10 game add-ons that have outshone full-fledged projects

By: Vladyslav Nuzhnov | 23.08.2024, 10:51

Usually, add-ons allow players to stay in their favourite game for a few more hours and explore something new. However, sometimes developers approach the creation of DLC with such enthusiasm that they can compete with full-fledged games in terms of quality and quantity of content. Sometimes, however, there is so much new content in an expansion that it is worthy of a separate game that can be sold at full price (greetings to the Poles from CD Projekt). The gg editorial team has found 10 such add-ons that have a lot of content and are so well made that they could easily claim to be separate games.

Bloodborne: The Old Hunters

Bloodborne: The Old Hunters is an expansion to the Bloodborne game in the souls-like genre. Players will plunge into a new world of nightmares, where the restless spirits of hunters from the past continue to reside.

In addition to new information about the game world, we will have new weapons, armour, locations, enemies and, of course, new bosses. FromSoftware, as always, has created them so interesting that you will remember the challenge they will give you for a long time. The Old Hunters received 87 points from critics and 9 points from players on Metacritic, so if you liked Bloodborne with its dark atmosphere and interesting world, you shouldn't miss this expansion.

To play the expansion, you must also have the original Bloodborne

Developer: FromSoftware

Time to complete: 8-12 hours

Genre: Souls-like

Platforms: PlayStation 4/5

Release date: 24 November 2015

Game site: playstation

Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne

Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne is an addition to the popular real-time strategy game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. One of the main reasons for the success of the DLC is the deep and exciting story that continues and expands the epic story of the original game. The expansion adds new campaigns for each race, including night elves and the undead, allowing you to dive deeper into the world of Azeroth. Particularly noteworthy is the campaign of Arthas, who becomes the lich king, which is one of the most epic moments in the history of Warcraft.

The Frozen Throne also introduces new mechanics, such as the construction of shops for each race, which allows players to buy useful items right on the battlefield, and neutral heroes that can be hired in taverns, opening up additional tactical opportunities. The Frozen Throne DLC received 88 points from critics and 9.2 points from players on Metacritic and has already achieved cult status.

The expansion also requires Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos

Developer: Blizzard

Time to complete: 15-40 hours

Genre: RTS

Platforms: PC

Release date: 1 July 2003

Game site: blizzard

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is a 1-person shooter that is an addition to the game Far Cry 3. The add-on immerses players in the futuristic world of the alternative 2007, filled with bright neon colours, cyberpunk motifs and references to 80s pop culture.

The game moves away from the serious tone of Far Cry 3 and offers players comedic, hyperbolic and often absurd events. This is evident in everything from dialogue and characters to level design and weapons. Gameplay-wise, the game has remained virtually unchanged, but I would like to mention the music created by Power Glove. The soundtrack is filled with synthesiser melodies reminiscent of the best examples of 80s music. The crazy and ironic Blood Dragon DLC received 80 points from players and critics on Metacritic.

You don't need to have the original Far Cry 3 to play the expansion. Blood Dragon is sold as a standalone game

Developer: Ubisoft

Time to complete: 4-10 hours

Genre: FPS

Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 3/4/5

Release date: 1 May 2013

Game site: ubisoft

The Last of Us: Left Behind

The Last of Us: Left Behind is an expansion pack for The Last of Us. It shows two timelines: Ellie's backstory and reveals the events that preceded the main plot, as well as shows her adventures during her journey with Joel.

One of the main reasons why Left Behind is a quality addition is the emotionality of the story. In 2 hours, Naughty Dog manages to reveal what made Ellie the person we know, show her friend Riley, revealing their friendship and difficult choices in a world of chaos, and depict how much Joel means to her and that she is literally ready to kill everyone in the world for him.

The add-on is included in The Last of Us right away. You don't need to buy anything, and you can access it in the main menu

Developer: Naughty Dog

Time to complete: 2-3 hours

Genre: Action Adventure

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3/4/5

Release date: 12 May 2015

Game site: playstation

ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree

ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree is an addition to the Elden Ring game in the souls-like genre. It takes players beyond the boundaries of the Middle-earth, to the new world of Elden Ring - the Kingdom of Shadows. You can freely travel around this world in search of new adventures.

You will also find weapons, armour, skills and spells that are not available in the main game, as well as new enemies, bosses and storylines. As in the case of The Old Hunters, bosses are one of the best elements of the DLC. The last one deserves special attention. It is no exaggeration to say that if you manage to defeat it after hours of suffering, you will definitely not forget this battle. Shadow of the Erdtree has received 95 points from critics, a MetaCritic must-play mark, and 8 points from players on Metacritic.

The expansion also requires the original Elden Ring

Developer: FromSoftware

Time to complete: 25-50 hours

Genre: Souls-Like

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series

Release date: 21 June 2024

Game site: bandainamcoent

Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City

Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City is a collection of two separate add-ons for Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony. Each of them offers a new look at life in Liberty City, revealing different aspects and cultures of the city.

