Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsmay do some things to differentiate itself from the series it spawned from, but theBorderlandsDNA is very much present within the spin-off. From therenamedBorderlandsweapon manufacturersto the game’s weapon rarities and red text, a lot of the adventure through Tina’s fictional world should feel familiar.
With the influence ofBorderlandsso clearly present inTiny Tina’s Wonderlands, it would only make sense for the nextBorderlandsgame to learn some lessons fromTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsas well. Based on the feedback fans have provided regarding Tina’s standalone game, there are some things that would be a perfect fit forBorderlands 4and others that would not.
RELATED:Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands Seen as Best Borderlands Launch in Years by Take-Two
What Borderlands 4 Should Pull From Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
While addingTiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ spellswould be impossible, as magic has no place in the groundedBorderlandsuniverse, Gearbox should aim to provide some more spell-like grenades inBorderlands 4. The fact that players can make entire builds around spellcasting is incredible, as it correctsBorderlands 3’s problem of grenades becoming incredibly weak and not worth using in higher difficulties. Both the damage output and the unique effects should be translated over to grenades going forward.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ Chaos Chamberendgame content and the game’s approach to side missions should carry over toBorderlands 4as well. The Chaos Chamber is a great endgame mode with plenty of depth, and if it was featured alongside some traditional raid bosses inBorderlands 4, players would have a lot to do with their maxed out characters. As for the side quests, having long, major missions like “The Ditcher” that introduce their own locations is something that should be the new norm. The major side quests inTiny Tina’s Wonderlandswere just as memorable as the main quests, so adding in some more in-depth optional content would be welcome.
Lastly,Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsdecision to ditch vehiclesin favor of the Overworld map is somethingBorderlands 4should mimic. A lack of vehicles meant more focused maps, with players getting to shoot and loot more often. There were no overly large distances to traverse or clunky vehicle mechanics to engage with, as players consistently got to seeBorderlandsgameplay at its best on some brilliantly designed maps. The Overworld was very charming as well, andBorderlands 4could see gamers riding Outrunners through top-down areas - allowing the vehicles to feature in a less intrusive manner.
What Borderlands 4 Should Avoid Taking From Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
WhileTiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ character creator is great, and would make a stellar addition to aBorderlandsMMO orTiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2, it should be avoided in the nextBorderlandsgame. Having a cast of Vault Hunters with their own stories and set abilities is part ofBorderlands’ DNA, and that should not be changed in favor of player-made Soldiers and Sirens. A character creator would mean losing proper Vault Hunters that could appear in future titles, so it should be kept away from the mainline games.
Finally,the negativity surroundingTiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ DLCis proof that proper expansions should continue to be released for majorBorderlandsgames. While the Mirrors of Mystery were an attempt to try something new, significant expansions with side quests, new areas, and a fresh story are far more preferable. IfBorderlands 4wants to avoid a similar level of backlash, Gearbox should return to its old DLC approach. With this being one ofTiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ only major negatives, though, there is a lot that should be pulled from this spin-off.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
