It was at the very end of 2021 that our team here at 2Game decided that enough was enough: if everyone has their top 100 list of PC games, then darn it, we need one too. So we made one, and so far it's stood the test of time! But what about the best video game DLCs of all time?
That, we feel, is the million-dollar question. Almost every major game coming out in this day and age has got some itty-bitty DLCs all of its own. Sometimes, though, these DLCs grow to outpace even the base game, offering experiences that are simply impossible on any other platform. We're sure that many of you have been gobsmacked by the quality of some of the downloadable content over the years, too.
Piqued your interest yet? Excellent!
What we've got for you here is a comprehensive list of the top 15 of the absolute greatest expansion packs we have in store at 2Game. These range from old classics all the way to some cutting-edge stuff, and the odds are good that you're yet to play at least some of these titles, let alone any of their respective DLCs. But enough kerfuffle: let's get on with the list!
Top 15 Best DLCs of All Time - Available Via 2Game!
Note that, while some of these titles are technically standalone experiences, you do still need to own the base game to actually play them. Whichever of these expansion packs catches your eye, just make sure that you either own the base game, want to play it as well, or that the DLC is available on its own in the first place.
Where applicable, the first featured link will take you to the DLC purchase page specifically. The second link, on the other hand, features a complete edition including the base game, DLC, and all.
#15: Bioshock 2: Minerva's Den
Bioshock 2 is one of the most undeservedly maligned sequels that Bioshock could ever have received. No joke, this game might be better than its immediate predecessor, and most players will probably agree that it's better than Bioshock Infinite, to boot. Gameplay-wise, it's arguably an upgrade to both of them, hard as that might be to believe.
But what really sets it apart from Bioshock Infinite in particular is Minerva's Den: the high-tech district of Rapture. Here, players get to interact with an actual AI, and boy does it quickly turn into a proper mess. It's System Shock under the sea at that point, and yes, we do understand the gravity of that claim.
#14: Cities Skylines: Industries
It's hard to miss the notion that Cities Skylines base game is the finest city-building game of all time, but it's expansion packs such as the featured Industries DLC that make it as good as it is. Indeed, virtually the entirety of Skylines' exciting feature-set was added post-launch with paid DLCs, and Industries is the greatest one yet.
Basically, this DLC adds layers upon layers of interactive elements to your city. From industrial specializations all the way to granular production handling - the main game becomes twice as rich as soon as it's upgraded with Industries, easily.
#13: Doom Eternal: Ancient Gods
This two-parter effectively concludes the current Doom timeline, and boy what a conclusion this one is. The 2016 reboot of the Doom base game was toying around with some pretty high-brow concepts, and whereas the core narrative of Eternal did feel a bit hollow, this list of best DLCs of all time wouldn't count without the Ancient Gods' finale.
We know, we know - nobody really plays Doom for its story. This one's pretty good though, and even if you're not into it, the gameplay upgrades are worth the price of admission alone.
#12: Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
Blood Dragon has got a bit of a legendary status in gaming communities by now. Effectively, it's a boiled-down, streamlined version of the then-novel revamp and retrofit of the Far Cry series. Whereas Far Cry 3 was a serious, brutal, and depressing look at a person going absolutely insane, Blood Dragon takes its story in the opposite direction instead.
This is a love letter to the '80s, with all the neon, rock, and hairspray that anybody could wish for. It's also rather short, but those few hours are some of the finest Far Cry you'll ever play.
#11: Control: AWE
This DLC is the very definition of chickens coming home to roost. Though the base game certainly implied a connection to Alan Wake, AWE confirmed it, drove it home, and then underlined it with a thick black Sharpie. Hell, AWE may well have kickstarted Remedy Entertainment's own "cinematic universe" of sorts, and it's a must-play mini-campaign built on top of an already must-play 3D Metroidvania base game.
AWE is worth playing not just due to its narrative implications, but also because it drives home just how terrifying Control can be. Expect some innovative lighting-based gameplay, as well as some truly terrifying sequences and arguably the best storyline of the lot.
#10: Borderlands 2: Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep
A one-note DLC turned standalone mini-game turned fully-fledged Borderlands side grade, Assault on Dragon Keep is probably the best piece of content Gearbox had ever produced for Borderlands 2. And, considering the sheer breadth of DLC that the main game received over the years, that's quite the ask.
Really though, this is a great game no matter your experience with the franchise. It's fun, has phenomenal writing, does not overstay its welcome, and knows its place in the narrative. What more could a gamer wish for in a DLC?
#9: PREY: Mooncrash
This one was a total 180 compared to Prey, which is already one of the best immersive sims on the market. Effectively, Mooncrash is a roguelite-lite, in that it tasks the player with completing varying objectives in an ever-evolving section of the lunar base prominently featured in baseline Prey, albeit only through a window.
Instead of continuing the ongoing story, it reveals more about the evolving Typhon threat from a different perspective. What really drives home the point that this is one of the best DLCs of all time, though, is the fact that Mooncrash uses regular Prey tech and gameplay to achieve entirely different - but equally engaging - design goals.
#8: XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
Could there ever be a list of the best DLCs of all time that didn't feature War of the Chosen in some capacity? Make no mistake, XCOM 2 was a phenomenal game all on its own, but it was War of the Chosen that really hit the nail on the head. While the whole thing does feel a bit more superhero than it probably should've, the gameplay changes and additions are downright immense.
