Downloadable content (DLC) often serves as an extension to a larger gaming experience, enhancing enjoyment without being essential to the core game. Yet, there are instances where the DLC eclipses the original game entirely, making it a fascinating addition worth exploring.
In this article, we’ll highlight games whose DLC is either superior to the base game or significantly enhances it, providing motivation to engage with the core story. Each franchise will be represented by a single title.
Spoiler Warning: Note that some entries may include spoilers, as many DLCs unfold after the main narrative.
10 BioShock Infinite
Burial At Sea
BioShock Infinite innovatively transitioned the series from Rapture’s depths to Columbia’s heights. However, its DLC, Burial at Sea, returns us to Rapture, albeit under new circumstances.
Set in an alternate timeline within Rapture, this DLC uniquely revisits the narratives of Booker and Elizabeth from a fresh perspective. While it stands as an independent story that doesn’t drastically alter the main game, it offers intriguing lore insights into the previous installments and depicts Rapture prior to its downfall.
The DLC comprises two distinct episodes, allowing players to experience the story through the eyes of both Booker and Elizabeth. While combat and plasmids largely remain unchanged, Elizabeth adopts a stealthy playstyle, reminiscent of her role as a formidable sidekick in the base game.
9 Far Cry 6
Vaas: Insanity, Pagan: Control, Joseph: Prophecy
While Far Cry 6 is often criticized for its lackluster storyline, it compensates with a vast arsenal, exhilarating gameplay, and a standout villain, Anton Castillo, portrayed by the renowned Giancarlo Esposito.
The heartbeat of the Far Cry series has always been its villains, and Anton’s character had significant expectations. To rekindle excitement for the franchise, the DLC pack introduces us to three legendary antagonists: Vaas, Pagan Min, and Joseph Seed.
These expansions allow players to delve into their complex backstories and traumas that transformed them into notorious figures. The DLCs cleverly humanize these malevolent characters, amalgamating excitement and narrative depth within a roguelite mindscape. Notably, Vaas: Insanity poignantly explores Vaas’s inner turmoil, his complicated relationship with Citra, and his conflicts with Jason.
8 Red Dead Redemption
Undead Nightmare
Renowned as one of Rockstar’s finest, Red Dead Redemption captivates players with its expansive Wild West open-world sandboxes and powerful themes of betrayal and devotion.
But what if we added a twist of the macabre?
The original game emphasizes a strict morality system, but the DLC Undead Nightmare liberates players to unleash chaos upon hordes of zombies that threaten the towns they strive to protect. It’s a refreshing diversion that embraces the zombie trend prevalent in the 2010s, earning its reputation as one of the best DLCs ever.
7 Fallout 4
Automatron, Far Harbor, Nuka-World
Fallout 4 presents an engaging open-world experience paired with base management mechanics and RPG elements. Yet, there’s only so much settlement-building excitement before it becomes repetitive.
Among its multiple DLCs, Automatron offers the ability to customize robotic companions, while Vault-Tec Workshop allows for perfecting your Vault settlement design. However, Far Harbor stands out as the most memorable and impactful addition in the series.
Transporting players to a new, misty island off the coast of Maine, it introduces a captivating narrative, a plethora of new enemies, and a bounty of unique, seaside-themed gear.DiMA quickly became a favorite synth character within the game.
6 Mass Effect 3
Citadel
Though acclaimed, Mass Effect 3 faced criticism for its unsatisfactory conclusion, offering players merely three options to decide the fate of the universe. In response to this backlash, BioWare released the Citadel DLC, serving as a heartfelt “love letter” to the fanbase.
This content not only provides closure but also embraces a more light-hearted and comedic tone, giving fans a chance to create cherished memories before the series reaches its conclusion.
5 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Dawnguard, Hearthfire, Dragonborn
Skyrim presents solid gameplay mechanics and striking visuals, despite its simplistic plot. Fortunately, its DLC expansions greatly enrich the overall experience, making them arguably essential for any player.
While Dawnguard and Dragonborn introduce compelling narratives and new regions to discover, Hearthfire is an often underestimated addition that deserves recognition. It empowers players to establish a home in Skyrim with three customizable land plots, allowing a taste of domestic life amid a chaotic adventuring schedule.
Each property has its own charm, but Lakeview Manor in Falkreath stands out for its customization options and tranquil setting—an ideal sanctuary for any Dragonborn seeking peace after defeating Alduin.
4 Borderlands 2
Tiny Tina’s Assault On Dragon Keep
The Borderlands series is renowned for its uniquely themed DLC offerings, and while Borderlands 2 is often hailed as the pinnacle of the franchise, its expansions—including Captain Scarlett and Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt—are equally impressive.
However, the standout DLC remains Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, a campaign drawing inspiration from Dungeons and Dragons, led by the unpredictable Tiny Tina herself.
With Tiny Tina at the helm, players can expect zany adventures and unexpected depth that dives into the mind of a 13-year-old grappling with her reality. The popularity of this DLC ultimately inspired a standalone title: Tiny Tina’s Wonderland, which further expands on its fantastical themes.
3 Destiny 2
The Final Shape
Despite its ups and downs, the Destiny franchise has executed several celebrated expansions. While the core games struggled with storytelling, expansions like The Taken King, Forsaken, and Witch Queen have successfully revived interest.
Among these, The Final Shape stands as the pinnacle of the franchise, serving as the conclusion of the 10-year-long Light and Dark Saga. This expansion reintroduces fan-favorite Cayde-6 and presents new gameplay mechanics, including Prismatic, a fresh subclass that merges Light and Dark powers, a new patrol zone known as the Traveler’s Pale Heart, and a climactic showdown against the Witness.
2 Ring of Fire
Shadow Of The Erdtree
While Elden Ring is often regarded as one of the more accessible titles within the Soulsborne genre, its difficulty can still be formidable. The recent DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, introduces an even more punishing experience as players navigate a hidden realm rife with new challenges.
This expansion adds a wealth of new weapons and a meticulously crafted open world, reinterpreting much of the original game’s lore, encompassing topics like Marika’s ascendance and the enigmatic Miquella. Fans often regard Shadow of the Erdtree as worthy of being called “Elden Ring 2″due to its breadth of content.
The world in this DLC prioritizes compactness featuring high-quality locations and superior level design. Despite Elden Ring’s manageable boss encounters, Shadow of the Erdtree raises the stakes, with some fights being tougher than even Malenia’s.
This expansion achieved such acclaim that it earned a nomination for Game of the Year in 2024, generating discussions about whether DLCs merit such prestigious recognition, typically reserved for fully developed titles.
1 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Blood And Wine
The Witcher 3 remains a cornerstone in gaming, especially with its two beautifully crafted DLCs. While Hearts of Stone delves into horror themes through characters like the eldritch Gaunter O’Dimm, Blood and Wine shines as the premier expansion.
In Blood and Wine, players journey to the enchanting land of Toussaint, characterized by its vibrant scenery inspired by fairy tales and French culture. The expansion unfolds a captivating storyline, featuring new characters and a gripping mystery surrounding a series of murders involving vampires.
One standout feature is the character Regis, a beloved figure from the books, who is portrayed as an articulate vampire and a long-time ally of Geralt.Blood and Wine serves as a fitting, canonical conclusion to Geralt’s journey, allowing him to embark on one last adventure before retiring to a vineyard in Toussaint with his beloved.
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