How long between Borderlands 1 and 2?

As an avid Borderlands fan, one of the most common questions I see is: what was the time gap between the original loot shooter and its smash hit 2012 sequel? After digging into the timeline across websites,forums and in-game dialogues, the answer is clear – there was a 5 year span between the events of Borderlands 1 and the start of Borderlands 2‘s story.

The Borderlands Timeline Overview

Here‘s a quick snapshot of how the major Borderlands games fit into the chronology:

As you can see, there‘s direct chronological continuity from each game to the next, despite some earlier spinoffs.

What Happened Between the First Two Games?

So other than the 5 year gap, what exact story connections tie Borderlands 1 to 2?

Without getting into spoiler territory, the ending of the first game sees protagonists Roland, Lilith, Mordecai and Brick defeat the Atlas Corporation and take credit for the discovery of new alien technology on Pandora.

Then flash forward 5 years – the characters from the original, now known as Vault Hunters, have become near legendary figures. However a dangerous new foe named Handsome Jack wrestles control from the Dahl Corporation to rule Hyperion and threaten Pandora.

Outside of the return of several protagonists like Roland and Lilith, here are some other story elements that bridge old and new:

• Familiar in-game manufacturers like Atlas, Dahl and Hyperion playing crucial roles
• Returning enemy factions like bandits and skags
• Continuing the hunt for Vaults and Eridium
• Zombie-fied team member from original Borderlands becomes boss

So in narrative terms, Borderlands 2 is clearly set in the same universe with direct plot threads connecting them. However neither the gameplay nor core story hinges on knowing past events in detail.

Let‘s explore that more.

Do I Need to Play the First Game Before Borderlands 2?

For complete franchise fans, absolutely start with the first Borderlands. Understanding the backstories of key characters like Lilith and Roland adds richer context.

However, if focusing solely on Borderlands 2 – it works just as well as for newcomers to the series thanks to an engaging self-contained plot around Handsome Jack and a new Vault key.

Here are two big reasons why no prior experience is needed:

1. Strong Intro Backstory – The opening scenes summarizes relevant past details around Vault hunters, Pandora‘s history and the archenemy Atlas Corporation.
2. Standalone Story – Borderlands 2‘s core villain, Jack, and his plot for a deadly Warrior Vault monster has loose ties to the original game at best.

So feel confident diving into Borderlands 2 first! Just know the deeper character moments and trends around corporations like Atlas may lack some impact without the complete picture.

Reviews and Reception Show Massive Improvements

One clear indicator that Gearbox made Borderlands 2 accessible? The sequel took the franchise mainstream in a huge way.

The first title earned modest MetaCritic review averages between 80-85% depending on platform. Great but not blockbuster level.

Borderlands 2 blew the doors off with Metacritic scores ranging from 89% to 96%.

It also went on to sell nearly 20 million more copies than the original – a gigantic increase for the IP.

So the development team found the perfect formula to create an Experience newcomers and fans alike could enjoy.

Borderlands Story Recap Video

For readers still looking for deeper plot connections between the first Borderlands and sequel, this well produced recap video provides 5+ minutes summarizing key events and themes leading into Borderlands 2:

https://youtu.be/w5_eGgtu9to

The recap gives great visuals and character context around vault hunting origins, leaders like Atlas and Hyperion, Pandora details a more – serving as almost a mini-documentary bridging past to present.

I‘d still argue playing any game first works due to Borderlands 2 telling a satisfying self-contained story. But videos like these help new gamers see the franchise‘s richness.

Let me know if you have any other questions!