We have to admit that not every piece of downloadable content is bad. The word DLC might not have the most positive reputation, but some studios make the cost worth it. As a matter of fact, there are DLCs that are as good as the base game itself, effectively acting as a sequel.
Most of the titles on this list are available on PlayStation, so make sure to grab your PSN Cards from OffGamers here if you’re interested in getting these games.
Here are examples of some of the best gaming DLCs ever made and why:
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine
CD Projekt RED could’ve just packaged the Blood and Wine expansion as The Witcher 4 and could’ve called it a day.
Without spoiling anything, the final DLC for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt contains more depth and lore than most full-fledged RPGs. This makes Blood and Wine the best value-for-money DLC to come out in recent years if not ever.
The only con here is that Blood and Wine set such a high bar for The Witcher 4. If the next The Witcher game, which will be made in Unreal Engine 5, can’t even come close to providing as much entertainment as Blood and Wine, then CDPR will have a big problem on its hands.
2. Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
Some DLCs elevate their games and propel them to legendary status. Others spawn entire genres. Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne is an example of that.
The Frozen Throne was released at a time when the term downloadable content (DLC) was not used yet. Instead, paid post-launch content was known as expansion packs or just expansions. The Frozen Throne came out in July 2003, a year after Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos first hit store shelves.
In addition to expanding the campaign and effectively giving us the origin story for one of the most iconic video game antagonists of all time in Arthas Menethil, who is also known as the Lich King, The Frozen Throne expanded the base game’s multiplayer functionality and mod support.
Today, you can trace the popularity of MOBAs like League of Legends and DOTA 2 to The Frozen Throne as well as other video game genres like tower defence and more.
3. Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
Blizzard built its reputation with three franchises: StarCraft, Diablo, and Warcraft. All three received excellent expansions, including the aforementioned Warcraft III: The Frozen throne. Diablo II also got an equally iconic expansion pack, Lord of Destruction.
Lord of Destruction tacks on a new full act for the game’s single-player campaign, introducing the third of the Diablo universe’s Prime Evil, Baal, as well as adding more monsters to defeat and loot to pick up. Blizzard could have stopped there and players would have been happy, but they didn’t.
Blizzard also added new features such as the rune system, expanded the in-game story, and gave players the option to choose from two different weapon setups. To top it all off, Lord of Destruction brought the Assassin and Druid classes into Diablo II, adding countless hours of gameplay potential.
To this date, Blizzard is still struggling to reach the gold standard it set with Diablo II and Diablo II: Lord of Destruction.
4. Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Half-Life 2 was an amazing game. It’s remarkable how a game can stand up so well to the test of time despite being older than most gamers. It also didn’t hurt that Half-Life 2 benefitted from two pieces of DLC content that solidified its place among the greats.
Granted, Episode One on its own wasn’t so memorable, but when you package it with Episode Two, the DLCs become a must-have.
Just like the Blood and Wine DLC for CDPR’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Episode Two is very much a sequel to Half-Life 2. It combines the originalness (is that even a word?) of the base game with the character development of Episode One to create an exciting adventure that will leave you wanting more.
5. FIFA Ultimate Team
Believe it or not, Ultimate Team wasn’t a staple of the earlier FIFA games. EA’s most controversial decision started life as post-launch content that started out innocently enough as a way to let you captain your own squad, in card form. Since then, Ultimate Team has evolved into arguably EA’s biggest moneymaker with the publisher raking in billions of dollars in revenue every year from each new iteration.
Hate it all you want, but FIFA Ultimate Team is the lifeblood of the FIFA game series. Even after EA has dropped the FIFA brand next year in favour of the “EA Sports FC” name tag, we doubt that Ultimate Team will slow down.
6. BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea
Somebody must have told Irrational Games that BioShock 2 was nowhere near as good as the first game because BioShock Infinite is just every bit as good as the series’ first entry. What’s even more amazing is that Irrational found a way to link the story of BioShock Infinite with that of the first game thanks to some clever writing for Burial at Sea.
WTF plot twists and jaw-dropping thought experiments aside, Burial at Sea lands a spot on our list because it gave players a true survival horror experience that fits the franchise’s ambience.
If you’ve played BioShock Infinite before and skipped Burial at Sea, you never really finished it. It’s not just a DLC, it’s a vital piece of content that has had a huge effect on all BioShock games since and in the future.
7. The Last of Us: Left Behind
How do you make a DLC to one of the best narrative video games of all time? Well, for one thing, you don’t try and one-up it. The Last of Us: Left Behind zeroed in on our heartstrings and focused on the more intimate parts of a world-ending apocalypse. Instead of Joel, Left Behind put players in the shoes of Ellie and her best friend, Riley.
Much of the game might have taken place inside an abandoned mall, but the way it tells the story of how children could potentially survive when other adults could not is believable and genuine. Unfortunately, all of this only makes the DLC’s now-infamous tear-jerker ending all that more effective.
8. Borderlands 2: Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon’s Keep
Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon’s Keep was so good as a DLC for Borderlands 2 that Gearbox Software turned it into a new game, Tiny Tina’s Wonderland.
In a nutshell, Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon’s Keep is Dungeons & Dragons on steroids. With Tiny Tina serving as the explosion-obsessed Dungeon Master, her ludicrous imagination knows no bounds. Make no mistake, this is still very much Borderlands 2. The only difference is a touch of lunacy that only Tiny Tina can come up with.
9. X-COM 2: War of the Chosen
Similar to the expansion packs of the past like Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, X-COM 2: War of the Chosen expands the X-COM 2 main campaign in ways that you didn’t think were necessary but became non-negotiable once you’ve tried it. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that War of the Chosen turned X-COM 2 into a completely different game.
From adding new “Chosen” enemies, more missions, unique maps, factions as well as hero classes to the Challenge Mode, War of the Chosen is the quintessential DLC.
Conclusion
The word DLC might get a bad reputation, but if done right, it’s a great way to build on an already excellent game. These DLCs and expansions are proof that you can exceed fan expectations and make paid post-launch content many times worth what audiences paid for.
I am a junior content outreach writer for OffGamers. I foster relationships between gaming enthusiasts and gaming developers to create relevant content for gamers worldwide. I also happen to be a passionate writer and a certified night owl.
