Downloadable content, or DLC for short, is something of a double-bladed sword. Before DLCs were a thing, the games were a one and done deal. You’d spend that hard-earned money for a premium game, knowing that you’re getting everything from soundtracks to the story. However, with the expansion of the Internet, the developers realized that new games take more time to make, and the price is still the same. So what did they do? They started cutting their games into pieces, creating downloadable chunks, sold separately.
However, some DLCs were made for the gamers, either furthering the plot or building upon it to create a whole new experience. With that in mind, let’s see the top 9 DLC’s of all time!
1. Trespasser – Dragon Age: Inquisition
Judging by the feedback from gamers, Inquisition is a good-but-not-great child of the epic Dragon Age franchise. It’s better than the second part, but can’t compete with the Origins. Moreover, many do not like Inquisition for a messy ending that does not explain anything. Well, good thing Bioware made the Trespasser DLC, which fixes a lot of inconsistencies, and makes the game more enjoyable.
2. The Lost Crowns – Dark Souls II
Dark Souls II divided the fanbase, splitting it right in the middle. Some claimed that the level design was too simple, the bosses were uninspired, and in general, everything was different from the original Dark Souls. But when The Lost Crowns DLC came out, everyone collectively shut up. Fume Knight, Sinh, and The Ivory King quickly reminded the players about the good old suffering.
3. Air, Land, and Sea – Just Cause 3
Just Cause has always been about non-stop, ridiculous action. It was one of the most bombastic sandboxes in the history of the gaming industry. How do you improve perfection? They gave Rico a jetpack and a combat mecha. They even added some story content, but who needs it when you can demolish everything around you!
4. The Shivering Isles – The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
Bethesda-style “Alice in Wonderland”- that’s what this DLC is all about. The crazy god Sheogorath is a fan-favorite bad guy, and you can fight him in the land of acidic swamps and gigantic mushroom trees. Even many years later, in Skyrim, most gamers would remember the hilarious quests, which proves that a good laugh is better than yet another epic legend of ancient dragons.
5. Blood & Wine – Witcher III
It is clear that Polish fairy tales seem incredibly exotic to western players. The Witcher games have sold millions of copies, and the third game of the series receiver the game of the year award. It was perfect! Well, that is until the Blood & Wine DLC came out, in which you are offered to hunt vampires. You’d think it’s tropy and stale, but you’d be horribly wrong.
6. All DLCs – Fallout: New Vegas
In the case of Fallout: New Vegas, every single add-on deserves attention. Each one is unique, and together they’re just as good as the base game, if not better.
In Dead Money, you’re trying to reach the casino vault.
In Honest Hearts, the main character will fall into the canyons of Utah and get involved in the war between the warring tribes.
In Old World Blues, you’ll learn not to trust weird-looking doctors with your organs.
The last DLC, Lonesome Road, you will go to distant corners of the wasteland, where you’ll learn the whole truth about your forgotten past.
7. Dragonborn – The Elder Scrolls V
The main character is transferred to the island of Solstheim. Upon arrival, the game takes the player on the most nostalgic trip ever. Morrowind music, familiar noises of striders, rocky riders in the sky, and other stuff will make your old heart beat faster.
8. The Old Hunters – Bloodborne
The Old Hunters DLC integrates perfectly into the base game, adds new locations and items. This time, the way to access the DLC, you’d need to follow some very unintuitive steps. Because of this confusion, the developers had to write detailed instructions on their own, telling the players where to find important items needed to gain access to new content. But it was worth it!
9. Iceborne – Monster Hunter World
Hunting massive wyverns, dragons, and other monsters to get better gear to fight even more massive and dangerous creatures – this gameplay loop seems like a perfect time-killer for anyone who is bored. Iceborne basically doubles-down on this strategy by giving you so many more monsters, locations, and what’s more important – the story! It really is a whole new world.
