Downloadable Content has always given fans a chance to explore new features and content in loads of games. Out ofall the DLC available, 2021 has seen plenty of ground-breaking and exciting new DLC releases that have either brought something new to the table or crossed over with other properties.
As gaming has continued to grow, so has DLC. Downloadable content has grown to feature full updates that keep games going with new additions for years after their initial launch, as well as being used to bring back fan-favorite features such asSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateadding the Stage Buildingfeature in a patch. Against all of the DLC in 2021, a few stood out the most in terms of what it brought to players, and they follow in no particular order.
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Far Cry 6 - Vaas: Insanity
Ever since players got to know Vaas inFar Cry 3, many fans wanted more out of the fan-favorite villain. Some wanted to understand his viewpoints better, whereas others desired to play as him in some shape or form. As ofFar Cry 6, that wish has been answered with the explorative DLCVaas: Insanitythat takes players through Vaas' mindscape in a rogue-lite adventure.
While some fans felt the adventure ran a little short, it still ended up giving fans an experience completelynew to theFar Cryseries, while being incredibly experimental and imaginative with the world found in Vaas' mind. The DLC also gave cosmetic items themed off ofFC3to players, including a Vaas outfit for Dani. For the fans of the third game in the series, this DLC is very much worth picking up.
Sora in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
It may have been upsetting for many fans to hear thatSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate’sFighter Pass DLC would come to an end in 2021, but what fighter ended up sending the game off was an incredible reveal for fans. Despite how manySmashplayers thought he would be too difficult to include, Sora entered the roster as the last DLC character with details andeaster eggs galore forKingdom Heartsfansto enjoy.
Sora came with costumes referencing his different appearances across many differentKHtitles, such as hisKingdom Hearts 3outfit. He also had alternate costumes for different form changes he had gone through, such as his Timeless River form. The DLC also came with an incredibly detailed Hollow Bastion stage, and all of Sora’s friends as different spirits.Even though Disney references were left outfor what’s most likely legal reasons, many fans agree that Sora being added to Smash was one of the best fighters they could have saved for last.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake: INTERmission
While fans still have quite a while to wait for thesecond installment ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, the DLC that came with the game’s PS5 upgrade serves as a great taste of what’s to come. AsFF7Rintroduces details found in theCompilation of Final Fantasy 7, Yuffie’s own personal DLC gives context to her intro in the original game, while tying the story to a title many people didn’t expect to see tie intoRemakeso soon,Final Fantasy 7: Dirge of Cerberus.
Many fans enjoyed how, despite that the game sits at two chapters, it fleshed out the world of Gaia beyond just Midgar, as it introduced the well-known Midgar and Wutai war to a new audience with ease. Whileother RPG DLCs may be more ambitiousin their executions, whatIntermissionsets up for the next title is something fans shouldn’t miss out on.
Marvel’s Avengers: War for Wakanda
Marvel’s Avengers' War for WakandaDLC is proof that despite how a game performs on launch, given enough time, players who remain loyal to the title may be rewarded with great DLC that heightens the experience far more than expected at first glance. This particular experience gives players a look into what happened to Black Panther as a result of the crisis on A-Day, putting players inKing T’Challa’s shoesand taking fans on a campaign through the Wakandan Jungle.
The way thatBlack Panther operates as a playable heromakes beating down enemies feel much more rewarding with his shockwave and ability-boosting capabilities, which can be upgraded for even more power throughout the campaign. The expansion DLC also adds new enemies to bring a challenge to even the most dedicated fans who have already beaten the game over and over again, making the expansion worthwhile for many players.
Destiny 2 30th Anniversary DLC
Against all of the anniversaries that happened in the video game industry this year, Bungie knew just how to go all out for its own as the company turned 30 years old. It released theDestiny 230th Anniversary Pack as a big celebration of all things Bungie fromHalo,Myth, and more. Some naturally have to be more subtle nods than others for obvious reasons, but the DLC adds enough interesting content that itchanges upDestiny 2’scurrent meta experience.
