Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel was created by 2K Australia in collaboration with Gearbox Software and released in 2014 as a prequel set between the first and second games in the series, filling a gap in the story that explains the transformation of one of its key characters. The story takes place on the moon Elpis and follows four mercenaries, among them the future villain Handsome Jack, before he became the tyrannical ruler of Hyperion, giving players an unconventional look at a beloved character from a different, less clear-cut side.

The core of the gameplay stays true to the series. It is a looter shooter combining a first-person shooter with RPG elements: collecting a massive amount of weapons with randomly generated properties, levelling up and developing the skill trees of the individual playable characters. Players can play solo or in co-op with up to three other friends, a typical and popular way to play Borderlands. The low gravity on Elpis adds new gameplay elements such as long jumps, forward-thrusting slams and oxygen bubbles needed to survive outside inhabited areas, giving the action a new, more vertical dimension compared with previous instalments set on the planet Pandora, and it also introduces new ice and laser weapons that make use of the specifics of the space environment.

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel was received as a solid, though not entirely groundbreaking extension of the formula the series had established. Fans appreciated the new space flavour and the deeper insight into Handsome Jack's story, although some critics saw the game more as a larger expansion than a full sequel with its own identity. Even so, the instalment found its place as a popular bridge between the first two big games in the series and a pleasant change of pace for fans waiting for the next major sequel, especially for those who wanted to try fighting in low gravity.