The Lost and Damned tells the story of Johnny, a member of The Lost biker club. This expansion focuses on the violent, darker side of the city, with a focus on brotherhood, betrayal and survival in a world where loyalty is tested at every turn.

The Ballad of Gay Tony shows players the colourful, glamorous world of clubbing through the eyes of Luis Lopez, the right-hand man of the famous clubbing mogul Tony Prince. This addition focuses on the luxurious side of the city, which is available only to the chosen few. Episodes from Liberty City has 8.3 points from players on Metacritic.

All owners of the Grand Theft Auto IV edition receive the expansion pack: The Complete Edition

Developer: Rockstar

Time to complete: 15-30 hours

Genre: Action

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Release date: 13 April 2010

Game site: rockstargames

The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine

The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine is a large-scale expansion to the third "Witcher", which offers a new epic adventure for Geralt of Rivia. The story takes place in the Principality of Toussaint, a fabulous and colourful region known for its vineyards and knightly tournaments. However, what secrets lie behind this outward glitter?

Blood and Wine adds more than 20 hours of new content, including story quests, additional tasks, new characters, and monsters that terrorise the kingdom. The DLC not only expands the world of The Witcher 3, but also completes Geralt's story, showing players the end of his adventures. How can you miss such an interesting ending after all the adventures you've had in this fantasy world? Blood and Wine has received 92 points from players and critics, as well as the MetaCritic must-play mark on Metacritic.

This content also requires the original The Witcher 3

Developer: CD Projekt Red

Time to complete: 15-40 hours

Genre: Action RPG

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series

Release date: 31 May 2016

Game site: thewitcher

Dishonored - Knife Of Dunwall + The Brigmore Witches

Knife of Dunwall and The Brigmore Witches are two interconnected add-ons to the immersive sim game Dishonored that offer players to immerse themselves in the story of Daud, the Empress's assassin and leader of the legendary mercenaries Whalers. Both add-ons expand the world of the main game, offering new levels, mechanics and characters.

Knife of Dunwall tells the story of the redemption of Dowd, who begins to doubt his actions and seeks to find a way out of a moral trap. This expansion depicts the character's internal conflict with himself and adds new features such as new weapons and gadgets. For example, you can call in whalers to help you in battle with the Killer's Call. In terms of weapons, your arsenal includes a Chokehold that stuns enemies, whale oil mines that shock targets, and a hidden crossbow to launch soporific darts and explosive bolts.

The Brigmore Witches concludes Dowd's story by taking him to the final battle with the Brigmore Witches. In addition to continuing the interesting story, you are again given new abilities. You can now attract enemies to you and suspend them helplessly in the air or use them as human shields. And, of course, we'll have to travel to new locations, so to fully understand the world of Dishonored, these add-ons are a must-have. The Knife of Dunwall and The Brigmore Witches received 80 points on Metacritic.

For the add-ons you also need the original Dishonored

Developer: Arkane

Time to complete: 8-15 hours

Genre: Immersive sim

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3/4/5, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Xbox Series

Release date: 15 April 2013/13 August 2013

Game site: bethesda

God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla

God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla is the first (and free) expansion pack for God of War Ragnarok. It continues the story of Kratos, who goes to Valhalla to deal with his demons of the past. And it is those players who remember God of War before the relaunch in 2018 who should pay attention to the DLC in the first place.

The peculiarity of the add-on is that it is created in the roguelite genre, so your path will constantly change, which adds variety to the gameplay that does not get boring even after several evenings of intense battles. The combat system in GoW has always been epic, and in Valhalla, the level of epicness increases several times. Subconsciously, you realise that a mistake can be costly, especially if you've already gone far. That's why you have to use all combinations, items, runes, constantly analyse the situation and make quick decisions. The Valhalla DLC received 88 points from critics and 8.5 points from players on Metacritic.

For the add-on you also need the original God of War Ragnarok

Developer: Santa Monica

Time to complete: 5-20 hours

Genre: Action

Platforms: PlayStation 4/5

Release date: 12 December 2023

Game site: playstation

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is the first and last storyline expansion for Cyberpunk 2077. We were introduced to a new area of Knight City - Dogtown, where we will find a spy thriller story, charismatic characters, a variety of activities that were not available in the original 2077, and important innovations such as a redesigned skill tree, restrictions on implants, and the ability to shoot from cars.

From the very first minutes, the expansion immerses you in the events and does not let go until the very end. You immediately have questions in your head, but against the backdrop of dynamic events, you don't have time to look for answers, but later the questions in your head turn into remorse, where you are not sure if you really did the right thing, but you understand for sure that freedom in the game world is deceptive. And thanks to the 10-20 hours of DLC, you simply don't have time to get bored, which creates a "wow effect" that is sometimes stronger than during the original Cyberpunk 2077. The Phantom Liberty DLC received 89 points from critics and 7.6 points from players on Metacritic.

For add-ons you also need the original Cyberpunk 2077

Developer: CD Projekt Red

Time to complete: 10-20 hours

Genre: Action RPG

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series

Release date: 26 September 2023

Game site: cyberpunk

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