When Add-Ons Outdid The Originals
Developers often treat DLC as dessert, but once in a while, the extra content becomes the main course! These expansions addressed what the base game lacked and provided players with a reason to return, eager for more. Curious about which add-ons outshone the originals? These twenty DLCs didn’t just complement the game — they completely outclassed it.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Trailer (2023) Idris Elba | New Cinematic 4K UHD by MovieGasm.com
1. The Witcher 3 – Blood And Wine
Toussaint glowed with light and danger, wrapped in gorgeous armor sets and political quests. The mutation system introduced a new strategy, while the map became a fan obsession. For many, Blood and Wine felt richer than the original journey and hit harder in every way.
The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine All Cutscenes (Full Game Movie) 1080p HD by Gamer's Little Playground
2. Oblivion – The Shivering Isles
Logic disappeared, and madness reigned inside The Shivering Isles. The world is split between Mania and Dementia, offering mind-bending visuals and truly wild characters. Sheogorath’s presence also made every scene feel electric. Reviewers loved the scale, and longtime players still talk about its surreal charm.
3. Mass Effect 2 – Lair Of Shadow Broker
The stakes soared with Lair of the Shadow Broker. Liara’s arc deepened, your team gained new layers, and high-stakes missions gave the story real momentum. With cinematic fights and clever writing, this expansion helped define Mass Effect at its absolute best.
4. BioShock 2 – Minerva’s Den
A standout DLC for BioShock 2, Minerva’s Den explores identity and loss in a tightly crafted tale. Enhanced plasmids, a new enemy type, and a powerful ending helped critics hail it as the franchise’s finest self-contained story.
5. Skyrim – Dragonborn
Ash-covered Solstheim felt heavy with mystery the moment you arrived. Miraak’s story brought urgency, and flying dragons turned every battle cinematic. Dragonborn offered Morrowind nostalgia alongside new shouts and artifacts, essentially giving Skyrim players something they didn’t know they were missing.
MEETING MIRAAK. HIS FIRST SPEECH. SKYRIM: DRAGONBORN DLC by Phlagella
6. Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening
Awakening felt like a bonus campaign with weight. Your Warden took on new threats, and choices here shaped later games. Nathaniel Howe and Justice became fan favorites, and the extra lore built a bridge between Origins and the expanding Dragon Age universe.
Dragon Age Origins Awakening Full Game No Commentary (Best Ending) All Boss Fights
7. Mass Effect 3 – Citadel
A complete shift from the galactic war made Citadel unforgettable. Players reconnected with old teammates and saw their Shepard enjoy rare downtime. Between silly minigames and deep character chats, this DLC became the one everyone remembers as the trilogy’s true heart.
8. The Witcher 3 – Hearts Of Stone
Gaunter O’Dimm didn’t ask permission; he owned every moment. Hearts of Stone blended cursed love stories with terrifying power plays. The ghost-possessed wedding added levity, while Runewords upgraded mechanics. The writing stayed sharp and dark, raising the bar even higher for The Witcher 3.
The Witcher 3 (Hearts of Stone): Gaunter O'Dimm's true nature by Marco Neves
9. BioShock Infinite – Burial At Sea
A dive back to Rapture gave Burial at Sea its gravity. The noir tone, stealth mechanics, and emotional finale stitched Infinite back into its roots. Playing as Elizabeth also changed the narrative weight. It felt like closure designed for those who had followed every detail.
10. Fallout: New Vegas – Old World Blues
Floating brains and snarky toasters weren’t even the weirdest part. Old World Blues took the series somewhere fresh with its mix of science and chaos. This wasn’t just another desert detour; it became one of the boldest swings in New Vegas history.
Old World Blues 1: The Lobotomy - Fallout New Vegas Lore by Oxhorn
11. Borderlands 2 – Tiny Tina’s Assault On Dragon Keep
Roleplay madness met gun-blazing mayhem when Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep dropped. The entire game warped into fantasy, filled with emotion and dragons with ridiculous loot. The DLC was so beloved that it sparked its own spin-off title years later.
Borderlands 2 DLC - Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep - Let's Play Part 1 by FightinCowboy
12. Bloodborne – The Old Hunters
Beautiful and relentless, The Old Hunters gave us fights that pushed every hunter to their limit. The Whirligig Saw became iconic, and the Fishing Hamlet lore added eerie weight. Many fans see it as the actual peak of Bloodborne’s world and challenge.
Bloodborne -The Old Hunters (DLC) - Full Game - No Commentary by SourceSpy91
13. The Legend Of Zelda – The Champions’ Ballad
By deepening each Champion’s past, The Champions’ Ballad raised the emotional impact of the entire game. The new dungeon mirrored Divine Beasts in complexity. Unlocking the Master Cycle Zero also rewarded those who wanted one last victory lap across Hyrule.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - The Champions' Ballad DLC Review by IGN Guides
14. Monster Hunter: World – Iceborne
Iceborne expanded everything. With Master Rank hunts, new monster tiers, and the powerful Clutch Claw mechanic, it felt like a true sequel that integrates into your existing game. Velkhana’s arrival further added cinematic scale, and fans stuck around longer here than in the base release.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Review by IGN
15. Dying Light – The Following
New terrain and high-stakes storylines made The Following a surprise hit. The open countryside gave parkour a new twist, and the multiple endings delivered serious tension. This DLC didn’t just extend Dying Light—it redefined what players could expect from it.
Dying Light: The Following Review by IGN
16. Diablo III – Reaper Of Souls
When Reaper of Souls launched, everything changed. The new Crusader class brought powerful builds, while Loot 2.0 fixed the grind. Adventure Mode and Nephalem Rifts added massive replay value. For many, this was the moment Diablo III finally became the game fans wanted.
17. Fallout 4 – Far Harbor
Far Harbor invited players into a fog-covered island packed with cults and thick moral questions. The most extensive DLC map in Fallout 4 featured a detective storyline that leaned heavily into the noir genre. Each faction pulled you deeper, making choices feel heavier than anything in the base game.
Fallout 4: Far Harbor - Longplay Full DLC Walkthrough (No Commentary) by Loopy Longplays
18. XCOM 2 – War Of The Chosen
War of the Chosen turned every mission into a high-stakes chess match. New soldier classes, smarter alien bosses, and added resistance factions shifted how the entire game played. Critics called it “XCOM 2.5,” and fans praised its creativity and ruthless replay value.
XCOM 2: War of the Chosen Announce Trailer by XCOM
19. Cuphead – The Delicious Last Course
Ms. Chalice didn’t just bring a new moveset; she stole the spotlight. The Delicious Last Course served stunning boss fights and jaw-dropping animation that took years to perfect. The DLC won major awards and left fans saying it surpassed even the base game’s brilliance.
Cuphead DLC - Full Game Walkthrough (The Delicious Last Course) by BeardBear
20. Cyberpunk 2077 – Phantom Liberty
Everything felt tighter once Phantom Liberty launched. With Idris Elba leading a moody spy-thriller and a redesigned UI, the game finally found its rhythm. Dogtown became a dense, dangerous playground. Players widely called it the version Cyberpunk 2077 should have been from day one.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Trailer (2023) Idris Elba | New Cinematic 4K UHD by MovieGasm.com
