Tales from the Borderlands

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 9,199 reviews
  • story
  • humor
  • gameplay
Tales from the Borderlands Game Cover
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"Tales from the Borderlands" is a narrative-driven adventure game set in the chaotic world of Pandora. Players control a cast of misfits seeking to change their world, facing off against planetary invasions, ruthless enemies, and corporate greed. Choices made throughout the game shape the story, creating a unique experience for each player in this thrilling, humorous adventure.

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  • PC
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  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Android
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  • Play​station 3
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 9,199 reviews
story2,741 positive mentions
stability47 negative mentions
  • story5,433 mentions

    The story of "Tales from the Borderlands" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich character development, and humor that captures the essence of the Borderlands universe. Players appreciate the clever writing and unexpected plot twists, which keep them invested throughout the episodic journey, even if the choices made often lead to similar outcomes. Overall, it is considered one of the best story-driven games, offering a unique blend of comedy and emotional depth that resonates with both fans of the franchise and newcomers alike.

    • “The story is well written, no character is annoying, and I loved to see them all interact with each other.”
    • “The story is engaging, and I highly recommend it!”
    • “This game is a masterpiece; it would slightly make more sense if you played the other Borderlands games, but in my opinion, you don't really need to. It's a mix of comedic/action story with smart choice-making that can affect the ending/relationships between characters.”
    • “The story is a bit generic.”
    • “The story is very eventful but also emotional and honestly, it's my favorite Telltale game so far because it simply combines all the good things and doesn't seem too drawn out.”
    • “The story is well written, the characters are all interesting and well developed and it's got that Borderlands charm.”
  • humor2,219 mentions

    The humor in "Tales from the Borderlands" is widely praised for its sharp wit, engaging dialogue, and the signature absurdity of the Borderlands universe. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to blend laugh-out-loud moments with genuine emotional depth, making it both entertaining and impactful. Fans of the franchise appreciate the clever writing and character interactions, which maintain the franchise's trademark humor while introducing new comedic elements that resonate well with both newcomers and long-time players.

    • “The dialogue is sharp and often hilarious, with moments of genuine emotional depth that ground the game's more zany elements.”
    • “Hilarious and well-written, this game exudes charm and charisma with a story that is extremely easy to get invested in.”
    • “The humor here is on point and not as 'forced' as it is in Borderlands 3.”
    • “The characters are all idiots and pricks who talk like they're in an unfunny sitcom, just desperate to be funny and everything falls flat.”
    • “Compared to Borderlands 2, the characters are uninteresting and unfunny.”
    • “It's not funny anymore...”
  • gameplay822 mentions

    The gameplay of "Tales from the Borderlands" is primarily structured around Telltale's signature formula, featuring minimal interactive elements such as quick-time events and dialogue choices, which some players find lacking compared to traditional gameplay. While the game emphasizes storytelling and character development, many reviews note that the gameplay can feel repetitive and simplistic, often resembling an interactive movie rather than a fully-fledged game. However, fans of narrative-driven experiences and the Borderlands universe appreciate the humor and engaging story, making it a worthwhile experience despite its gameplay limitations.

    • “Telltale's hallmark choice-based gameplay allows players to shape the story through decisions that feel consequential, although the overarching narrative remains largely linear.”
    • “The gameplay is easy, multiple choices and responses and is full of quicktime events with plenty of time so you can rather watch more what is going on and finding all the funny bits.”
    • “The gameplay, while it's minimal, is smooth.”
    • “The gameplay is almost non-existent, as in all Telltale games, so it's not a con at all if you like that type of games.”
    • “The gameplay consists mostly of annoying quick time events and pointless dialogue choices which have zero impact on the plot.”
    • “The gameplay is very simple, it's just some walking, point-and-clicking and quick-timing but it fits the overall calm atmosphere of the game.”
  • music756 mentions

    The music in "Tales from the Borderlands" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its exceptional soundtrack that perfectly complements the game's narrative and atmosphere. The choice of licensed songs and original compositions enhances emotional moments and adds to the overall immersive experience, making it a standout feature of the game. Many players noted that the musical intros and outros for each episode are particularly memorable, often leaving a lasting impression and even prompting them to add the songs to their personal playlists.

