Few developers in the gaming industry can create expansions as memorable as FromSoftware.
The Soulsborne series, including Dark Souls and Elden Ring, have been remarkably enhanced by exceptional DLC packages. These expansions provide such extraordinary experiences that they often outshine the original games themselves.
These game expansions are often considered some of the finest in gaming history, thanks to their compelling storylines, captivating soundtracks, immersive lore, and exceptional gameplay areas supervised by skilled bosses – quite an impressive achievement.
To determine which among these Soulsborne DLCs stands out the most, we commemorate over a decade’s worth of remarkable content enhancements by compiling this list, featuring our top picks – the highest-rated Soulsborne DLCs, arranged in order.
8. Ashes of Ariandel
A Fantastic Boss and Little More
Game | Dark Souls 3 |
Bosses | Sister Friede; Champion’s Gravetender |
How Long to Beat | 4 hours |
Among all the expansions developed by FromSoftware, it’s the Ashes of Ariandel for Dark Souls 3 that contains the least amount of content and intriguing elements compared to its counterparts.
Although your boss is fantastic, the rest of the downloadable content seems less rich and diverse compared to their typical work.
The regions are consistently level and populated by repetitive adversaries; aside from Sister Friede, the main boss is unremarkable, and features of interest, such as the Painter or the Corvians, are largely underdeveloped.
In simpler terms, “Ashes of Ariandel didn’t quite live up to the standards we’re used to.” or “Compared to our usual expectations, Ashes of Ariandel was a bit disappointing.
7. Crown of the Sunken King
Vastly Underrated

Game | Dark Souls 2 |
Bosses | Elana, Squalid Queen; Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon; Graverobber, Varg, and Cerah |
How Long to Beat | 4 hours |
I’m quite enamored with Dark Souls 2, but I acknowledge that its expansions addressed some of the issues in the original game. To begin with, Crown of the Sunken King was instrumental in these improvements.
The optional boss for cooperative play in this game is one of FromSoftware’s oddest creations, yet the overall experience in Shulva, Sanctum City remains iconic.
Among the managers, scenes, and multi-level layout, it’s captivating how this addition brings a breath of fresh air to the original game’s straightforwardness.
In a different phrasing, it could be stated as: “Many individuals dislike poison and using bows for navigation purposes, but the Crown of the Sunken King offers some fascinating concepts that I feel deserved further exploration in subsequent installments.
6. Crown of the Ivory King
A Memorable Expansion

Game | Dark Souls 2 |
Bosses | Aava, the King’s Pet; Burnt Ivory King; Lud and Zallen, the King’s Pets |
How Long to Beat | 6 hours |
Just as anticipated, the Crown of the Ivory King elevates the core aspects of its DLC predecessors, encompassing not only their strong suits but also some of their inherent challenges.
In my gaming journey through Dark Souls 2, I’ve found that the cooperative play area leaves a lot to be desired, but boy oh boy, the boss battles! They are absolutely top-notch, especially the toughest one of them all. Plus, the level design in this game is nothing short of brilliant and incredibly innovative.
This additional content, or expansion pack, has received a mix of opinions because of its persistent adversaries and relentless blizzard attacks. However, it showcases some of the most innovative creativity from FromSoftware, particularly in its challenging nature.
I dislike the Chilly Peripheries, Frozen Rudolphs, and Lud and Zallen, yet I adore the Charred Ivory Ruler, Alsanna, and the tales of Eleum Loyce so deeply that I can’t help but feel fondness for the expansion pack.
5. Crown of the Old Iron King
The Best Sovereign of the Three

Game | Dark Souls 2 |
Bosses | Fume Knight; Sir Alonne; Smelter Demon |
How Long to Beat | 5 horas |
The expansion titled “Crown of the Old Iron King” carries on in a similar fashion as its previous installment, exploring fresh ideas which significantly enhance the overall enjoyment of “Dark Souls 2“.
Once more, the Blue Smelter Demon in the cooperative area is dreadful, however, Sir Alonne and Fume Knight are exceptional bosses within the entire trilogy, making this DLC worthy of great esteem.
In the co-op zone, the Blue Smelter Demon is difficult to handle, but the quality of bosses like Sir Alonne and Fume Knight in the entire trilogy make this DLC truly remarkable.
Considering its striking vertical structure, intricate layout of spaces, and the way it consistently keeps you on edge with innovative, unique challenges, it offers an unforeseeable, thrilling experience.
I’ll never be able to erase from my memory the experience of navigating Brume Tower’s chain structures for the very first time. FromSoftware is unparalleled when it comes to creating memorable game environments.
4. Artorias of the Abyss
Unblemished Greatness

