Tiny Tina’s Wonderland: Next Level Edition – Xbox Series X/S

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands was first teased to the world with unquestionable fanfare. People were ecstatic to dive back into the Borderlands formula under a new skin. A skin that took major influence from one of tabletops biggest mainstays: Dungeons & Dragons. The pair seemed to be a match made in heaven. A game series that loves to break the fourth wall with crazy jokes, respawning gameplay and ‘badass’ enemies that at times make no sense at all. Coupled with the most open-ended roleplaying game in existence promised for a gaming experience like no other.

There is only one thing I really need to answer during this review: did the game hold up to its promises? There is only one way to find out. Scroll straight to the bottom to see the final review score. I mean, read on to find out more!

The World Inside One’s Mind

The world of Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is the creation of -surprising no one- Tiny Tina. A character that has been a much-loved staple in the Borderlands series since its second entry. Playing the Borderlands games beforehand is not important for this game, however. Apart from knowing who a few of the recurring characters are of course. The story is totally separate from the other titles. Mainly down to the fact that the story is a fictitious fabrication. Tiny Tina is a mentally unstable 13-year-old with a penchant for things that go boom. She has a distorted view on the world and the people in it. The world in which we play is a landscape of a roleplaying game with Tiny Tina as its creator and the game’s dungeon master.

Now, is a world created by a crazy teenager really the best setting for a game? I am not so sure. It is a double-edged sword in my opinion. All of the Borderlands games are rated M for mature due to the nature of the games. But Tiny Tina’s is the only one rated T for teens. I appreciate the fact that it reflects the age of the character who created the world that we play in. It would be plainly weird for the game to have mature content in this regard. But on the other hand, it feels like part of the Borderlands DNA is missing. I think it would have been more appropriate for the game to take place during the events of Borderlands 3 when Tina is an adult. Then it would be both acceptable and expected of the DNA of the series to have more mature content. Then it would be a win-win for everyone.

Critical Hit!

Of course, there are many things that the game does right. I love that it is based upon D&D. And I love all the subtle winks and nods to the tabletop behemoth that comes with it. It never fails to make me smile when I hear a companion say something like “this is my best power, but I can only use it once a day”. The ‘game’ is being played by yourself and 2 other role-players. All 3 of these characters and Tiny Tina herself will often chime in with narration or remarks that will remind you that you are in a game within a game. These comments can often cause Tina to warp and change the world around you based on her feelings and responses. It is these moments that I like the most.

I love the world that Tiny Tina has created. The world is only amplified by the amazing voice actors that accompany the characters in the world. Seeing characters voiced by well-known comedic actors such as Andy Samberg and Will Arnett is an absolute joy. They bring some real personality to characters that could easily be cut and dry otherwise. Some of the best moments will come from Tiny Tina’s dungeon master skills. Such as there being a cheese puff on the board that she is too stubborn to admit was simply there by mistake. And then she makes a quest up on the spot to deal with said cheese puff and plays it off as intentional.

Tiny Tina herself is one of the most endearing characters. She starts the game off by setting up ridiculous plot lines and structures, which is put into question by the characters playing her game. These narrative back-and-fourths are the main device for character development. And it is within these moments that you will grow to love each of the cast in their own ways. It quickly becomes apparent that Tiny Tina is a deeply troubled girl who is lonely to her core. Assault on Dragon’s Keep DLC for Borderlands 2 was used as a way for Tiny Tina to process her grief over the death of Roland (a playable character from the first game). This game seems to be the process of Tina overcoming her deep-rooted loneliness. This makes her one of the most interesting -and real- characters in all of the Borderlands games.

One of the things I have always loved in the Borderlands games has been the enemy designs. And Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is no exception. At first, I was a little annoyed that all the enemies were just skeletons and goblins but it soon opens up to more interesting enemy types. Like killer mushroom colonies.

Saving Throws!

There of course will always be a dark underbelly to anything. Unfortunately, with me having an extensive history with the previous Borderlands games, and having a sound understanding of D&D, it is easy for me to see between the seams. Don’t take that sourly. There is nothing game-breaking here, it’s just that there isn’t enough to differentiate itself from the standard Borderlands formula. And for most people, that will be perfectly fine. This is what they want. For me though, I wanted something more. I wanted the fantasy world to truly engulf me in its fantasticalness. Side note, it turns out fantasticalness is an actual word, who knew.

I was hoping the guns would be swapped out for swords and crossbows. I was hoping the shield barriers would be replaced with, well normal shields. I was hoping the sci-fi elements would be replaced completely to give me a new gaming experience. But the guns are still guns, the shield barriers are still the same and it feels like the only thing that has been changed are the enemy types. Now instead of skags running amok everywhere, there is now goblins. But that only gets you so far. Even the grenades feel the same, even if they are now spells. In a game series where grenades can be charged with different damage types, bounce around, stick to things and home in on enemies, spells that do the same thing feels, well, the same.

The random encounters will wear on you pretty quickly. Being ambushed in the bobble-headed overworld will see you facing off with a group of enemies. This will happen in rinse and repeat areas with rinse and repeat enemies. And some of the side content will be rinse and repeats of this process. Some of the things that bug me come from my incessant craving for the fantasy world I was hoping for and expecting. Skeletons with guns. Just, why? I was craving fantasy-designed enemies to go up against. Giving fantasy-style enemies guns is such a backwards design choice.

Final Thoughts

I love the Borderlands games. I love the lore. I love the characters. I love the wackiness. Playing Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands seems to be a bit of a step back though, unfortunately. Even though I love the premise of the game. I love the voice actors introduced to the franchise. There is a lot to love about the game. Unfortunately, with the T rating, I feel as though they have limited themselves in some ways. It does feel like a Borderlands game, only one for a younger generation. One that I am not part of. I find myself wishing I had my hands on Borderlands 5 instead.

That being said. Just because I feel like I am not the direct target audience, doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate it for what it is. I don’t usually bring age ratings into reviews but I really do think any prospective buyer should take the T rating into consideration. I feel as though that age range will take the most from the game. I also feel as though the less you have played of the Borderlands games, the more you will enjoy Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. Unless of course you aren’t tired yet of the Borderlands formula. It is also a good game to play some classic couch co-op. Either way, it is an enjoyable game that will have you smiling with its quirkiness.