It’s hard to let go of a great video game. The hours we spend exploring its nooks and crannies, the friendships and rivalries we form with its characters, the new skills we learn and hone – all of it is so much fun. But eventually, even the best games must come to an end. Thankfully, many developers release DLC (downloadable content) to keep our love for their titles alive. Let’s discuss the best expansion packs released in the last decade (2012-2022).
Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss (2012)
Players, who thought their torment was over after finishing Dark Souls, were dead wrong. FromSoftware broadened their challenging action RPG with Artorias of the Abyss. The DLC’s action is set in the land of Oolacile, hundreds of years before the events of the original Dark Souls. Unfortunately, the new world is as deadly and dreadful as the one we faced in the base game. It means we have to confront new fearsome bosses born in the darkest corners of Hidetaka Miyazaki’s mind.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (2013)
It’s the most unusual example on our list, as Blood Dragon doesn’t extend the Far Cry 3 story. Moreover, it’s a standalone expansion, so you don’t need the base game to play it. Blood Dragon is set in a retro-futuristic world where you take control of Sergeant Rex “Power” Colt – a Mark IV Cyber Commando. If you like 80s action movies and want to have some fun with a shooter, Blood Dragon will provide you with a couple of hours of pure fun!
Civilization V: Brave New World (2013)
Brave New World is often cited as the best expansion in the history of the series, and that says a lot. Why is Brave New World so highly valued? It’s because it completely changes the way we play Civ V. The expansion adds two new civilizations, a reworked cultural victory system, and an extensive trade network. These elements breathe new life into Civilization V, making it one of the best strategy games ever released.
Mass Effect 3: Citadel (2013)
Mass Effect 3‘s ending wasn’t the Shepard trilogy conclusion fans had hoped for. Fortunately, BioWare fixed it with the DLC called Citadel. This expansion pack allows players to spend more time with their favorite characters, explore new areas of the Citadel, and experience a much more emotionally-satisfying ending. It also offers a lighter tone and a lot of references to previous installments of the series, making Citadel an even better finale to Shepard’s journey. You can find Citadel and all the other Mass Effect DLC in the Legendary Edition.
Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea (2013-2014)
Burial at Sea consists of two parts that take place in Rapture – an underwater city introduced in the first Bioshock game. In the first part, we play Booker DeWitt, a private investigator hired by Elizabeth to find a little girl named Sally. The second part puts us in the shoes of Elizabeth herself. We explore Rapture from a different perspective and learn more about her past. Burial at Sea is an excellent expansion that adds several hours of great gameplay to the original game.
Bloodborne: The Old Hunters (2015)
If you thought that Bloodborne couldn’t be any darker or more challenging, think again. The Old Hunters is a DLC pack for FromSoftware’s hit game that takes players on a whole new nightmare journey through the nightmarish world of Yharnam. New weapons, monsters, and boss battles await those who are brave enough to venture into this expansion. Be warned though – The Old Hunters will test your patience, skill, and sanity like never before. You can buy Bloodborne: The Old Hunters on the PS Store. Remember to use PlayStation Gift Cards to get in cheaper.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine (2016)
The Hearts of Stone DLC set the bar extremely high for what an expansion pack should be. It gave us around ten hours of new adventures in the world of The Witcher, with Geralt taking on a new contract from the mysterious Man of Glass. However, the second DLC somehow even surpassed its predecessor.
Blood and Wine took us to the duchy of Toussaint, where Geralt had to deal with vampires. This expansion also increased the level cap and added new gear, Gwent cards, and mutants to hunt. Oh, and did we mention that it’s as long as some standalone games? The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition includes both The Witcher 3 DLC, so if you haven’t experienced Geralt’s journey yet, get it now to embark on one of the best adventures in video game history.
XCOM 2: War of the Chosen (2017)
XCOM 2 couldn’t have dreamt of a better expansion pack. War of the Chosen adds a whole new layer of depth and complexity to the base game. It introduces three new factions – The Reapers, The Skirmishers, and The Templars – each with their own unique abilities and goals. Not to mention that it also adds dozens of hours of additional gameplay. If you need further proof that XCOM 2: War of the Chosen is an almost perfect DLC, let’s look at its Metascore and User Score – it’s 88 and 8.0, respectively! If you like games similar to XCOM 2, feel free to browse our Turn-based Games Collection to find your new game.
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen (2022)
The Witch Queen’s premiere was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, it was released in February 2022. Fortunately, it was worth the wait. The story, revolving around the eponymous Savathûn, sets new standards for the series. Players also praised Destiny 2: The Witch Queen for gameplay improvements as well as the quality and amount of new content.
Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course (2022)
Cuphead was a blast. This indie platformer enchanted everyone with its gorgeous cartoon visuals and difficulty level that could match even the Dark Souls standards. Five years after the base game came out, we finally got a DLC.
The Delicious Last Course gives us more insight into Cuphead’s world and lore and introduces new challenges and weapons. The Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course bosses also don’t disappoint either. You can have tons of fun fighting Glumstone The Giant, Mortimer Freeze, or Chef Saltbaker, to mention only a few new adversaries.
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