Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsis an entertaining offshoot of theBorderlandsseries, trading grungy sci-fi for swords and sorcery, but maintaining theBorderlandsstyle (and gameplay). Despite the newness of the setting, the game is similar to otherBorderlandstitles in several ways. For example,it has four add-on campaigns planned,just like the three mainline games. In the other games, each expansion pack tended to focus on specific characters. IfTiny Tina’sWonderlandsoperates similarly, there’s a chance fans will see returningBorderlandscharacters headlining the different add-ons.
Although the Wonderlands themselves are an imaginary world dreamed up by Tiny Tina, pastBorderlandscharacters can still show up. They’ve appeared before either as Tina’s depiction of that person or as someone stopping by to join the game, like Mr. Torgue inAssault on Dragon Keep. Here are a few characters that would make good additions to the Wonderlands.
10Mordecai
This OG Vault Hunter is no stranger to Tina’s game. He appeared inDragon Keepas the disinterested player, alongside savvy Lilith and combat enthusiast Brick. Brick appears inWonderlandsas the “Fairy Punchfather,” meaning the other two have a chance to appear as well.
Mordecai would likely be the more interesting choice, since Lilith is a Bunkers & Badasses pro, and Tina’s half-adherance to the rules is a big part of what makes the Wonderlands great. Seeing the game from the eyes of a player who’s still learning has comedic potential, and he could also give players a wyvern spell based on his old friend Bloodwing.
9Zer0
This mysterious assassin was introduced inBorderlands 2and appeared again in3, as well as spinoffTales From The Borderlands,but he remains as secretive as ever.Developer Gearbox may or may not want to keep his mystique intact, but they could go eithere route.
Giving Zer0 him the opportunity to express himself through a tabletop RPG, which is already a means which several characters use to cope with reality or explore different aspects of their selves, could be a way to flesh out the assassin without necessarily exposing all his secrets. Plus, it would be interesting to hear some Dungeons & Dragons themed haiku.
8Maya
Maya is a Siren,and one of the core Vault Hunters fromBorderlands 2. She appeared as a guest inBorderlands 3, but her story didn’t end well.Wonderlandsprovides an opportunity to give the character a little more content.
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Unlike some of her fellow Vault Hunters, not much is known about Maya’s actual character, and a game of Bunkers & Badasses might be a good way to reveal some more. Surely, Gearbox is aware people would like to see Maya again, if her brief appearance in Krieg’s Fustercluck is any indication.
7Tannis
The series' resident mad scientist, Tannis has been a side character since the first game,and has gradually taken on a more central role. She’s best known for her neuroses and lack of social skills, so it would be interesting to see her interpretation of the Wonderlands, which is shaped by its players.
It may be out of character for her to play a game with other people, especially in theBorderlands 2time period, but perhaps Tina could rope her into joining somehow.
6Gaige
The Mechromancer, first added inBorderlands 2, is an interesting character who didn’t get much in-game focus. She’s a high schooler, a robotics engineer, and a fugitive on the run from law enforcement after one of her projects killed a fellow student by accident, but all this is only mentioned in promotional materials outside the game.
Gaige did make an appearance as a supporting character in theGuns, Love, and TentaclesDLC forBorderlands 3,but a little more wouldn’t hurt. Her personal style would make a good fit in Tina’s Wonderlands.
5Jakobs
One of the new characters introduced inBorderlands 3, Wainwright Jakobs is also one of the most interesting. He is defined by his love for Sir Hammerlock, and his efforts to be a worthy successor tohis father’s gun manufacturing legacy. Since his appearances in-game are all business, it would be interesting to see him in a less serious setting.
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Plus, some characters introduced inBorderlands 3make cameo appearances inWonderlands: Barista Lorelei appears as Paladin Mike, and bounty hunter Clay appears as the Wastard. Spending some downtime with Jakobs would be fun as well, although the timeframe might be off: Jakobs was in a very different position inBorderlands 2than he is when he appears in3.
4Salvadore
Another original Vault Hunter fromBorderlands 2, Salvadore is the raucous Gunzerker. His eccentric, yet violent style would make a good fit for the Wonderlands, and he’s one of the pastBorderlandscharacters with the least content.Along with Commando Axton,the only bonus appearance he made was as the host of a DLC side mode in3,so fans would love to see more of him.
Salvadore even has a tenuous connection to Tina’s RPG. InAssault on Dragon Keep, Tina makes all the dwarven enemies in Salvadore’s image (and checks with him to make sure that’s okay). If he was to appear inWonderlands, he’s got a ready-made spot as King of the Dwarves.
3Marcus
Series narrator from game one, Marcus Kincaid is a greedy arms dealer who never fails to appear alongside each game’s main cast to sell them guns. He doesn’t appear inWonderlands, which makes sense at first. The Wonderlands is about adventure and imagination, and Marcus is about profits.
He might be a better fit than he appears, though. Marcus always appears as a narrator telling a story, which is at the core ofWonderlands, and the core of Dungeons & Dragons as well. The only issue might be that if Marcus is running an RPG, the story he tells could just end up beingBorderlands.
2Handsome Jack
The villain ofBorderlands 2, and of Tina’sAssault on Dragon Keep,Jack is easily the most memorable villain in the series. He’s an unrepentant, arrogant murderer who firmly believes he’s ridding the universe of bad people. He made several reappearances after his death, including multiple DLC campaigns in the form of old recordings, as the villain in Tales in the form of an AI replica, and even his own prequel game detailing his backstory.
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As one of Tina’s RPG antagonists, his reappearance as the “Handsome Sorcerer” would be as easy as Tina deciding to use him again. Hanging out with Jack is always a good time, though it is a shame that Gearboxhasn’t been able to come up with another villain as good. Perhaps it would be better not to over-rely on him.
1Loader Bot
A breakout star in Tales From The Borderlands, Loader Bot is a standard Hyperion combat robot that develops into a genuine friend. He also has a terrifying role as hostage taker as framing element, undercover in a concealing cape and hood.
When Beastmaster Fl4k was revealed as a playable Vault Hunter in Borderlands 3, some people theorized, perhaps hoped, they were Loader Bot because they’re a killer robot wearing a large coat. That ended up not being the case, butother characters fromTalesdid show up in the game.There’s still an opportunity to bring Loader Bot back for a little bonus adventure inWonderlands.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsis available on Epic Games, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PS5 and PS4.
