-to-late '90s, with its fast-paced gameplay and use of magic instead of guns like in a traditional shooter.
The game has players venturing into the titular pit, a demonic portal that has sprung up in the middle of a quaint medieval village. There, you must clear out its various procedurally-generated chambers of demons and other monstrosities, with each successful run rewarding you with more powerful spells and unlockable upgrades. The game sports a similar bright and colorful art style that should immediately appeal to fans of the Borderlands games, even though it might not boast nearly as much lore and content as those games.
2 Dishonored
Dishonored is another game that should appeal to players of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands. It is an action-adventure game developed by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It was originally released in 2012 for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, with PS4 and Xbox One versions following in 2015.
The game once again mixes first-person gameplay and a dark fantasy setting that has players using a number of supernatural abilities to overcome enemies. Unlike the Tiny Tina games, it has a stealth element that encourages players to take out enemies without drawing attention to themselves. Most missions can still be tackled with a gung-ho approach though, allowing you to fall back on a more aggressive playstyle should you happen to fail at stealth.
1 BioShock Infinite
The BioShock games are unanimously thought of as some of the best first-person shooters ever made. And while the first one is perhaps most fondly remembered for introducing players to the underwater city of Rapture as well as the iconic Big Daddy and Little Sister pairs, it is BioShock Infinite that currently stands as the most ambitious of the bunch.
Released in 2013, the third game broke away from the tight confines of the previous two's settings, replacing it instead with an expansive airborne city called Columbia. Its events take place in 1912, and it has you taking the role of Booker DeWitt, a man who has been sent there on a mission to rescue a woman being held captive. It doesn't take long before he gets embroiled in an adventure that would have him traversing the city's rail system while brandishing a number of weapons and special abilities. The game had gone on to win multiple awards, and it is still considered by many to be one of the greatest games ever made.
Source: Read Full Article
