Another area where Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands builds on what the previous Borderlands games offered is its class system. Adapting what players would come to expect from a Borderlands title and presenting a very much new and improved version is one of the reasons Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands has had such a successful launch, even compared to other entries in the franchise. Its fantasy focus, fun overworld, and tabletop features have been well received by fans, and many think there are elements – such as the class system – that would transition perfectly into Borderlands 4.
RELATED: How Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands Compares to the Borderlands Trilogy
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands Class System
Players have the chance to completely customize their Fatemaker, picking not only how they look but also their background and voice as well. Once this is done, gamers have the chance to choose one of six distinct classes, from the necromancer Graveborn to the mage-like Spellshot. Each of Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ six classes has two action skills, one skill tree, and one class feat, with a variety of moves that can cause elemental damage or hurl weaponry to cause a great deal of destruction.
Things get even more interesting when players choose a secondary class during the course of their playthrough, opening up the options when it comes to action skills and skill trees. Some classes also come with their own companions that can be summoned to help in combat, which adds to the colorful carnage. In comparison to Borderlands’ fairly restrictive four-class structure, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands really opens things up and gives players a lot more agency when it comes to choosing how they want to approach combat.
How Borderlands 4 Could Utilize It
While the next Borderlands game hasn’t technically been announced yet, many have speculated that it’s already in development. Comments on Twitter from Randy Pitchford, co-founder and CEO of Gearbox Software, seemed to confirm that the next Borderlands is in the works - or at least that is what fans are interpreting from his assurance that “we’re working on the big one.” It makes sense that the franchise would continue to capitalize on its success, especially with the positive reception Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands received.
That said, there are a few tweaks fans would like to see to the typical Borderlands formula. The traditional setup – where players can pick one of the four classes of the preset characters – needs to be re-evaluated in the wake of Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. The freedom it gave players to not only create their own character but to also pick from six different classes and then select a subclass to further customize their playstyle was a really positive step in the right direction. It was also one of the elements of Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands in particular that received a lot of praise. Vault Hunters with set personalities and backstories could still be integral to Borderlands 4, but there needs to be a way to customize the classes.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands really expanded the class system and showed how creative players could get with their characters. With a variety of spells and even companions to help liven up the combat experience, the game rejuvenated the Borderlands format. While spells wouldn’t really translate into the next Borderlands, classes need a more setting-appropriate version of it to replace or enhance the standard grenade. The inclusion of melee weapons is also a must for the next game, even if the main focus still centers on the FPS action that has categorized the Borderlands franchise.
Whatever the next Borderlands game shapes up to be, it might be hard for players to go back to the classic four-class system where they’re expected to stay in their lanes. Bringing more classes to the table, as well as the opportunity to somehow mix and match abilities, would definitely be a positive addition to Borderlands 4.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is available for PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE: The Case for Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2 Before Borderlands 4