    • “The soundtrack complements the gameplay perfectly, enhancing the atmosphere and adding to the overall immersion.”
    • “The music is fantastic and the story is pretty rich.”
    • “The soundtrack is another standout element.”
    • “The soundtrack was a complete miss here, entirely lackluster and totally off point.”
    • “I did run into a glaring glitch regarding audio towards the end; some audio clips of voiceover and music failed to play close to the end resulting in some awkward silences.”
    • “The music slowly becomes clashing with the ambience and atmosphere that the story seems to create and, whether or not this discordant music was deliberately made so to advocate certain feelings within the players, it certainly leaves an ambivalent reaction, which certain players may or may not enjoy.”
  • emotional506 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Tales from the Borderlands" has been widely praised for its unexpected depth, blending humor with heartfelt moments that resonate with players. Many reviewers noted that they formed strong emotional attachments to characters, including a robot, and experienced genuine reactions such as laughter and tears throughout the game. The narrative successfully balances comedic elements with poignant storytelling, making it a standout title in the Telltale Games catalog and a memorable experience for both fans of the Borderlands series and newcomers alike.

    • “The dialogue is sharp and often hilarious, with moments of genuine emotional depth that ground the game's more zany elements.”
    • “It's rare that I get emotional when an NPC doesn't make it, but this game gets you to connect on another level.”
    • “The story is masterfully crafted, with a good balance of tension, humor, and touching moments.”
  • graphics489 mentions

    The graphics of "Tales from the Borderlands" are characterized by a cel-shaded art style that aligns closely with the Borderlands franchise, creating a vibrant and comic book-like aesthetic. While many players appreciate the unique visuals and humor, some note that the graphics can feel dated and are occasionally marred by glitches and animation issues. Overall, the art style is generally well-received, enhancing the storytelling experience despite some technical shortcomings.

    • “Graphically, Tales from the Borderlands maintains the cel-shaded art style of its predecessors, creating a visually distinctive experience that complements its comic book-like narrative.”
    • “The cel-shaded graphics bring the world of Pandora to life, with vibrant colors and detailed environments.”
    • “The graphics fit perfectly to the Borderlands games as they are basically the same.”
    • “The graphics on this are honestly outdated and not really great, and it still has some hitching and other issues during gameplay.”
    • “The bad: while a great game on its own in its original form, I am disappointed that 2K has essentially made no changes to the way the game looks graphically.”
    • “The graphics, while still maintaining the unique Borderlands style, look dated.”
  • replayability107 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its potential for multiple playthroughs due to meaningful choices that affect dialogue and character interactions, while others note that the impact of these choices is often minimal, leading to a more linear experience. Many reviews highlight the enjoyment of exploring different outcomes and humorous dialogue, suggesting that while it may not be infinitely replayable, it offers enough variety to warrant at least a couple of playthroughs for those invested in the story. Overall, the game is seen as having decent replay value, particularly for fans of narrative-driven experiences.

    • “Your decisions have real consequences, which adds a layer of depth and replayability.”
    • “I enjoyed it since you do have a timer when it comes to your decisions, which means the replayability is great if you’re looking for multiple playthroughs with entirely different outcomes and dialogue.”
    • “Easily one of the best games I have ever played, so much replayability to see other choices and how they end up, and in need of a sequel!”
    • “Unlike Detroit or some other serious narrative games, this one has such minor decisions and consequences that are barely noticeable, making it irrelevant in terms of replayability.”
    • “Not much replay value though unless you wanted to go through again and try being different with your responses, but there's not that many different outcomes based on what you pick and the main story carries through either way.”
    • “Unskippable scenes - even if you've already seen them - heavily reduce the replayability value: I'm not sitting listening to the same jokes for the second time, it's just a waste of time.”
  • atmosphere95 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Tales from the Borderlands" is widely praised for its vibrant and immersive quality, effectively capturing the unique humor and style of the Borderlands franchise. Reviewers highlight the game's rich storytelling, memorable characters, and a soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, making it feel like a seamless continuation of the beloved series. The blend of Telltale's narrative approach with the quirky, chaotic essence of Borderlands creates a compelling and engaging environment that resonates with fans.