What's more important, though, is that War of the Chosen integrates with the base XCOM 2 experience flawlessly. It just builds on top of phenomenally solid bones, and it's a must-have for every modern playthrough.
#7: The Division 2: Warlords of New York
Few games handle tense urban combat with RPG mechanics quite as well as The Division 2 does. While its community enjoyed the proposition of a new Division game set in a new environment - Washington DC during the summer heatwave - many players found themselves yearning for the New York setting of the first game, too.
So, Warlords of New York pushes the players back into the fray. With a reworked and even more downtrodden Manhattan than ever before, WONY delivers the ultimate Division experience.
#6: Dishonored: Death of the Outsider
A standalone expansion for Dishonored 2, Death of the Outsider is precisely what it says on the tin. Except, in truth, it's actually a sequel to the first Dishonored's own standalone X-PAC, Knife of Dunwall. Here, players take control over Meagan Foster, who - as it turns out - was once Daud's own right hand.
Foster's narrative intermingles with that of the two original protagonists but quickly takes on a new life. The ending is a striking delight brought about after hours of some of the finest Dishonored gameplay ever brought to life. Its consequences? Well, it might have led to Deathloop, of all things!
#5: Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
Depending on whether you prefer your games simple and streamlined or complex and intense, Monster Hunter World may still be your favorite MH game of all time. It's a phenomenal game, to be sure, but that just means it's a testament to Iceborne's quality that it somehow makes the base game even better.
Iceborne adds an entire new endgame-tier difficulty mode, transmogrification of armor and weaponry, more loot than one could shake a gun-lance at, and a wealth of exciting new monsters to hunt. What more could a Monster Hunter player wish for?
#4: Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City
Many different Dark Souls expansion packs were in the running for this particular position, with Artorias of the Abyss being the close second choice. In the end, though, the sheer quality of The Ringed City DLC for Dark Souls 3 won out. This is - right next to Bloodborne's own DLC - the very pinnacle of FromSoft post-launch coverage.
What really drives home that this is one of the best DLCs of all time, though, is that it's essentially a summary of everything Dark Souls had accomplished up until then. A stellar map, excellent boss encounters, and the best world design since Dark Souls 1!
#3: Mass Effect 3: Citadel
For the most part, Mass Effect games have had middling success with DLCs. Some were phenomenal, others failed to deliver in more ways than one. Whether one's good or not will vary from one player to another, but just about everyone agrees that Citadel is the DLC to play, even if you ignore all the others.
While there are some really great and inventive gameplay sequences featured in Citadel, they're hardly in the spotlight. Instead, the focus falls squarely on interacting with other characters and reliving Shepard's adventure. It's a real joy to play.
#2: Fallout New Vegas: The Lonesome Road
The Lonesome Road is, for the most part, in stark contrast compared to the remainder of New Vegas' selection of DLCs. They're all great for the most part, for sure, but Lonesome Road is dark, gritty, and disturbing in a very real way. It's Heart of Darkness viewed through a Fallout lens, for the lack of a better comparison.
And, really, unlike almost everywhere else in Fallout, the villain is a real and grounded - albeit very disturbed - individual who is a dark mirror of the protagonist. It's a deeper story than most expected, and it's absolutely stellar.
#1: TES IV Oblivion: The Shivering Isles
It's funny, really. For those who are young enough not to remember, it was Bethesda who introduced the concept of microtransactions to gaming in the first place. In fact, it was Oblivion itself that played host to the very first piece of DLC ever made, and it was Horse Armor. There's a flip side to this story, though. Its title? The Shivering Isles!
The Shivering Isles is immense. It's a phenomenal piece of content that is on every list of best DLCs of all time for good reason. It's, arguably, a stronger piece of content than Oblivion itself. The characters, the open world, the lore - it's new, it's strange, and it's a real delight to play through.
Closing Thoughts
Quite the list, isn't it? We hope we managed to tickle your fancy with some of these listings, as statistics say that a substantial number of people never really engage with DLC and/or expansion packs in any meaningful way. Naturally, the hesitance is understandable in the case of, say, microtransactions. When it comes to a huge, sprawling expansion pack such as The Shivering Isles, though? Well, everyone ought to play the entire game!
Naturally, this list of best video game DLCs of all time really focuses on expansion packs available for sale via 2Game in the first place. Our goal is to be your one-stop-shop for everything gaming, and that means having links, discounts, and deals ready to go at a moment's notice! With that in mind, odds are good that we'll keep expanding upon this list, too, much as we do with our top 100 games.
And hey, if you'd like to read more about excellent downloadable content that you, too, could be playing in mere minutes, here's a short list of content to check out:
- The Best Sims 4 DLC to Play in 2022
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition DLC Stories Not To Miss
- Top 10 Best DLCs of 2020
- Top 10 Best DLCs of 2021
That's barely scratching the surface of our coverage, keep in mind. If you'd like to stay on top of the best DLCs of all time but also keep track of all the most important game announcements and information, consider checking out our Community Hub!
It's a fast and easy way to stay on top of key gaming developments, and we often feature massive sales and discounts, such as the big 2Game Spring Sale - which is running for just a few more days, now. So, with all of that in mind, have fun!
It was at the very end of 2021 that our team here at 2Game decided that enough was enough: if everyone has their top 100 list of PC games, then darn it, we need one too. So we made one, and so far it’s stood the test of time! But what about the best video game […]
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