Expansions and DLC aren’t exactly the most loved products among gamers. The onus is often on developers to justify the additional money you’re putting down and it’s not easy. However, some games get it right for years, delivering one killer expansion after another. Others rewrite the rules on what an expansion or DLC could be. Where do the nominees for 2016’s best expansion/DLC fall?
NOMINEES:
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood And Wine
How do you follow up The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, a game many consider the best ever? Blood and Wine didn’t try to reinvent the wheel but it introduced a bevy of quests, a brand new and beautiful region to explore and a satisfying resolution to Geralt’s tale. Hearts of Stone may have had more memorable sub-plots but Blood and Wine pulled off a mini-epic quite well.
World of Warcraft: Legion
World of Warcraft has been around since 2004 and to say things have been stale over the past several years is an understatement. Each expansion is an opportunity for the MMO to one-up itself and with Legion, the Blizzard of old had returned. With a new continent to explore, Order Halls, Artifact Weapons, World Quests, tons of awesome new missions and surprisingly enjoyable PvP, Azeroth came alive once more with tales of heroism and sacrifice.
Fallout 4 – Far Harbor
To say that numerous fans hated – and we mean hated – Fallout 4 is an understatement. Far Harbor was many things in that regard but it marked a unique experience for Fallout 4 players while still delivering on the same great shooting mechanics and world-building. Far Harbor had numerous fun stories to tell and even with the most boring companion ever, it truly felt like a new world.
Fallout 4 – Nuka World
If Far Harbor satisfied those who wanted some variety in their skill checks, then Nuka World did even better – it let you be bad. Along with numerous grueling areas in the theme park-esque Nuka World, the expansion let you side with various factions of raiders and introduced some real damn consequences to your actions. Nuka World was more shooter-rific but for the first time in a while, it felt good to be bad in Fallout.
Dark Souls 3: Ashes of Ariandel
Ashes of Ariandel doesn’t live up to the base game nor is its story exactly the best the series has to offer. However, it is inherently Dark Souls and that can be enough depending on how much you love the series. Coupled with the first real PvP arena for the game and you have enough mayhem to justify your unhealthy desire with undead warriors locked in an endless cycle of flame-kindling.
Dying Light: The Following
Dying Light filled an interesting niche of platforming, survival horror and first person melee combat but it was refined further and further until The Following completely changed the game. Along with a huge open world to explore, vehicles and new weapons, The Following introduced new challenges, a pretty intriguing mystery and a nice wrap-up to the main story.
WINNER:
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood And Wine
Geralt hasn’t had an easy life and the fact that Toussaint, the new region in Blood and Wine, holds plenty of heinous activity beneath its lazy veneer is a testament to his skill in finding trouble. However, even if there was filler between some of the more quality hours, it felt good to be in control of the White Wolf once more. We only needed an excuse to adventure with Geralt once more but Blood and Wine did so much more while raising the standards for expansions as a whole.
Note: GamingBolt’s Game of the Year categories, nominations and awards are selected via an internal nomination, voting and debate process. You can check the rest of categories and the respective winners here.
