Best Singleplayer Games With No DLC

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Summary

  • Almost every game nowadays offers some DLC, but several single-player titles stand out, requiring no additions.
  • Baldur’s Gate 3 and Disco Elysium represent complete CRPG experiences.
  • Action games like God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice offer the exact same content for everyone.

Identifying the origins of downloadable content (DLC) for video games can be tricky, as the concept of offering extra game content for sale isn’t exactly a novelty. In fact, way back when not everyone had internet access, most popular games came with expansion packs or substantial add-ons, which were usually sold separately on discs. Over time, as more and more companies embraced the idea of selling digital extras, smaller DLC packages became just as commonplace as massive story expansions.

Today, most standalone and multiplayer games are treated similarly. In addition to multiple versions for purchase, each offering unique digital extras like costumes, weapons, or skins, developers frequently provide extra content post-launch. This additional content can range from substantial expansions, equivalent to a complete sequel, to smaller updates such as new quests or items. Players can anticipate a wealth of downloadable content (DLC) for their preferred games.

Instead, let’s take a look below at some exceptional standalone single-player games that didn’t receive any additional downloadable content. To ensure we’re on the same page, we’ll be focusing on more contemporary titles, which were launched when DLC was already widely popular.

During the years 2024 and 2025, we’ll only consider original games without single-player releases for new games that might receive DLC updates in the future. We won’t take into account remasters or reboots since they could have DLC originally released separately.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Defying Expectations In More Ways Than One

Among the most celebrated role-playing games, Baldur’s Gate 3, seems to defy contemporary RPG tendencies in numerous ways. The game’s unwavering faith in dice mechanics for each player’s action and the abundance of content (all included without additional DLC) make Baldur’s Gate 3 a role-playing game enthusiast’s fantasy. This is apparent in its continued popularity, even two years after its release.

The game’s updates encompass more than just technical fixes and quality-of-life improvements; they also introduce new features and additional content, like expanded endings. However, Larian Studios has never released any additional paid content or expansions separate from the original game. Regardless of the platform, purchasing the base game grants players a comprehensive experience – in essence, it’s that straightforward.

The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Doesn’t Get Any Bigger Or Bolder Than This

Nintendo is recognized for providing a lot of additional content (DLC) for its games, but surprisingly, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom didn’t receive any. This is particularly puzzling when you consider that DLC is available for its predecessor, Breath of the Wild. In the case of Tears of the Kingdom, it might be because the main game itself is already expansive and filled with potential possibilities, making it challenging to offer additional content.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but express my excitement about one of the top-tier games from recent years – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This masterpiece stands out not just for its captivating storyline, but also for being one of the lengthiest single-player open-world games currently available. It’s a testament to its charm that I’ve found myself lost in its enchanting world for countless hours, without even needing additional expansions!

Red Dead Redemption 2

Exceptional Game In Its Fullest Form

In a similar vein to how Grand Theft Auto 5 didn’t release any single-player DLC, Red Dead Redemption 2 offers a comprehensive experience right from the start with no hidden conditions. Apart from a few extra items depending on the game edition, every Red Dead Redemption 2 player can enjoy everything the core game has to offer without missing out, even though Rockstar had numerous opportunities to add more content to it.

Absolutely, “Red Dead Online” is a unique tale in its own right, as Rockstar Games has consistently added fresh content since its release. Notably, it’s similar to “GTA Online,” a standalone game that players can purchase individually. Crucially, the online mode doesn’t affect the story mode. As for “GTA 6,” we’ll only know if it follows the same pattern when it arrives.

God Of War

New Vision Fully Brought To Life

God of War is undeniably one of the top-notch reboots in gaming, seamlessly merging cherished elements from its past with an innovative new approach. Since 2018, Kratos and Atreus’ adventure has captivated countless gamers, offering a fully immersive experience right out of the box without needing any additional downloadable content (DLC). This speaks volumes to the game’s original vision, showcasing its potential as an exceptional single-player action game without any compromises.

In an unusual move for PlayStation Studios, the game God of War Ragnarök surprisingly incorporated an additional content named Valhalla, which was surprisingly made available for free to all players who owned the game.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

A Full Circle For Wolf

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is unique in FromSoftware’s collection as it’s the only single-player game they’ve produced so far without any subsequent DLC, expansion packs, or follow-ups. Right from its launch, Sekiro provided a fully fleshed-out gaming experience for every player, concluding the tale of the Wolf in a satisfying manner.

It’s tough to think of anything else that could be included here, as Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice manages to achieve everything it aims for. Featuring a distinctive environment, a distinctive combat system, captivating characters, and a gripping story with numerous conclusions, Sekiro certainly earned its spot among the finest action games ever made.

Disco Elysium

Debut Project For The Ages

In simpler terms, Disco Elysium stands out as an extraordinary role-playing game unlike any other, catering particularly to RPG fans who appreciate abundant text, impactful decisions, engaging interactions, and minimal combat. Since its debut, Disco Elysium has established a unique niche, consistently featuring on top RPG lists. Notably, it boasts few rivals for its distinctive features, which is all the more remarkable considering it was ZA/UM’s first game. Upon release, Disco Elysium delivered its complete offering without requiring additional downloadable content (DLC).

Unlike most other games mentioned, Disco Elysium received unique enhancement through Final Cut, but this wasn’t related to additional DLC content. Rather, Final Cut introduced fully voiced dialogue throughout the game as well as some additional missions.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

NYC Has No More Missions For Peter & Miles

Instead of releasing additional downloadable content like “The City That Never Sleeps” packs for the initial release of Marvel’s Spider-Man, Insomniac opted for a different strategy with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Despite the game’s widespread popularity and presumed high interest in extra content, they chose not to expand the game after its launch. As a result, every person purchasing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 receives the same complete experience, except for two free additional suits, while the original version had eight.

The studio may have chosen to discontinue work on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 due to several factors. These could include data leaks from the studio and an unexpected transition towards the development of Marvel’s Wolverine, a project that might have been revealed prematurely.

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2025-08-08 21:15