Role-playing games are a blast to play because of how epic these adventures are. The base experiences can keep players entertained for hours on end, which is why fans relish the idea of checking out DLCs that bump up this play time in a meaningful manner.
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While most DLCs have acquired a bad reputation for phoning it in and letting players enjoy surface-level experiences for a quick buck, this doesn't hold true all the time. Some of the best DLCs players can download for their favorite RPGs are in a class of their own and considered to be must-play experiences.
The Witcher 3: Blood & Wine
Toussaint Is A Blast To Explore
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was a great game in its own right, with the base game going above and beyond to let players enjoy an epic adventure for the ages. However, CD Projekt Red wasn't stopping there when it came to Geralt's adventures.
While Hearts of Stone is an excellent expansion in its own right (which features one of gaming's greatest antagonists), the scope of Blood & Wine is simply in a class of its own. The bright color palette of Toussaint is a breath of fresh air, the open-world activities are spruced up considerably, and the expansion's action-packed set pieces show how much CD Projekt Red had become familiar with REDengine following the launch of The Witcher 3.
Dark Souls: Artorias Of The Abyss
An Amazing DLC That Focuses On A Tragic Character
Dark Souls
- Released
- September 22, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Soulslike, Adventure
FromSoftware games are known for featuring incredible DLCs, and Artorias of the Abyss is no exception. Fans were already graced with one of the greatest action RPGs ever made with the base game, and Artorias of the Abyss lets players explore this ruined world in the past and interact with important figures in the lore.
The fight against a mad Knight Artorias himself makes for one of the biggest highlights in the DLC, and that's just a small part of what makes this expansion so special. Interacting with a young Sif, fighting the game's hardest enemies, and dealing with Manus himself makes for a cracking end to this expansion.
Old World Blues
The Humor And B-Movie Vibes Are Off The Charts
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Fallout: New Vegas is one of Obsidian's best games that fans still come back to. The brilliance of the base game was bolstered by four expansions that vary in quality.
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Many people consider Old World Blues to be the best one of the bunch by a country mile, with its B-movie vibes and clever humor adding to its brilliance. It helps that exploring the Big MT facility makes for a great time as players fight robo-scorpions and find secrets tucked in the various corners of this world.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Coupled With Update 2.0, This Expansion Lets Players Enjoy The Incredible Layered City Of Dogtown
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Cyberpunk 2077 endured a horrible launch and fixed its issues to become one of the best open-world RPGs players can get their hands on. Its expansion, Phantom Liberty, arrived with Update 2.0 to completely change how this game works.
The new Dogtown district features a ton of vertical depth, the Barghest are a fierce gang to take on in battle, and the epic story involves a conspiracy surrounding the President of the United States that is as compelling as they come. It's easy to see why fans loved this DLC and consider it comparable to the other expansions released by CD Projekt Red.
Bloodborne: The Old Hunters
Arguably The Best FromSoftware DLC Of All Time
Bloodborne
- Released
- March 24, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
FromSoftware knocked it out of the park once again with their DLC for Bloodborne, which many people consider to be their finest expansion to date. Once again, players are teleported to the past and get to see familiar environments with a fresh coat of paint.
The enemies are ridiculously challenging, the new weapons in the DLC are off the charts, and the bosses are some of the very best fans can enjoy in a FromSoftware game. Players will find themselves mesmerized by the trappings of The Old Hunters... That is, until they try to get the Rakuyo and end up dying to the two Shark Giants countless times.
Mass Effect 3: Citadel
Does A Whole Lot To Rectify The Game's Disappointing Conclusion
Mass Effect 3
- Released
- March 6, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
Mass Effect 3 is a great video game until its ending, which was universally derided as one of the worst conclusions to a game ever devised. Fans were vocal about their complaints, and BioWare listened by letting players enjoy the Citadel DLC.
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Not only does it let players engage in a conspiracy that leads to a clone of Shepard being revealed to the masses, but players also get to enjoy one final party with their favorite characters before the game's bombastic conclusion. It's a heartfelt DLC with emotional and endearing moments in equal measure that hammers in the epic adventure that fans went on with this title.
Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree
Once Players Found The Scadutree Fragments, Exploring The Land Of Shadow Feels Great
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Elden Ring is FromSoftware's most successful game by a country mile. The integration of an open world, coupled with George R.R. Martin's marketing pull, led to an immense volume of sales for this title and prompted FromSoftware to work on an expansion for this title in no time.
Shadow of the Erdtree is one of the best DLCs players can get their hands on, with the Land of Shadow being yet another compelling environment to explore. Once players get their hands on the Scadutree Fragments, the tough enemies of this DLC will be relatively easier to handle.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Shivering Isles
Bethesda Knocked It Out Of The Park With This Expansion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
- Released
- March 20, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Bethesda has had a hit-or-miss track record with its DLCs. Thankfully, Oblivion was graced with what might be one of the developer's best expansions ever made in the form of the Shivering Isles.
It addressed the problem of the base game, where the player felt like a passenger in the main story while other, more important figures duked it out to save the world. Instead, the events in Shivering Isles are impactful and can potentially lead to the hero becoming Sheogorath, which is epic for fans who love this mad Daedric prince.
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