    • “The soundtrack complements the gameplay perfectly, enhancing the atmosphere and adding to the overall immersion.”
    • “The atmosphere they were able to create, and storylines of every character were superb.”
    • “Telltale nailed the atmosphere of the Borderlands franchise and really delivered on this game, one of their best in years.”
    • “The music slowly becomes clashing with the ambience and atmosphere that the story seems to create and, whether or not this discordant music was deliberately made so to advocate certain feelings within the players, it certainly leaves an ambivalent reaction, which certain players may or may not enjoy.”
    • “It unintentionally created this very dead atmosphere, which gave me a bad impression of an already disappointing finale.”
    • “If you want your Borderlands experience to avoid any serious tone, you may not like the atmosphere of the game.”
  • character development86 mentions

    Character development in "Tales from the Borderlands" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with players noting that choices significantly impact character relationships and growth throughout the narrative. The writing, humor, and voice acting contribute to a rich storytelling experience, making players feel attached to the characters and invested in their journeys. While some reviews mention a desire for even more character exploration, the overall consensus highlights the game's strong focus on character dynamics and development as a standout feature.

    • “The character development in this game is unparalleled, with the bond between the characters growing and sometimes completely burning, but hey, wouldn't be a choose-your-own-adventure game if you couldn't control who you like, right?”
    • “This is a fantastic story, with rich, well-thought-out character development on many levels.”
    • “The choices you make affect the story, but have more of an effect on the way in which the characters interact with one another, which is why the character development was so important; decision-making is the core mechanic of this style of game, and the fact that Telltale got me to care about the characters was what made me care about the decisions I made and how they affected everyone else.”
    • “Part of the problem is the complete lack of character development.”
    • “We do get character development sure, but most characters aren't fleshed out, or even, flesh-outable. The fact that towards the end of the game I was supposed to feel sad/happy/whatever towards some of the characters was a revelation in itself.”
    • “Character development isn't as good as other Telltale titles go, for example, The Walking Dead Season 1 and 2, and Game of Thrones, The Wolf Among Us.”
  • stability50 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting minor graphical glitches and occasional input issues, but most agree that these do not significantly detract from the overall experience. While some users experienced severe bugs, particularly in the PC port, others found the game to be relatively smooth and well-constructed compared to previous titles from the developer. Despite the presence of glitches, the engaging story and gameplay often overshadow these technical shortcomings.

    • “Awesome game that ran well with no glitches or bugs.”
    • “It's overall bug-free, although I did notice a few graphical glitches from time to time.”
    • “With better lip-syncing and no glitches (the only negative things I can think of for this game).”
    • “However, the PC port was so buggy, it was unplayable at times with crashing and errors on my save.”
    • “A game with barely any gameplay should not suffer from this many glitches.”
    • “The last episode isn't helped by its audio being buggy: the last 30 minutes or so 75% of the spoken dialogue just didn't play at all (thank gods for subtitles).”
  • optimization37 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering, freezing, and input lag, particularly with mouse controls. However, others have noted improvements over previous Telltale titles, reporting smooth transitions and solid performance on mid-range systems. Overall, while the voice acting and narrative are praised, the technical execution remains inconsistent, indicating a need for further optimization.

    • “The game is incredibly well optimized and should be able to be played on nearly every computer from as early as 2009-2010.”
    • “Optimization - 10/10 - I see no problems with the optimization.”
    • “Also, the game's performance is an improvement over other Telltale games.”
    • “Literally unplayable, constant stuttering and freezing despite (according to Steam's displayed FPS) reaching 200+ FPS.”
    • “To start with, the technical performance is a mess.”
    • “My only main issue is that the mouse is terribly optimized and has a 3-second delay in movement.”
  • grinding30 mentions

    Overall, reviews indicate that "Tales from the Borderlands" significantly reduces the grinding typically associated with the series, offering a more narrative-driven experience without the tedious loot collection and combat mechanics. Players appreciate the focus on story and character development, though some still find certain gameplay elements repetitive. The game is praised for its ability to deliver a rich Borderlands experience without the usual grind, making it appealing to both fans and newcomers.

    • “The gameplay makes sense; the quick time events aren't tedious or frustrating.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The game is slow, tedious, and in the first hour none of the humor was actually funny.”
    • “Borderlands titles are a bit one-sided when it comes to their content and could easily be described by several people as 'boring' or 'grindy'.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as a cash grab, yet it surprisingly integrates well into the Borderlands lore, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the absence of microtransactions and commend the development of new characters and backstories, which contribute positively to the game's charm despite initial skepticism.

    • “+ no microtransactions”
    • “In the end, this is obviously a cash grab, but it's a cash grab that made it into the canon lore of the Borderlands.”
    • “I went into this game with very low expectations, thinking it was a shameless cash grab.”
    • “This whole game is an advertisement for Hyperion's Loader Bot.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

11hMedian play time
31hAverage play time
11hMain story
12hCompletionist
6-18hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 36 analyzed playthroughs

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