No matter which Bungie title players are the fondest of, there is something for each fan to enjoy from their favorite games in the expansion as they take downDestiny 2’snew hilariously-named bosses.
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Doom Eternal: the Ancient Gods Part 2
There is a saying that all good things must come to an end, andDoom Eternal: the Ancient Gods Part 2serves as the climactic finale to the Doom Slayer’s story, finishing the fight between the player and the Dark Lord. The DLC gives the standardDoomfare of new items and enemies for players to test their new weapons on, includingthe extremely powerful Sentinel Hammer.
However, the biggest draw to the DLC to many may lie in how the war between Heaven and Hell finally concludes at the Doom Slayer’s hands. Naturally, the ending of that id Software has developed since the series came back in 2016 is climactic, and some players may not understandthe deeper meanings ofDoom Eternal’sending at first. However, the last DLC expansion for the title does a great job at making sure plenty of fans are satisfied until the franchise potentially comes back again.
Animal Crossing: Happy Home Paradise
Like howSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatesaw the end of its content updates in 2021, so didAnimal Crossing: New Horizonswith its 2.0 update released late in the year. However, fans weren’t left without content to enjoy, as the 2.0 update also saw the addition ofAnimal Crossing’sfirst DLC expansion,Happy Home Paradise.Happy Home Paradisebrought clever progressionand a new mode to the life simulation title that can almost stand up as a new game on its own.
The new DLC adds features never before seen inAnimal Crossing, such as partition walls, lighting control, soundscapes, and more that add new dynamics to how players can design houses across both vacation homes and the homes of their villagers. With these new features, alongside the 2.0 update,Animal Crossing: New Horizonshas become even more incredibly replayable, with an endless amount of options to change up their islands.
Final Fantasy 14 Online: Endwalker
As one of the most anticipated releases of 2021,Final Fantasy 14’s Endwalkerexpansion is finally in the hands of fans. The critically acclaimed MMO gains two new classes, Sage and Reaper, along with male Vieras on top of tons of other new content. The expansion continues the story many fans have grown attached to, andEndwalkergives challenging new dungeonsand quests for players along the way to test their skills so far.
Endwalkerwas almost too hyped up by its fans, as the expansion hitting the game has led to queueing issues that have kept players out of the game for hours, as well as all of the sales forFF14to be halted until traffic dies down. Despite this, the team working on the game has done its best to make the experience worth it for the players that can experience it, including makingEndwalker’sdungeons drop tons of EXPfor easy leveling.
Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye
Alongside the massive solar system and lost secrets players can explore inOuter Wildsitself, Annapurna Interactive has given the action-adventure game even more worlds and locations for fans to find.Outer Wilds’Echoes of the EyeDLC was revealedduring Annapurna’s own presentation in July, and now that it’s in the hands of players, many of them have had fun finding the DLC’s different endings.
Several players praised howOuter Wildstends to be a game that allows players to explore without pointing them in different directions with different objective pointers, which adds to the open-ended nature of the expansion as it seeks to add context to the story fans already explored. The DLC fits in with the already established world of the title that many players aren’t surehow to startEchoes of the Eyeright away.
Ghost of Tsushima: Iki Island
Voted the Players' Choice at the Game Awards in 2020,Ghost of Tsushimafinds new life with theIki Islandexpansion that seeks to flesh out the story of Jin Sakai, the samurai many fans have grown to know over the last few years. As fans learn the story of Jin’s past, dealing with his father’s profession and death, the DLC has players beating up enemies andfinding haikus in brand newGhost of Tsushimalocationsacross a sprawling landscape.
After the original game stole plenty of fans' hearts, having more chances to slash their way through things would make many players happy Iki Island no matter what shortcomings the DLC had. With tons of items and secrets to find, includingPlayStation-inspired easter eggs, having more content of Sucker Punch’s gorgeous open-world adventure to explore is a highlight of 2021 for many fans.
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