10 Best Examples of DLC Done Right in Video Games

5. FALLOUT 4 – VAULT TEC DLC

Another entry from Bethesda, Fallout 4 is arguably the best open world effort on the current generation consoles and was one of the only times I have actually bought the season pass for a game. For a decent amount of money, you can grab yourself a massive amount of DLC for a game that people are still exploring today. From exploring an amusement park rammed with raiders to heading out with Nick Valentine to a brand new map, the range of DLC is insane.

The Vault-Tec DLC won out over all the others because it gives you the chance to make your own vault and run it the way you want. Aided by a pretty scabby overseer, you can recruit settlers to your vault and then make them undergo tests, keeping this in line with the other vaults that are already scattered across the map.

This DLC allows your imagination to run wild and it also allows you to level up as you construct your vault, which is a bonus. Don’t take my word for it, just go on YouTube and have a look at some of the amazing vaults other players have built. If that doesn’t fire up your imagination, then nothing will.

 

4. ASSASSIN’S CREED: BLACK FLAG – FREEDOM CRY

Black Flag still remains my favourite entry of Ubisoft’s flagship franchise (did you see what I did there?). It allows you to sail round the Caribbean, blowing up Spanish and English ships before boarding them and looting them. There is something extremely satisfying about unleashing a horde of cannon balls at your enemy before you run with your swords and cut them to shreds.

One of the more mysterious characters is your ship’s quartermaster, Ade, and this is where Freedom Cry comes into its own. It follows him as he joins the ranks of the brotherhood and travels the Caribbean releasing slaves from the plantations, all while he tries to come to terms with his own past and his demons. Where Kenway has certain finesse when he goes into combat, everything about Freedom Cry is brutal as you are given a machete and a massive blunderbuss rifle (or the Victorian answer to the bazooka, in my opinion) to blow your enemies to bits.

This adds nearly fifteen further hours of gameplay to an already bursting game and as it is a standalone story, you can take yourself away from the main game and play something that manages to touch a sensitive area of history.

 

3. RED DEAD REDEMPTION – UNDEAD NIGHTMARE

Red Dead Redemption still remains one of my favourite games of all time. I enjoyed every inch of it from the heart wrenching campaign to robbing people blind while playing poker, Rockstar really did pull all the stops out to make an authentic western game.

Undead Nightmare is maybe one of the most surprising pieces of DLC out there mainly because of the fantastic combination that this game includes: zombies and cowboys. Set in the same game world as Red Dead, you play as John Marston as you travel across America and Mexico trying to find a way to stop the undead from waking and biting everyone within sight.

The NPCs and cut scenes are incredibly funny and although it does feel very tongue-in-cheek at times, I still play this now if I find myself at a loss. There are a range of sidequests to complete as well as freeing town from the undead horde and try and find an answer to what’s going on. Old characters come back and we see just how they are swindling the people or trying to handle the situation.

Plus, there is no doubt in my mind that there is something massively entertaining about shooting a zombie with a Winchester rifle.

READ NEXT: 20 Best Zombie Games You Should Be Devouring

 

2. SLEEPING DOGS – THE ZODIAC TOURNAMENT

Sleeping Dogs is one of the few games that has managed to hold my interest throughout my playthrough and left me wanting more when the game was finished. It has a gritty, unforgiving storyline and possibly one of the best combat systems in a free world game.

The Zodiac Tournament pays homage to the old martial arts films that were a common sight and it even has the cringe worthy opening credits that these kind of films usually come with. Once the DLC gets going, you find yourself in a martial arts tournament where the competitors must fight to the death. It includes a wide range of styles from Drunken Boxing to traditional wrestling and it manages to bring out just how fantastic the combat system in this game really is.

As you progress through the DLC, Wei Shen makes friends and enemies with the different competitors before the stunning conclusion to the DLC. The best way to think of this DLC is to think of the Mortal Kombat film from the 90s, only a million times better.

 

1. BIOSHOCK INFINITE – BURIAL AT SEA

The Bioshock games are arguably the best first person shooter games on the old consoles and with their re-mastered versions now available on the next generation of consoles, it’s easy to fall in love with them once again.

In my opinion, Bioshock Infinite lost its way when it started to introduce dimensions, but was still an outstanding FPS when you consider its competition at the time. The DLC; Burial at Sea, is the best DLC package I have ever bought and for those that have played it, you can understand why.

Set in Rapture (the city from the first game) before everything goes nuts, you play as Elizabeth and Booker as you try to navigate your way around the awesome Art Deco city, whilst avoiding the many deranged and psychotic characters that make an appearance in the first game. As you explore the city, it quickly becomes apparent that the city was destined to fail and it really is amazing to see the grand city before it fell to ruin.

So that’s it. If I have missed anything then don’t hesitate to let me know. This just goes to show that DLC doesn’t have to be pay to win or extra costumes.