New Tales from the Borderlands Review — Story, Choices, Editions & Is It Worth Playing?
Gearbox's cinematic adventure puts three ordinary nobodies at the center of a corporate war on Promethea.
New Tales from the Borderlands is a single-player, choice-driven cinematic adventure developed by Gearbox and published by 2K, released on 21 October 2022 for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. You guide three down-on-their-luck civilians — Anu, Octavio and Fran — through a five-part comedy adventure set in the Borderlands universe. Reviews were mixed, but with regular 50% discounts and a Deluxe Edition that includes the beloved original Tales from the Borderlands, it can still be worth a look in 2026 — if you know what you are buying.
Quick verdict:
Buy it on sale if you love narrative adventures and Borderlands humor. Choose the Deluxe Edition — the included original 2014 Tales game is, by most accounts, the better story of the two. Skip it if you want action gameplay or a tightly written story.
New Tales from the Borderlands at a glance
| Game | New Tales from the Borderlands |
| Developer | Gearbox (Gearbox Studio Québec) |
| Publisher | 2K |
| Release date | 21 October 2022 |
| Platforms | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch |
| Genre | Cinematic choice-based adventure |
| Players | 1 (offline play enabled) |
| Length | ~8–10 hours across five episodes |
| Rating | ESRB Mature 17+; PS Store user rating ~3/5 (mixed) |
Table of contents
- What is New Tales from the Borderlands?
- Story and characters
- Gameplay: choices, QTEs and exploration
- Why reviews were so mixed
- Editions and buying advice for 2026
- FAQ
What is New Tales from the Borderlands?
Back in 2014, Telltale Games made Tales from the Borderlands — a story-first spin-off that many fans still consider the best-written game in the entire franchise. New Tales from the Borderlands is not a direct sequel to that game. It is Gearbox's own take on the same idea: a fully in-house, cinematic adventure where you watch the story, make dialogue choices and occasionally walk around small areas to interact with the world.
You do not need to have played any Borderlands game to follow it. The story takes place on the planet Promethea after the events of Borderlands 3, but it stands alone with a mostly new cast. Veterans will spot returning faces like Rhys, the hero of the 2014 game, in a supporting role.
Instead of playing a gun-toting Vault Hunter, you control three ordinary people caught in a corporate invasion: Anu, a brilliant but anxious scientist who dreams of building tech that helps people instead of killing them; her brother Octavio, a fame-hungry hustler who talks way too much; and Fran, a frozen-yogurt shop owner in a hoverchair with serious anger-management issues. Over five episodes, the trio stumbles onto a mysterious crystal with reality-shaking potential — and every weapons corporation on Promethea wants it.
Story and characters
The premise is genuinely promising: a story about nobodies in a universe built for action heroes. And there are moments where it works — the team chemistry improves as the episodes go on, a late-game corporate showdown lands some real satire, and one supporting character (a morally conflicted robot assassin) quietly steals every scene they are in.
The problem, and most reviewers agree on this, is consistency. The writing wants the three leads to be lovable underdogs, but it too often reduces them to walking punchlines. Octavio in particular makes decisions so foolish that the plot would collapse without them, and jokes get repeated long after they stop being funny. There are heartfelt beats — especially around Anu and Fran — but the game keeps interrupting its own emotional moments with another gag.
There is a story here about corporate greed and found family that deserves better pacing. At roughly 8–10 hours, it is short for an adventure game — yet the middle episodes still manage to feel padded, because the plot stalls while the script hunts for the next joke.
Dialogue choices shape relationships and the ending — the actual gameplay is light by design.
Gameplay: choices, QTEs and exploration
If you have played a Telltale-style game before, you know exactly what to expect:
- Dialogue choices that steer conversations, relationships and story outcomes, including who lives, who succeeds and how the finale plays out.
- Quick-time events during action scenes. They are extremely forgiving — fail a prompt and you simply retry, which removes most of the tension.
- Light exploration in small hub areas, where you examine objects, talk to side characters and hunt for collectibles.
- Simple minigames for hacking and repairs. They are pleasant enough but almost impossible to fail, which makes them feel more like speed bumps than gameplay.
One genuinely good addition is Vaultlanders — a silly in-universe collectible figure battle game that parodies toy culture, and fits the tone perfectly. Overall, the interactive layer is serviceable but thin: this is a story you occasionally steer, not a game you master.
