Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands looks to be an exciting entry in the Borderlands series, as it is bringing back the fantasy approach that fans loved so much in Assault on Dragon Keep. It is also placing Tiny Tina in the starring role, with the explosives-loving child bringing her over-the-top personality to the experience. However, players may be wondering if they will finally be playing as her inside of Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.
Gearbox has kept details to a minimum regarding its playable characters, as it is unclear if they will be like the Vault Hunters from other games or fully original. Alongside the new multi-class system, character customization has been highlighted, with players possibly making their own protagonists from scratch. While this would fit with the game’s Dungeons and Dragons theme, it also seems to suggest that Tiny Tina is not going to be a playable character.
Why Tiny Tina Likely Won’t Be Playable In Wonderlands
While Tiny Tina could certainly have an interesting move set if she were to become playable, it is hard to imagine a scenario where that ever happens. Gearbox has confirmed that Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is set after Borderlands 2. Specifically, it occurs shortly after Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, meaning that she is only going to be thirteen years old during the new game. While Tina is far from the average teenager, the game is surely going to be violent, so having a young girl being shot to death would likely not be a good look for Gearbox.
Aside from Tina’s age being a factor, and some possible character creation making her less likely, the title implies she will take a backseat role. Other Borderlands content has shared this naming convention, with Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot and Psycho Kreig and the Fantastic Fustercluck being two examples of this. In these expansions, Moxxi and Krieg featured heavily in the story, guiding characters throughout every quest. However, neither was playable, with the Vault Hunters instead doing their bidding. As such, the same thing happening in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands would make sense.
Why Tiny Tina Not Being Playable In Wonderlands Is A Good Thing
While some may be let down by Tiny Tina not being playable in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, it could turn out to be a positive. Gearbox has confirmed that she will be changing the story of Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands at will, replicating the tone of Assault on Dragon Keep. With this in mind, her being placed on the sidelines could give her the chance to be involved in the narrative more. With one big Borderlands 3 mistake seeing Tina’s role lessened, giving her a lot of time in the spotlight is great. Tina being the Dungeon Master instead of a playable character makes sense, as it ensures she gets more unique dialogue.
Not only do Borderlands’ Vault Hunters have less dialogue than proper NPCs, but hearing Tina talk to herself would be a bit strange. With Tina confirmed to be leading the story, giving herself a major role as a playable character could get troublesome. While hearing Tina essentially talk to herself would be fun for a bit, it could quickly become both confusing and distracting. If she is talking to players through their ECHO devices, having the playable version talk right back would be strange. As such, avoiding a playable Tiny Tina allows Gearbox to focus fully on making her a great dungeon master.
Perhaps when Gearbox makes a proper Borderlands 4, players will have the opportunity to control an adult Tina. For now, though, having her continue as a guide makes sense. While there are a lot of Assault on Dragon Keep features that should make a comeback in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, none are as crucial as her narration. Tina not being playable preserves that style, and gamers can expect good things because of that. As such, unless Gearbox says otherwise, Borderlands fans should expect Tiny Tina to be an NPC instead of a playable character. Based on what Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is trying to do, that should certainly be more exciting than disappointing.
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is set for release in 2022 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.