Before its release,Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandslooked to be the next great installment to theBorderlandsfranchise. Not only did it have the aesthetic fans loved fromTiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, but it cleverly integrated that aesthetic into its gameplay through spells and the ability to mix and match classes.
Despite its potential and a solid foundation,Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandswould have an incredibly hard time retaining players. Though it was a unique spin on the franchise, it did not manage to live up to the hype that was set for it. This is due to a variety of things, but the game’s post-launch struggles can mainly be attributed to its marketing.
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How Gearbox Marketing Misled Fans
Despite its current state,Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands' successwas celebrated by the CEO of Gearbox Software, Randy Pitchford. He would go on to say that the game shattered financial expectations and newWonderlands"experiences" were in the works. However, it should be noted that the game did not manage to captivate and retain players as much as previousBorderlandsgames. Its average player count according to Steam charts is significantly lower thanBorderlands 2, a game that is over a decade old. Somewhere along the way,Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandslost its ability to keep players coming back like previous entries in the series.
One of the things that led to the game’s eventual downfall was its paid post-release content. Four different DLCs are available, all at the price of $9.99 each. Each one adds a bit of new content in the form of new bosses and enemies, along with the occasional class. Using Steam as a metric once again, it is obvious to see thatTiny Tina’s Wonderlands' DLCwas not met warmly. The highest approval rating is currently 19%, which is abysmal considering the franchise’s previous history with DLCs. Many reviews complain that each DLC features only 30 minutes of content, making them not worth the purchase.
It should also be noted that none of the Mirrors of Mystery are proper story expansions like those that are featured in the mainBorderlandsgames. Though the Mirrors add some rooms toTiny Tina’s Wonderlands' Chaos Chambersendgame activity once complete, they are far from the DLC formatBorderlandsfans have come to love. This is a missed opportunity considering how the game’sDungeons and Dragonsaesthetic makes it perfect for new “campaigns.” Unfortunately, players likely expected traditional expansions when buying the more expensive versions of the game or the Season Pass. At the very least, they would have expected more than 30 minutes of content from a $10 DLC pack, as the marketing failed to make it clear just how short each quest was.
Another issue that accompaniesTiny Tina’s Wonderlands' marketing is that it was basically advertised as aBorderlandsgame, but in reality, it is the leastBorderlands-esque game in the franchise. This not inherently a bad thing, as re-imagining the franchise is what keeps many longrunning series afloat. However, it also means that big changes may be made that players do not expect. For example, farming gear in previousBorderlandsgames came with set drop rates. Though they could be marginally improved, all players were essentially on an equal playing field in terms of luck. InTiny Tina’s Wonderlands, luck diceare considered a necessity because players start with an assigned luck stat. This stat is low at first, but gets higher as they collect more luck dice. While this was a good way of making sure players did not rely on overpowered legendary weapons in the early game, it also took something away from the classicBorderlandsmechanics.
Though it isn’t ablack sheep of the franchise likeBorderlands: The Pre-Sequel, it is a shame thatTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsdid not receive the same treatment asBorderlands 3post-launch. Though there is still a bright future for theWonderlandsbrand, the poorly marketed DLC may have been the nail in the coffin for the first game.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
