Best DLCs That Are Better Than the Main Game, Ranked

Summary

• Some video game DLCs surpass the base game, adding memorable experiences for fans.
• Far Harbor and The Ringed City are standout expansions with engaging content and stories.
• Shadowbringers and Minerva’s Den elevate the base games, offering unforgettable gameplay.

Downloadable content for a video game can generate a vast array of reactions. Some games feel like they release phoned-in content meant to generate more revenue instead of adding something meaningful to the experience.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the spectrum, some video game DLCs are so incredible that fans will consider them superior to the main game in some instances. This ensures that players will have a fun time with these expansions as they embark on memorable mini-adventures.

Spoiler Warning: The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion entry includes some information on a major questline outcome.

7

Fallout 4: Far Harbor

A Notable Improvement Over the Base Game

Fallout 4 was a divisive title, and many people lamented that Bethesda had dumbed down the game’s RPG elements in a bid to appeal to the masses. However, once players got over this change, they realized that the rest of the package is solid.

This brilliance is cemented in Far Harbor, which features some of the best quest design in the game that fans can sink their teeth into. This side of the gameplay is so riveting that fans forgive the expansion for its banal puzzles.

6

Mass Effect 3: Citadel

Gives Fans the Closure They Needed With Their Friends

Mass Effect 3 was a mixed bag for many fans, who felt that the decisions they made throughout the journey weren’t really accounted for in the ending. In response to this, BioWare placated fans with the Citadel DLC, which is a must-play for any fan of Commander Shepard’s adventures.

It brings together all the people from Shepard’s adventures across the three games for one final celebration, following a more humorous adventure in the Citadel, where Shepard goes up against their doppelganger after uncovering a conspiracy. The beautiful sendoff this game gives to the cast of the original trilogy — and the relationships established and deepened along the way — is enough to help it stand out as one of the best pieces of video game DLC.

5

Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City

An Expansion That Addresses a Lot of the Base Game’s Complaints

Dark Souls 3 is a great final entry in this beloved trilogy, even if some aspects of the game don’t sit right with many. However, players will forgive this title and then some after checking out The Ringed City DLC.

This expansion lets players tackle the hardest content in the game, including battles against fan-favorite bosses like Darkeater Midir and Slave Knight Gael. The content in this DLC is incredible not just for its interesting locations and enemies, but also for the major lore revelations and complexities — and for how strongly it closes out the series.

4

Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers

Considered By Many to Be the Best FF14 Expansion

Final Fantasy 14 faced a horrendous launch, to the point where Bahamut had to nuke the world and give A Realm Reborn an excuse to exist. This iteration of the MMO was excellent and only grew in popularity, especially with the launch of the DLCs.

Shadowbringers is considered by many to be the very peak of Final Fantasy 14. The fact that players could enjoy a riveting narrative in an MMORPG is a massive achievement for Shadowbringers, convincing many fans who aren’t fans of MMOs to give Final Fantasy 14 a shot.

3

BioShock 2: Minerva’s Den

Reminds Players Why the Original BioShock Was Such a Memorable Game

The base game of BioShock 2 was decent in its own right, but it felt kind of hollow when compared to the brilliance of the first game. The same can’t be said for Minerva’s Den, which is one of the best DLCs ever released for a video game.

Featuring excellent action and a brilliant story with all the twists fans would expect in a BioShock game, Minerva’s Den more than justifies BioShock 2 as a fitting entry in the series. It helps that the improved action of BioShock 2 feels great when paired with an amazing narrative that rivals that of the first game in the series.

Arguably the Best Bethesda DLC Ever Made

As memorable as Oblivion may be, fans may feel like they play second fiddle to the game’s true antagonists instead of actually making a major impact. The same can’t be said for Shivering Isles, which is arguably the best piece of DLC Bethesda has ever developed.

The eponymous location is great to explore and lets players enjoy the tantalizing lore of the Daedric princes. The cherry on top of this tasty cake is that players who help the current iteration of Sheogorath seek freedom can take his place and become the new Daedric Prince of Madness in one of the best payoffs to completing a major questline.

1

The Witcher 3: Blood & Wine

Geralt’s Adventures in Toussaint Deliver a Perfect Witcher Experience

Many people consider the base game of The Witcher 3 to be one of the greatest RPGs ever made, so it’s clear that Blood & Wine did something special to elevate this experience. It added a major new region, improved on the side content structure, added fun mutagens to experiment with, and allowed CD Projekt Red to execute a bombastic finale after becoming more adept at using redENGINE.

The end result is a masterful expansion that, somehow, won RPG of the Year despite being a DLC. It’s a testament to the sheer quality of Blood & Wine, with this expansion being critical for players to enjoy the full Witcher 3 experience.