Why reviews were so mixed
New Tales from the Borderlands launched to divided reviews, and that has not changed: the PlayStation Store user rating sits at roughly 3 out of 5 stars, and critics were similarly split between "charming but flawed" and "a misfire."
The common ground in almost every review: the cel-shaded presentation and motion-captured performances are strong, the soundtrack has bright moments, and the bones of a good story are visible. The complaints are just as consistent: uneven humor, thin character arcs, boring stretches and quick-time events that undercut their own dramatic scenes. Whether you enjoy it comes down to one question — how much do you love Borderlands humor, and how patient are you when a joke misses?
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fun underdog premise — no Vault Hunters needed | Hit-or-miss writing and recycled jokes |
| Strong presentation and mocap performances | Inconsistent character behavior |
| Short, relaxing, fully offline single-player | Padded middle despite the short runtime |
| Deluxe Edition bundles the superior 2014 original | QTEs and minigames carry no real tension |
Editions and buying advice for 2026
- Standard Edition — $39.99 (all platforms): the five-episode game alone. It is discounted by 50% very regularly, down to about $19.99 — never pay full price for it.
- Deluxe Edition — $49.99: the better deal by far. It includes New Tales plus the complete original Tales from the Borderlands (2014), the fan-favorite Rhys and Fiona story. That is two full narrative games, and the older one is widely considered the stronger title. On sale, the bundle's value is excellent.
- Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box: New Tales is also included in 2K's giant franchise bundle, worth considering if you are new to the series and want everything at once.
- Extras: the only notable add-on is the cosmetic Adventure Capital Pack ($4.99) — completely optional and easy to skip.
Best buying advice:
Wait for a sale (50% off happens constantly), and buy the Deluxe Edition. You effectively get the acclaimed 2014 Tales game for a few extra dollars.
Safe official links
Buy only from official stores. Pirated narrative games are not just illegal — "free download" pages for story games like this are among the most common malware traps, and the game has no multiplayer or live service that a pirate copy could even unlock.
- Steam: New Tales from the Borderlands on Steam
- PlayStation Store: Standard Edition on PlayStation Store and Deluxe Edition (includes the 2014 original)
- Xbox Store: New Tales from the Borderlands on Xbox Store
- Epic Games Store: New Tales from the Borderlands on Epic Games Store
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New Tales from the Borderlands FAQ
Is New Tales from the Borderlands a shooter like the main Borderlands games?
No. It is a cinematic, choice-based adventure. You watch scenes, make dialogue decisions, walk through small areas and complete quick-time events — there is no looter-shooter gameplay.
Do I need to play Borderlands 1–3 or the original Tales first?
No. The story stands alone with a new cast. Borderlands 3 gives context for the setting, and playing the 2014 Tales game makes Rhys's appearances more meaningful, but neither is required.
How long is New Tales from the Borderlands?
Around 8–10 hours across five episodes. Choices and collectibles add some replay value if you want a different ending.
Does New Tales from the Borderlands have multiplayer?
No. It is a purely single-player, offline experience on every platform.
What does the Deluxe Edition include?
The Deluxe Edition includes New Tales from the Borderlands plus the full original Tales from the Borderlands (2014) — the Rhys and Fiona adventure many fans consider the best story in the franchise.
Do choices actually change the story?
Yes. Your decisions affect character relationships, who survives key moments and how the ending plays out, so two playthroughs can end differently.
Is New Tales from the Borderlands worth buying in 2026?
At full price, no — reviews were mixed for a reason. At its frequent 50% sale price, and especially via the Deluxe Edition that bundles the excellent 2014 original, it is an easy recommendation for narrative-game fans.
Final verdict
New Tales from the Borderlands is a sincere attempt at a story-first Borderlands game that never quite recaptures the 2014 classic's magic. The presentation, performances and underdog premise are genuinely appealing, but uneven writing and tension-free gameplay hold it back.
Time and discounts have been kind to it, though: as a cheap, relaxed weekend adventure — ideally bought as the Deluxe Edition so the superb original Tales game comes along too — it is a reasonable pickup for the right player.
Best for: Borderlands fans, Telltale-style adventure lovers, and players who want a short, undemanding story game.
Skip if: you expect shooter gameplay, consistently sharp writing, or full-price value.