When the firstBorderlandsgame was released in 2009, it broke the FPS mold in a myriad of ways. In a time when every shooter felt like aCall of Dutyclone focused on representing realistic warfare,Borderlandschose to do something different. It was a risk that paid off and Borderlands' cel-shaded graphics, scatological sense of humor, and looter-shooter mechanics earned it a legion of loyal fans.
Much like deciding which isthe best Borderlands game, choosing the hardest entry in the franchise is largely a matter of opinion. The series has evolved a lot over the years, and each game features different mechanics, character classes, and progression systems. Later games have also put greater emphasis on super-difficult post-game content and modes. For this list, we’re ranking the games based mainly on the experience of playing through the main storyline, and side quests, while taking into account the differences between playing solo and with friends.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsmight be aDungeons and Dragons-flavored spin-off, but it carries pretty much all the hallmarks of aBorderlandsgame. Generally speaking, the game was well received by both fans and critics, but there were a handful ofthings its inevitable sequel can improve upon, one of which is the game’s difficulty. In making the game more solo-player-friendly and story-focused, the developers dialed back the difficulty to the point where certain parts of the game became a cakewalk.
For example, thanks to the game’s fantasy setting, grenades were ditched in favor of spells. Some of these spells can be insanely overpowered, even if the player’s build isn’t magic-focused. Likewise, a heightened emphasis on melee builds makes running around and simply smacking enemies to death easier than ever. On the one hand, the lessened difficulty makesTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsthe most approachable title in the series, but on the other, seasoned players likely won’t feel challenged until they reach the endgame content, like the Chaos Chambers.
Despite its lower ranking, the originalBorderlands, one ofthe best “apunkalypse” games ever made, can still be plenty difficult. There are no sections with AI-controlled allies to help the player out, the gunplay is much more basic (and arguably requires more skill), and in general, there are fewer systems that hold the player’s hand. However, the original’s relative simplicity is also what arguably makes it easier than later games.
For a start, there is a lot less to keep track of. The player doesn’t need to worry about building an optimized character or juggling ever-more complicated systems. Instead, they just need to pick the gun that has the highest numbers attached to it and kill what the game tells them to kill. This is made easier by the fact that there’s not that much enemy variety and the enemy AI is less aggressive than in later games. The game also lacks its sequels' level scaling and advanced difficulty modes. This means that as long as the player makes sure to keep tackling side missions and quests, it’s surprisingly easy to become over-leveled. Once that happens, ignoring group-focused content like Crawmerax, the rest of the game is a total breeze.
RankingBorderlands 3based on its difficulty isn’t easy. Playing through the storyline and side quests the first time around really isn’t all that hard. The story has plenty of set pieces where allies help the player out, and the game adds alternate fire modes and weapon abilities that can make your character feel much stronger than in earlier games.Borderlands 3is also much more generous when it comes to handing out rare loot, and it’s much easier to make a good build.
The sheer abundance of content also means it is easier than ever before to out-level the story missions and feel overpowered. However, some of this is canceled out by the improved enemy AI and more dynamic combat encounters. The game also has some ofBorderlands' best boss fights, and bosses like Rampager and Tyreen demand quick reflexes and precise shooting to take down. Of course, the elephant in the room is Mayhem Mode. We said earlier that we wouldn’t talk about post-game modes too much, but Mayhem Mode is too big a part ofBorderlands 3to ignore. It ups the difficulty significantly by enhancing enemy strength and adding random modifiers. Without the proper preparation and a ton of grinding, the higher levels feel downright insurmountable. Oddly, this meansBorderlands 3can simultaneously seem like one of the easiest and hardestBorderlandsgames, landing it mid-ranking.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequelmade a handful of additions to the franchise formula that make it just a little harder than other entries in the franchise. Chief among these are its low-gravity environments and oxygen management system, both of which add a welcome layer of complexity to both combat and exploration. The altered physics can impact both movement and aiming, making it harder to land critical hits and dodge certain enemies' attacks. While the oxygen system was never too grueling, it added something else to worry about in the heat of battle, especially during drawn-out firefights.
The game also features some of the franchise’s more difficult boss encounters, with bosses like Zarpedon easily crushing under-leveled players. ThePre-Sequel’slater areas include a difficulty spike that makes farming side missions for levels almost compulsory, especially for solo players.Borderlands: The Pre-Sequelmight be one ofthe best prequel games of all time, but completing it is no walk in the park.
Many fans ofBorderlandsbelieve the franchise peaked withBorderlands 2. Its story was a big step up from the original, and it introduced a ton of gameplay improvements while avoiding some of the problems that plagueBorderlands 3. It’s easily one ofthe best looter-shooters ever made, and it is just as fun to play now as it was over ten years ago. But that’s not to say the game’s perfect. Its difficulty can be a problem, especially for solo players.
For a start, the game’s enemies scale aggressively with the player’s level, which means the player rarely gets to feel overpowered. This is made worse by the fact that certain enemy types are annoyingly spongy, while others, like the constructor, are nearly always a pain to deal with. Some encounters throw so many powerful enemies at the player at once that it’s easy for solo players to be left overwhelmed, especially when some enemies can almost one-shot the player through their shields.Borderlands 2also has some of the franchise’s most difficult bosses, many of whom have insane health pools, punishing attacks, and a nasty habit of spawning extra enemies. Finally, the game’s skills trees and character classes allow for a ton of experimentation, which is great. Unfortunately, all the synergies aren’t always that clear, and creating an optimized character can be a daunting task. Poorly designed builds, especially with some classes, can mean the player is left struggling towards the game’s end and in the more difficult areas of the DLCs, especially Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep. Difficulty may be subjective, but these factors meanBorderlands 2gets the top ranking here, and that’s without mentioning the horrors of Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode.
