Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandssuccessfully mixes the best aspects ofBorderlandsgames with the tested dynamic of Tina acting as Bunker Master for aDungeons & Dragons-like tabletop RPGusing typicalBorderlandshumor. This makes for one of the whackiest games in the series, and it also shows withTiny Tina’s Wonderlands' gameplay loop of casting spells and using guns in a fantasy setting. The game’s humor is possibly the best the series has ever seen, and that comes from spot-on RPG gags as well as the multitude of references to other franchises.
Borderlandsgames are no strangers to referencing other franchises through jokes, quests, items, and in other weird ways, such as all theSuper Mario Bros.nods across the series. This approach is not only exclusive to video games of course, and Gearbox filledTiny Tina’s Wonderlandswith references to things likeThe Lord of the RingsorTerminator 2- the former being quoted by Claptrap in a side mission, and the latter appearing in a death sequence for a boss. There are many of these small details that fans of other series will notice, and they make the overall experience more intimate and cozy.
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Why Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands' References Are Top-Notch
BecauseBorderlandsgames have historically been includingSuper Mario Bros.Easter eggs, from hidden levels to Legendary guns,Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandscould be no exception.Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsplayers can stomp mushroom enemies similar to Goombas, the famous fungi-like monsters fromSuper Mariogames. Another great example ofTiny Tina’s Wonderlands' references is the fact that the overworld section of the game allows players to go through tall grass to find random encounters, which manyPokemonfans will immediately pick up on as an allusion to the series' long-standing gimmick.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsalso has two particularly well-done side quests that do similar things, one being called “The Ditcher” as a way topay homage toThe Witcherseries, and the other being “Little Boys Blue” in reference to theSmurfs. The Ditcher features a demon hunter as its main character, called Gerrit of Trivia, whereas Little Boys Blue sees forest goblins turned rabid by the malevolent Garglesnot through a spell that turns them blue with white clothing. These are immediately noticeable mentions that are not only great ways of slipping in Easter eggs, but also elevate the series' humor.
Furthermore,Star Warsfans will spot the reference to George Lucas' prequel trilogy films in the Maced Wardu Legendary Ward, a nod to theJedi master Mace Windu. Then,Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsdoesn’t shy away from referencing both the myths of Excalibur and King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table through the Extra-Caliber sword, and in the same quest, the Holey Spell-Nade - which is a callback to the classic Holy Hand Grenade bit inMonty Python and the Holy Grail.
Overall, whileBorderlandsgames have been doing something similar to whatTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsdoes for years, all the references in this game seamlessly blend with the story and the game’s peculiar wittiness. As such, they are not mere citations of other successful video games, literary works, or movies, but they are in their own way a core part of what makesTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsstand out compared to its predecessors.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsis available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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