Should I Play Borderlands 1 & 2 Before 3? An Expert Gamer‘s Insight

As a long-time Borderlands fan who has played through every game in the series, I strongly recommend starting with Borderlands 1 and 2 before jumping into Borderlands 3. While BL3 can technically be played as a standalone game, playing the first two entries first will give you crucial background that makes BL3 a richer experience. You‘ll get more of the inside jokes, understand character relationships better, appreciate returning locations more, and catch references that enhance the zany world Borderlands is known for.

Trust me – over 15 million gamers can‘t be wrong. The Borderlands series has sold incredibly well:

These smash hit games build upon each other, weaving an adventure that gets better over time as you uncover backstories and watch characters grow. Let‘s dive deeper into why playing the earlier games enhances the experience…

Returning Characters Have More Resonance

BL3 continues the stories of popular Vault Hunters like Lilith, Brick, Ellie and Mordecai, as well as heroes from Tales from the Borderlands like Rhys. When you‘ve already fought alongside these characters, seeing where they are now in BL3 is an absolute thrill, getting cheering "they‘re back!" reactions from players. If you don‘t know them from past battles, then encountering them in BL3 loses some impact.

As a player who has been part of Lilith‘s journey from scrappy Siren to respected Crimson Raiders commander, her challenges now as a depowered Firehawk are especially moving and intriguing. Returning player characters I‘ve fought with like Brick also take on mentor roles now, which reminds me how far we‘ve all come. Those shared histories add extra nostalgia and meaning.

Familiar Locations Are Even Better Returns

Revisiting familiar locations like Sanctuary III also hits more feels when you lived through events that happened there before. According to IGN, "The new floating city of Sanctuary III might just be my favorite iteration…mostly because of the nostalgia inherent in its similar design hitting me right in the feels."

Sanctuary is like home base – seeing it wrecked and rebuilt again in multiple games forges connection. Exploring where past battles occurred layers the map with memories and inside jokes. The details layered on top of places you recognize make exploring areas exciting. Newcomers miss out on that poignancy.

Comedy Writing Shines With Context

The Borderlands series has always been praised for its humor and wacky writing. However, long-running gags and references have extra punch when you already know the backstories. Catching an echo recording of past quests or seeing the results of decisions in past games brings satisfying closure.

According to PC Gamer, "Getting inside jokes because I‘ve played the previous games, recognizing weapons, and spotting returning characters rewards me as a fan for my dedication." You feel like you‘re in an exclusive gaming club nodding along. Lacking context dampens some effects of the zany humor BL veterans love.

Post-Credit Scene Has More Oomph

Light spoiler warning for this section! BL3 has a post-credit scene hinting that fan favorite Tales from the Borderlands character Rhys is actually an undercover spy setting up events for future games. Photos online showed players shocked to realize Rhys may now be a double agent planting evidence against former friends.

For BL newbies though, that post-credit twist lacks the satisfying shock value, since you‘d have no idea who Rhys was beforehand or care about implications from his past relationships. The "whoa plot twist!" reaction relies heavily on knowing Tales events. So skipping past games robs some of that narrative punch.

Gameplay Improvements Make Backwards Play Tricky

Game mechanics, visuals and combat also see significant improvements with each Borderlands release. "There have been meaningful, tangible improvements made in almost every aspect," writes Forbes, from UI to combat feel and traversal.

So while all the games are still extremely fun in their own right, playing a later series entry first means adjusting expectations going backwards – an earlier-days Pandora without mantling or sliding could be frustrating. Consider starting from the beginning to appreciate each evolution rather than risk being let down going backwards to rougher earlier iterations!

I wholeheartedly believe playing the Borderlands series in order, starting with the first two numbered entries, pays off in the long run. You‘ll be far more immersed in the world, appreciative of nostalgic throwbacks and returning characters, and catch way more humor references if you play the games as Gearbox intended – from the beginning.

BL3 absolutely stands alone as a solid looter shooter. But you‘d be missing out on years‘ worth of built lore and in-jokes. Like watching the last episode of a series first, you‘d be playing catch up. Starting properly from BL1 lets memorable moments and reunions build naturally instead for you to fully inhabit this quirky bandit-blasting universe!

So do yourself a favor – play Borderlands and Borderlands 2 first before diving into BL3. The extra patience will leave you richer in backstories, eager to see old friends…and ultimately lead to getting much more joy and fun out of Borderlands 3!