Game | Dark Souls |
Bosses | Sanctuary Guardian; Knight Artorias; Manus, Father of the Abyss; Black Dragon Kalameet |
How Long to Beat | 6 hours |
As a fan, looking back on it a full decade since my initial Dark Souls adventure, I must confess that Artorias of the Abyss by FromSoftware feels more refined and captivating than ever before – much like a fine wine that only gets better with time.
Apart from its less-than-stellar runbacks, the expansion stands out remarkably in every aspect it aims for, particularly excelling in boss battles and storyline depth.
Artorias, Manus, Kalameet, and Sanctuary Guardian form an exceptional roster of adversaries, with their overall caliber ranking among the top tier in the developer’s downloadable content packages.
Moreover, its narrative and characters are extraordinary, richly contributing to the lore of the Dark Souls world, effectively paving the way for future expansion in subsequent games, thus earning its status as truly memorable.
3. The Ringed City
Difficult and Unforgettable

Game | Dark Souls 3 |
Bosses | Demon in Pain & Demon from Below; Halflight, Spear of the Church; Slave Knight Gael; Darkeater Midir |
How Long to Beat | 7 hours |
As a devoted fan, I must say that knowing The Ringed City would be the final chapter in one of the most extraordinary trilogies ever crafted, FromSoftware delivered a fitting farewell to Dark Souls.
The manner in which the expansion concludes the storyline of the franchise is simply amazing, yet what truly stands out are its formidable bosses. These adversaries offer a challenging blend of high difficulty with memorable, grandiose showdowns that one will never forget.
Or:
The ending of the expansion for the franchise is fantastic, but it’s the bosses that really shine. They provide an exhilarating mix of extreme challenge and unforgettable, epic battles.
Or:
The way the expansion concludes the storyline in the franchise is impressive, but what truly leaves a mark are its challenging boss encounters, which feature incredible, once-in-a-lifetime confrontations.
Each version maintains the original’s meaning and flow while using slightly different word choices to ensure natural and easy-to-read language.
Overcoming adversaries such as Darkeater Midir and Slave Knight Gael presents an extraordinary journey seldom repeated, much like the profound satisfaction of conversing with the Painter for what feels like the final time.
Experiencing the roots of Gwyn and his descendants, following decades of tales and speculations, is nothing short of enchanting, despite the loathsome Halflight’s presence. If this had been part of the original game, Dark Souls 3 would have been a strong contender for Game of the Year without a doubt.
2. Shadow of the Erdtree
GOTY Contender

Game | Elden Ring |
Bosses | Divine Beast Dancing Lion; Rellana, Twin Moon Knight; Commander Gaius; Scadutree Avatar; Putrescent Knight; Messmer The Impaler; Romina, Saint of The Bud; Bayle The Dread; Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame; Metyr, Mother of Fingers; Promised Consort Radahn |
How Long to Beat | 25 hours |
When a game is put forward as the Game of the Year contender for the very first time in the realm of video games, it becomes apparent that you are dealing with an unparalleled event.
Indeed, what you see here is none other than the “Shadow of the Erdtree” – a DLC that significantly surpasses most games in terms of size, richness, quality, and design, as demonstrated by the majority of titles available today.
When I believed that no game could recapture the magic I felt with Elden Ring, venturing into the Shadow Realm intensified those feelings, making the enchantment even more potent.
You won’t encounter another game quite like “Shadow of the Erdtree” ever again, I’m certain of that. With its extraordinary bosses, captivating music, exceptional artistic design, and significant advancements over the original version, it’s something you experience just once in a lifetime.
1. The Old Hunters
Best DLC of All Time

Game | Bloodborne |
Bosses | Ludwig, The Holy Blade; Living Failures; Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower; Orphan of Kos; Laurence, the First Vicar |
How Long to Beat | 8 hours |
In contrast to Shadow of the Erdtree, which refined excellence even more, The Old Hunters enhanced Bloodborne significantly.
In its current form, Elden Ring stands as an artistic marvel. However, Bloodborne truly transforms into a grand masterpiece by incorporating the Hunter’s Nightmare, as it addresses and rectifies some of the original game’s limitations.
In many aspects, The Old Hunters goes beyond being merely downloadable content. It not only aligns seamlessly with the original work but also introduces extraordinary bosses that outshine those of the base game in every regard. Furthermore, it significantly reshapes our role within the world of Yharnam, offering a fresh perspective and experience.
Frankly speaking, the superior location for the finest Soulsborne expansion is interchangeable between the top two choices. Nevertheless, I personally prefer “The Old Hunters” extension as Bloodborne simply wouldn’t feel like itself without it.
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2025-01-20 18:39