Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands has proven to be a major success for Gearbox, with many pleased to see another fantasy-focused entry in the Borderlands series. Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep was already beloved, so it is no surprise that a bigger story with the same theme turned out to be a hit. However, while future entries in the series seem very likely, it may be worth giving the fantasy setting a break.
While Bunkers and Badasses is very much inspired by Dungeons and Dragons, that does not mean that the Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands series needs to confine itself to a fantasy world. While more battles with goblins, wyverns, and other creatures could be enjoyable, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2 jumping to a whole new setting would be ideal. A cyberpunk universe might just be the perfect fit, and Gearbox already has plenty of sources to pull from.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2’s Cyberpunk Setting Could Pull From Past Borderlands Content
Those that purchased Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ Treasure Trove not only received a Butt Stallion plushie and a buildable version of Brighthoof’s Castle, but they also got their hands on a real-life Bunkers and Badasses module. This cute item allows players to enjoy the fictional game in real life, but it shakes things up by taking players to the future instead of the past. The campaign featured in this collector’s item could influence the sequel, inspiring a switch from fantasy to cyberpunk.
The module sees players exploring NeoGunz City, a futuristic world of Tina’s creation. Characters are described as “part robot,” a classic cyberpunk trope, with figures like the arms dealer Marcus becoming Cyber-Marcus. Hyperius serves as the villainous corporation at the heart of the story, a fun play on Hyperion and a nod to Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ name for the manufacturer. Characters like Gaige and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel’s Pickle make some appearances, with the brief-but-entertaining campaign being ripe for a video game adaptation.
As for what Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2’s hypothetical cyberpunk world would look like, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel’s Claptastic Voyage DLC provides the perfect groundwork for such a release. Widely seen as the best part of the divisive game, the expansion featured an area called the Nexus that looked incredibly high-tech. A similar aesthetic for NeoGunz City could be a perfect fit, and it would not even be the only source of inspiration available to Gearbox.
Borderlands 3’s Promethea was a futuristic planet that already boasted a cyberpunk-like aesthetic, so it too could be an influence on Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2 and a potential futuristic setting. From there, the gameplay could do a lot of the heavy lifting, with futuristic guns and outfits seen in place of old timey armor and crossbow-like weaponry. Enemies could have a high-tech look and attacks fitting of the setting they come from, while the character creator from Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands could be expanded to include some advanced prosthetics, robotic skin options, and a greater variety of clothing choices.
The best thing about Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2 switching to a cyberpunk setting is that it would not get in the way of what made the original work. The charming Overworld map could remain in place, as could the multi-class system that gives players more control of how their character plays. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ melee system could be kept intact, too, with energy swords and knives replacing traditional metal blades. The Bunkers and Badasses Module featured in the Treasure Trove shows that Gearbox could be willing to experiment with other settings in future Tiny Tina's Wonderlands games, and a cyberpunk theme seems like the logical next step since there is already some similar Borderlands content to pull from.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.