Summary
As much as some gamers detest downloadable content for making them spend more money, there is some amazing DLC out there that provides great value. Sometimes, the DLC is even the best part of the game, offering additional content for a world players already love. Some DLC introduce new and memorable characters, and others open entire new maps to explore. It is no wonder fans typically feel like they are being forced to spend more money. After all, it’s understandable why players would want that content if they loved playing through the base game.
Thankfully, there are many expansions that more than justify the money players have to spend to enjoy these additions to the games they love. Some of thebest DLC in gamesbreathe new life into these titles and let players interact with existing gameplay loops that have been tweaked in a meaningful way.
Updated June 13, 2025, by Hamza Haq:DLC Expansions to existing titles can often be a mixed bag. Sadly, developers cutting off chunks of an already completed game in order to later dole it out as paid expansions is a fairly common occurrence, which has, over the years, soured the idea for a lot of gamers. Thankfully, there are a lot of games that don’t do this but add meaningful content updates in the form of DLCs and give players new ways to enjoy the titles in their library. Knowing which DLCs are worth buying is crucial information to have for anyone on a limited budget, as spending hard-earned money on an expansion instead of a new game will always be a hard sell.
Released in time for Christmas 2020,Immortals Fenyx Risingis an open-world action adventure from the developers ofAssassin’s Creed: Odyssey.Just likeOdyssey,Fenyx Risinghas an Ancient Greek setting but doesn’t take itself anywhere near as seriously.
Immortal’s art style and gameplay mechanics are more reminiscent ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.It also has a great sense of humor that is very tongue-in-cheek, a refreshing change from the somber and somewhat overly serious tone in most open-world Ubisoft games.Immortalsis already a huge game, and it has three DLCs worth checking out for players who love the gameplay of this unique title.
The newHitmantrilogy – also known as theWorld of Assassinationtrilogy – was released in 2016, 2018, and 2020 respectively. The games functioned both as a sequel and a reboot for the series afterHitman: Absolutionfailed to meet the studio’s expectations.
With the newHitmantrilogy releasing under a “games as a service” model, the developers were able to update it with new targets, goals, and brand new rewards with the Elusive targets. In addition, the games have seen new DLC missions likePatient Zero,which were significant to the narrative. Players are even able to add their Elusive targets, creating their levels and challenges to the game and ensuring it always feels fresh.
The Outer Worldsresembles a mixture of Bioware’sMass Effectfranchise and Bethesda’sFalloutseries in terms of both story and gameplay. Like those games,Outer Worldsalso got DLC:Peril on GorgonandMurder on Eridanos.
Peril on Gorgonadds new perks, flaws, NPCs, items, and quests, as well as an entirely new planet to explore. The level cap was also increased, allowing players to build even stronger characters.Murder on Eridanosis a much more narrative DLC, appealing to players who love good storytelling. It also adds to the level cap and introduces new flaws and perks, new characters, and more items.
Just like theHitmanseries,Dishonoredis a stealth series that is alreadypacked with variety and contentto keep players busy. This is thanks to the different approaches that are available for players in every mission.
The DLC content in the first game alone is worth the price of admission. BothThe Knife of DunwallandTheBrigmore Witchesplay and feel like their own games. They also act as a bridge into the sequelDishonored 2,which has some fantastic standalone DLC of its own.
Players who loved the core gameplay loop ofPreyand don’t mind checking out a roguelite spin on this concept will love whatMooncrashhas to offer. It can take a while to get used to this concept, but players who giveMooncrasha shot will love how it forces them to interact with numerous aspects ofPrey’s gameplay, helping this immersive sim stand out as a fun and engaging experience.
Only one character is unlocked at the start of the game, and special missions must be completed for players to unlock the rest of the cast and uncover the mystery surrounding the Pytheas facility and the events that occurred there. Just like the base game,Mooncrashis a simulation where players must piece together the narrative while trying to make meaningful progress in each run.
Sleeping Dogsis one of the most underrated video games ever made. Born from the ashes of theTrue Crimeseries,Sleeping Dogsis a great title, with its open-world exploration and combat being pretty engaging indeed.
If that wasn’t great enough as is, the game also has three DLCs that are a ton of fun to play through.Nightmare in North PointandYear of the Snakeare fun stories in their own right, but it’s theZodiac Tournament’s homage to classic kung-fu movies that take the cake.
The Octo Expansion ofSplatoon 2changed the game for everyone, even for those who did not buy the expansion themselves. The MMO now had octoling characters running around. After all, it’s pretty cool to play characters of a race that were mostly known as the bad guys in the franchise. That being said, it is revealed many of them were mind-controlled, offering extra context for their evil nature.
Not only did the DLC give the player a new race choice, but many new missions and some new gear to wear. DLC like this helps keep fans engaged and ensures the game never gets old.
The Frozen Wilds was the first and only DLC for the first game in Sony’s favorite franchise, Horizon. In the DLC, Aloy hears about strange things going on in The Cut, a new area in Banuk territory, where witnesses have reported seeing dangerous machines patrolling the area. After going through a series of challenges, conversing with the locals, and taking down machines in typical Aloy fashion, she learns that HEPHAESTUS, one of GAIA’s subsystems, is the DAEMON the good guys are fighting, a tie-in to the main story of the game.
The DLC introduces a bunch of new weapons for Aloy to obtain, new locations to explore, a cauldron to conquer, additional side quests, and a whole bunch of collectibles to satisfy the completionist urge. But perhaps most impactful of all is the addition of the new machines, including the Frostclaw, which gives Aloy new enemies to fight, fixing the lackluster machine variety in the base game.
The two-episode game expansion forBioshock Infinite, Burial at Sea, takes players back to Rapture from the first couple ofBioshocktitles. The characters are seen in a new light, with Booker as a private detective and Elizabeth as a femme fatale character.
This did not just hook in players ofBioshock Infinitebut fans of the first games as well. Fans of the first games got to see what Rapture was like before its fall. The expansion also works as a great ending to the series, making it all come full circle.
Cupheadis a game that grabbed everyone’s attention with its painstakingly hand-drawn art style, which elicited the feel of classic Disney cartoons. This title’s core focus revolves around side-scrolling shoot-em-up gameplay that is ridiculously challenging and demands perfection.
Eventually, players came to grips with this title’s challenge and had a great time taking out the many well-animated bosses.The Delicious Last Courselets fans take on even tougher bosses, with the welcome option of controlling a brand new character by the name of Ms. Chalice. Getting a chance to play as this character makes for a fun time as players help Chef Saltbaker make a Wondertart and help this new character enjoy a permanent life.
