Best Open-World RPG DLCs

Key Takeaways

Open-world RPGs offer players vast maps, quests, and secrets for hundreds of hours of gameplay.
DLCs for these games can expand stories, add darker themes, and provide more challenges and new maps.
Games like Cyberpunk 2077, Fallout 4, and The Witcher 3 have standout DLCs that enhance the player experience.

As a seasoned gamer with over three decades under my belt, I can confidently say that each of these DLC expansions has left an indelible mark on my gaming journey. Let’s start with Bethesda’s “Dragonborn” for Skyrim – it took me back to the land of Morrowind, a place I had once called home in another epic adventure. The cosmic horror was a refreshing twist that kept me hooked, battling the original Dragonborn and the elusive Hermaeus Mora.

Over the past several decades, some of the most significant video games launched have been open-world role-playing games (RPGs). These captivating titles thrust players into expansive landscapes without a predetermined route, giving them the freedom to chart their own distinctive course. With immense territories to traverse, missions to accomplish, and mysteries to solve, these grand games promise countless hours of immersive gameplay.

Over time, these games have ballooned in scale, revealing intricate worlds steeped in history and culture. Much like contemporary games, the tale often doesn’t conclude within the initial release. Downloadable Content (DLC) expansions enable developers to extend and sometimes refine their creations. These extensions frequently delve into darker narratives and present a more demanding playstyle. In fact, numerous DLCs introduce vast new maps, offering players additional hours of immersive content.

6 Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

A Second Chance For The Troubled Game

Right from the start, the massive open-world sci-fi RPG titled Cyberpunk 2077 faced numerous technical problems, leading to one of the most challenging video game launches ever. However, the game has significantly improved since then, rectifying its optimization issues and attracting a larger player base. A significant part of this transformation can be attributed to the impressive expansion, Phantom Liberty.

In this updated version of the game, dubbed as a relaunch, various enhancements were demonstrated, including the presence of renowned actor Idris Elba. This revamped edition unveiled a fresh district on the map named Dogtown, along with a novel skill tree and an assortment of new weapons and vehicles. The expansion narrative revolves around the main character V, a hired mercenary, who embarks on a mission to rescue the President of the United States, stranded in Dogtown.

5 Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion – The Shivering Isles

A Journey Into Madness

Prior to the monumental victories of games like Skyrim and Fallout 3, which elevated Bethesda to the tier-one AAA developer status it holds today, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion stood as their most significant accomplishment. This role-playing game, set in a vast open-world fantasy landscape, remains cherished by its dedicated fanbase. Although it has some rough spots, typical of Bethesda games, Oblivion offers an awe-inspiring fantasy realm, filled with multiple towns and cities scattered across the map.

In the enchanting setting of the game Oblivion, its exceptional expansion, named The Shivering Isles, leads players down an unusual journey. This expansion transports you to the domain of Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness, where you can traverse a lively land teeming with peculiar giant flora, kaleidoscopic skies, and threatening adversaries. The story unfolds around the Greymarch, a time when Order clashes against Chaos. The Shivering Isles offers a thrilling expedition that complements perfectly the epic narrative presented in the main game and is one of Bethesda’s finest creations.

4 Fallout 4: Far Harbor

Discover What Hides In The Mist

Fallout 4 offers an expansive open-world adventure, teeming with hidden spots, rival factions, and genetically altered creatures. The game transports you into the devastated nuclear ruins of Boston, where the solitary inhabitant of Vault 111, revived after 210 years, embarks on a quest to find their lost child, Shaun, in an alien environment. The title launches with additional content packs, primarily enhancing the fundamental mechanics of the game. Yet, its standout expansion transports you to a completely distinct location.

Drawing inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft’s chilling tales like “The Shadow over Innsmouth“, the exceptional DLC of “Fallout 4“, namely “Far Harbor“, offers a refreshing break from the main game. “Fallout 4” boasts several top-notch DLCs, but “Far Harbor” shines for its ominous atmosphere, peculiar new adversaries, and a story that seamlessly complements the narrative of “Fallout 4“. The game revolves around the player’s quest to find a missing girl, who has been abducted by a band of Synthetics, fleeing from the Institute. “Far Harbor” offers a wealth of new areas to discover, missions to accomplish, and challenging encounters to conquer.

3 Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim – Dragonborn

Battle The First Dragonborn

Bethesda has left an indelible mark on gaming, despite occasional flaws in their productions. To countless gamers, their masterpiece is undoubtedly The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This fifth installment of the series immerses players in a sprawling snowy terrain, teeming with ancient relics, enigmatic caves, and legendary adversaries. It revolutionized the series with fresh magic systems and mechanics, immediately earning it classic status.

The incredible DLC for the game Skyrim, titled Dragonborn, delves deeper into the game’s lore and geography, transporting players to the island of Solstheim, which was previously explored in the game Morrowind. In this expansion, players confront the original Dragonborn, Miraak, and grapple with Hermaeus Mora, a Daedric Prince known for his knowledge. The DLC for Skyrim swiftly ventures into realms of cosmic horror, a common theme in Bethesda’s expansions. The Dragonborn expansion is an ideal complement to Skyrim. It offers countless hours of immersive gameplay that serves as a refreshing departure from the main game while still maintaining a coherent connection with the established universe.

2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine

A Vibrant Sun-Drenched Adventure

The Witcher 3 is considered one of the best games ever made. It set a new standard for open-world RPGs with its living, breathing world. While the game’s first DLC offered a new storyline set within the established region, the second would take players to a whole new area. Blood and Wine is the final DLC of The Witcher 3, and it feels like a grand send-off.

Upon arrival at Toussaint, players step into a radiant landscape teeming with chivalrous knights, sprawling vineyards, and bloodthirsty vampires. Unlike the main game’s somber, medieval atmosphere characterized by ominous forests, treacherous marshes, and desolate battlegrounds, Blood and Wine presents a refreshing contrast. The storyline revolves around Geralt’s quest to unravel a series of grisly murders that eventually escalates into a fierce struggle against an ancient vampire. Blood and Wine is replete with formidable foes, fresh assignments, potent gear, and delightful new personalities, making it the ideal conclusion to an exceptional gaming experience.

1 Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree

Take On Greater Challenges In The Land Of Shadow

Delving deeper into its complexity and backstory, Shadow of the Erdtree stands out as an exceptional expansion to the contemporary action-RPG masterpiece, Elden Ring. This DLC offers a vast, challenging new realm that will test the mettle of seasoned gamers. In pursuit of Miquella, the Tarnished embarks on a journey into the Shadow Land, a place where fresh trials await. The game brings forth numerous new characters, along with innovative weapons, armor, and enchantments.

The challenging nature of Elden Ring‘s expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, is elevated by intensely tough boss battles that demand both patience and resilience. This massive DLC offers a wealth of content to explore for hours on end. Just as in all FromSoftware games, the exceptional level design shines brightly here, with vast castles, ominous dark forests corrupted by time, and crumbling ancient ruins dotting the landscape. Shadow of the Erdtree serves as an impressive addition to one of history’s highest-rated games, further cementing FromSoftware’s reign over the genre.

2024-08-24 07:04