More of a great game is never something to complain about, but some new pieces of DLC or expansions really up the ante in what they offer. With some this year, they have enough new and exciting going on, they may as well be a full-fledged sequel.
Here are the nominees for TechRaptor's 2023 Best Expansion/DLC Award for the best piece of additional content to an existing game.
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania
- God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla
- Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores
- Resident Evil 4 - Separate Ways
Check out here for our other award categories and nominees.
Third Place - Resident Evil 4 - Separate Ways
Developer: Visai Games | Release Date: September 20th, 2023
Written by Samuel Guglielmo
When the original Resident Evil 4 got ported to the PlayStation 2, it came with an all-new bonus campaign called Separate Ways, letting players see the story through the eyes of super spy Ada Wong. It was an okay addition that was, for the most part, an asset flip with very little new content. Still, it has become a beloved part of the Resident Evil 4 experience and made an obvious inclusion for the remake. No one was surprised when it was the expansion.
What was surprising was just how good the remake's version was. It brought back the few things cut from the original campaign (such as the laser hallway and the U-3 boss fight) while also adding a ton of stuff unique to Separate Ways. A new boss fight against a mysterious bug-like creature in a robe serves as a thrilling intro, using hallucinations to make Ada see multiple versions of it and having to pick out the real one. Another section sees Ada running from an invincible monster, dodging attacks and using her grappling hook to get to safety.
All of this is wrapped up in Resident Evil 4's already fantastic gameplay, with you shooting, parrying, and dodging your way through swarms of enemies. It's hard to be mad at more Resident Evil 4, and Separate Ways provides a solid 5 more hours of it.
Second Place - God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla
Developer: Sony Santa Monica | Release Date: December 12th, 2023
Written by Andrew Otton
God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla is by far the biggest surprise of 2023. A surprise drop, Valhalla is a roguelite that isn’t simply just a new game mode for Kratos to mow down some enemies. Valhalla is full of great story moments, too.
Valhalla takes place after the end of the game, so there are major spoilers. It’s very philosophical in nature and sees Kratos wrestle with an internal conflict between his past and those now venerating him, claiming he is a changed and good man.
Outside of books really, we don’t often get an opportunity to spend so much time with a character’s internal struggle. While it’s more of Kratos confronting his past, Santa Monica Studio does a great job of shifting the context of that discussion to Kratos feeling undeserving of any praise or position of respect.
While some of the roguelite elements, like the progression being slow and stilted at times, Valhalla rewards experimentation with the combat in fun ways. Couple that with a deeply personal story that is continually interesting, and I couldn’t really ask for anything else.
Best of all, and I can’t believe it with how great everything is, God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla is free.
Winner - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Developer: CD Projekt RED | Release Date: September 26th, 2023
Written by Austin Suther
Shortly following Cyberpunk 2077’s substantial 2.0 update came a long-awaited expansion in the form of Phantom Liberty. Taking place in the mean streets of Dogtown, this Night City neighborhood is full of rough-and-tumble, anti-establishment folk that mean business.
Infiltrating this dangerous area and becoming a secret agent on behalf of the United States government sets players up for an incredibly riveting spy story. Though you’ll face various, very exciting combat scenarios and intense missions, this expansion isn’t afraid to pump the breaks and have players engage in slower, high-stakes infiltrations.
Characters are a highlight for Phantom Liberty. Idris Elba’s character, Solomon Reed is a complicated individual and is a masterful performance by the veteran actor. Meanwhile, you’ll have aid from the equally intriguing netrunner Songbird and explore her story and how it intertwines with the events in Dogtown.
Play this one through to the end and you’ll be rewarded with the chance for an entirely new, impactful ending to V’s character -- one that serves as the perfect farewell to Cyberpunk 2077.
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