Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands may seem like a big change for those that have only played the mainline games in the Borderlands series. After all, a full-on fantasy setting is a bit different from the pyscho-filled wasteland of Pandora. However, those that played through Borderlands 2’s expansions will know that it is not the first time that the series has experimented with fantasy. In fact, its first attempt could be viewed as the main reason that Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is happening.

Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep saw the leading lady creating a Bunkers and Badasses campaign for the Vault Hunters. The equivalent of Dungeons and Dragons, the made-up story was full of hilarious twists and turns as well as some heavier moments. It worked well because of this balance, and its gameplay offered a lot of new enemies to keep things fresh. With an official board game coming after its release, it was clearly a big hit, and Gearbox should keep the DLC in mind when making Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.

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While the Assault on Dragon Keep DLC was terrific, it should not be copied exactly. One of the few negatives of the expansion is that some of the enemies were a lot less fun to fight. While Orcs were a fine stand-in for bandits, and Treants were a great change of pace, there were a few things that were less fun to fight. While the Skeletons in general were great, the Skeleton Seer was frustrating. Teleporting away when shot, these enemies took far too long to deal with. Likewise, while the Knight class was solid, the Badass variants used shields that also made them boring to fight. As such, getting rid of these two Assault on Dragon Keep enemies would go a long way to keeping combat fast and fun.

Further, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ story should be a bit less focused on existing Borderlands characters. While it worked well in Assault on Dragon Keep, as the use of Handsome Jack and Roland made sense so that Tina could deal with her grief, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands should focus on new characters. Will Arnett’s villainous Dragon Lord being presented as the main villain is a good sign, as it suggests that an original narrative is coming. While re-imagining an existing Borderlands story makes sense for a DLC, it is not something that should be repeated in a full game. Though some beloved characters should return in Tina’s made-up story, balancing them out with new cast members is crucial.

However, outside of these changes, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands should pull heavily from Assault on Dragon Keep. Overall, the enemy lineup was terrific, with the Skeleton Seers and Badass Knights being the exception to the rule. Mimics, for example, are a necessity. Tina’s ability to change the environment and enemies should come back, too, as some of the best moments in the DLC saw her doing just that. On top of this, the side quests should offer the same level of entertainment as the ones from Assault on Dragon Keep. With the Borderlands series always doing well with side quests, though, it would be more surprising if Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands did not shine in this area.

All the little touches from Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep will be important to keep in mind as well. While themed music and redesigned weapon machines are obvious examples, things like alternate costumes for returning characters should be remembers. The dice chest should also come back, as players being able to roll for better (or worse) loot fit very well with the fantasy theme. Likewise, the Eridium alters and Pixie boosts should be brought back, as having the option to temporarily boost a character’s abilities was a lot of fun. Lastly, with Butt Stallion confirmed to return, Gearbox should bring back the option to feed her some Eridium chunks in exchange for loot.

With the Ancient Dragons of Destruction being an excellent raid boss, Gearbox should use them as a blueprint for the game’s endgame content. Including several of these fights would be a great way to keep players engaged, while an expanded version of the tower defense side quest would be exciting as well. Finally, including a ton of fantasy-focused easter eggs should be a no-brainer, as the Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones nods were some of the funniest in the DLC. With references to other Fantasy games like Dark Souls and World of Warcraft appearing as well, a similar lighthearted tone would be preferable. With Assault on Dragon Keep doing so many things right, simply making a longer version with some new mechanics would result in a strong successor.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is set for release in 2022 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

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