Summary
Downloadable content for a video game can generate a vast array of reactions. Some games feel like they release phoned-in content meant to generate more revenue instead of adding something meaningful to the experience.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the spectrum, some video game DLCs are so incredible that fans will consider them superior to the main game in some instances. This ensures that players will have a fun time with these expansions as they embark on memorable mini-adventures.
Spoiler Warning: The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion entry includes some information on a major questline outcome.
Fallout 4was a divisive title, and many people lamented that Bethesda had dumbed down the game’s RPG elements in a bid to appeal to the masses. However, once players got over this change, they realized that the rest of the package is solid.
This brilliance is cemented inFar Harbor, which features some of the best quest design in the game that fans can sink their teeth into. This side of the gameplay is so riveting that fans forgive the expansion for its banal puzzles.
Mass Effect 3was a mixed bagfor many fans, who felt that the decisions they made throughout the journey weren’t really accounted for in the ending. In response to this, BioWare placated fans with theCitadelDLC, which is a must-play for any fan of Commander Shepard’s adventures.
It brings together all the people from Shepard’s adventures across the three games for one final celebration, following a more humorous adventure in the Citadel, where Shepard goes up against their doppelganger after uncovering a conspiracy. The beautiful sendoff this game gives to the cast of the original trilogy — and the relationships established and deepened along the way — is enough to help it stand out as one of the best pieces of video game DLC.
Dark Souls 3is a great final entry in this beloved trilogy, even if some aspects of the game don’t sit right with many. However, players will forgive this title and then some afterchecking outThe Ringed CityDLC.
This expansion lets players tackle the hardest content in the game, including battles against fan-favorite bosses like Darkeater Midir and Slave Knight Gael. The content in this DLC is incredible not just for its interesting locations and enemies, but also for the major lore revelations and complexities — and for how strongly it closes out the series.
Final Fantasy 14faced a horrendous launch, to the point where Bahamut had to nuke the world and giveA Realm Rebornan excuse to exist. This iteration of the MMO was excellent and only grew in popularity, especially with the launch of the DLCs.
Shadowbringersis considered by many to bethe very peak ofFinal Fantasy 14. The fact that players could enjoy a riveting narrative in an MMORPG is a massive achievement forShadowbringers, convincing many fans who aren’t fans of MMOs to giveFinal Fantasy 14a shot.
The base game ofBioShock 2was decent in its own right, but it felt kind of hollow when compared to the brilliance of the first game. The same can’t be said forMinerva’s Den, which is one of the best DLCs ever released for a video game.
Featuring excellent action and a brilliant story with all the twists fans would expect in aBioShockgame,Minerva’s Denmore than justifiesBioShock 2as a fitting entry in the series. It helps that the improved action ofBioShock 2feels great when paired with an amazing narrative that rivals that of the first game in the series.
As memorable asOblivionmay be, fans may feel like they play second fiddle to the game’s true antagonists instead of actually making a major impact. The same can’t be said forShivering Isles, which is arguably the best piece of DLC Bethesda has ever developed.
The eponymous location is great to explore and lets players enjoy the tantalizing lore of the Daedric princes. The cherry on top of this tasty cake is that players who help the current iteration of Sheogorath seek freedom can take his place and become the new Daedric Prince of Madness in one of the best payoffs to completing a major questline.
Many people considerthe base game ofThe Witcher 3to be one of the greatest RPGs ever made, so it’s clear thatBlood & Winedid something special to elevate this experience. It added a major new region, improved on the side content structure, added fun mutagens to experiment with, and allowed CD Projekt Red to execute a bombastic finale after becoming more adept at using redENGINE.
The end result is a masterful expansion that, somehow, won RPG of the Year despite being a DLC. It’s a testament to the sheer quality ofBlood & Wine, with this expansion being critical for players to enjoy the fullWitcher 3experience.
