20 DLCs That Should Have Been In The Base Game

Downloadable content can be a great bonus when a game already feels complete, but sometimes add ons ship so close to launch or fill such obvious gaps that they feel like parts of the core experience. The entries below focus on DLC that introduced essential characters, story chapters, or modes that many players expected on day one. Each item highlights what the content added, when it arrived, and why it mattered to the main game’s structure. This is a look at expansions that functioned less like extras and more like pieces of the main course that were served separately.

From Ashes – ‘Mass Effect 3’

This day one add on introduced Javik, the last living Prothean, as a fully voiced squadmate with his own mission on Eden Prime. It added a new weapon, a biotic stasis power, and several squad interactions across the campaign. Installing it unlocked dialogues and codex entries that expanded the series’ central lore about the Protheans. It launched alongside the base game in March 2012 as a separate purchase for most players.

Epilogue – ‘Prince of Persia’

This story chapter continued the ending of the 2008 reboot and took place in a new underground palace area. It added fresh platforming sequences, new enemy variations, and an upgraded Elika power for traversal. The download also raised the difficulty with longer chase and escape sections. It released in February 2009 as a digital only add on for console versions.

True Ending Episodes – ‘Asura’s Wrath’

Capcom released episodes 19 through 22 as a paid pack that completed the narrative after the base game’s cliffhanger. The download featured new boss fights, interactive anime style cutscenes, and the final confrontation with the overarching antagonist. It also included new achievements and gallery items tied to these chapters. The content arrived a few months after launch in 2012.

Requiem of the Goddess – ‘Final Fantasy XIII 2’

This add on focused on Lightning in a high level battle gauntlet against Caius with a new Paradigm system twist. Clearing the scenarios granted unique equipment and a special ending scene that contextualized the main story. The pack also offered a new background track and Coliseum style encounters for repeat play. It was released in May 2012 as premium DLC.

The Battle of Forlì – ‘Assassin’s Creed II’

Set between DNA Sequences 11 and 14, this download restored a missing memory sequence about Caterina Sforza and the Apple of Eden. It added multiple missions around defending Forlì and introduced new viewpoints and collectibles in the area. Players could replay these memories from the DNA menu once installed. It became available in January 2010.

Bonfire of the Vanities – ‘Assassin’s Creed II’

This pack continued the restored memories with Ezio confronting Savonarola’s followers in Florence. It added several assassination contracts, free running challenges, and an expanded Florence district to explore. A premium version also unlocked the Palazzo Medici and Santa Maria dei Frari locations. The content released in February 2010.

The Stone Prisoner – ‘Dragon Age Origins’

This DLC added Shale as a recruitable golem companion with a personal quest in Honnleath. It introduced new dialogue trees, tactical abilities, and unique crystal based equipment for Shale. The pack also included an extra merchant and codex entries that tied into the game’s lore. It launched alongside the base game in 2009 and was free with new copies through an online code.

Return to Ostagar – ‘Dragon Age Origins’

Set after the prologue, this chapter let players revisit the battle site to recover King Cailan’s armor and learn more about the betrayal. It added new darkspawn encounters, loot sets, and a short questline accessible mid campaign. The download slotted naturally into a standard playthrough once the party reached a suitable level. It arrived in January 2010 after a brief delay.

Catwoman Pack – ‘Batman Arkham City’

This pack unlocked four story missions starring Catwoman that were interleaved with the main campaign. It added unique gadgets, a separate upgrade track, and collectible Riddler trophies specific to Catwoman. Challenge map support and character skins for her were also included. The content was bundled with new purchases via a code and sold separately for others in 2011.

Additional Characters Pack – ‘Street Fighter X Tekken’

A set of twelve fighters was discovered on the retail disc and later unlocked for a fee on consoles. The roster update brought balance changes, new trials, and additional gems tied to those characters. Tournament and online play shifted once these fighters became available. The characters were made purchasable in 2012 after the initial release.

Versus Mode – ‘Resident Evil 5’

This paid mode introduced competitive multiplayer variants based on the Mercenaries framework. Players battled for points in Death Match and Team Survivor while fending off AI enemies. It used existing maps but added new rules, matchmaking options, and leaderboards. The mode was released as DLC in 2009 shortly after launch.

Awakened – ‘Dead Space 3’

This story continuation followed Isaac and Carver after the base ending with new missions on the Terra Nova and Marker sites. It introduced tougher enemy mixes, surreal sequences, and additional weapon parts to craft. The chapter provided context for the Church of Unitology’s next steps. It launched in March 2013 as a paid download on all platforms.

House of Valor – ‘Kingdoms of Amalur Reckoning’

This content unlocked a seven part faction questline centered on an arena in the city of Idilla. It offered repeatable combat challenges, unique armor sets, and faction vendors with exclusive items. Access required an online pass code bundled with new copies and sold separately for others. The feature was available at release in 2012.

Episode Ignis – ‘Final Fantasy XV’

Set during the events in Altissia, this chapter followed Ignis with a new spelldaggers combat style and tactical Overwhelm options. Multiple endings, a high difficulty route, and a score attack mode increased replay value. Clearing the episode granted accessories and music tracks for the main game. It was released in December 2017 as standalone DLC.

Episode Ardyn – ‘Final Fantasy XV’

This prequel focused on Ardyn’s backstory in Insomnia with a new Shadowstep ability and Daemonify mechanic. It added cutscenes that detailed the Lucian royal line and the Astrals’ role in his fall. The pack included challenges, costumes, and a soundtrack gallery. It launched in March 2019 as the final episode for the title.

Rogue One Scarif – ‘Star Wars Battlefront’

This expansion delivered the Scarif beach maps with Walker Assault and Infiltration modes tied to the film setting. It added Jyn Erso and Orson Krennic as playable heroes along with new blasters and Star Cards. The pack arrived late in the game’s lifecycle and required the base client plus updates. It was released in December 2016 following earlier season pass drops.

Hunting Season Pass – ‘Evolve’

The pass unlocked multiple new Hunters and a monster along with exclusive skins for early buyers. These additions changed team compositions and matchmaking pools across the multiplayer ecosystem. The content rollout began near launch and continued through early updates. It was sold separately from the base game in 2015.

The Dark Below – ‘Destiny’

This expansion increased the level cap, added the Crota’s End raid, and introduced new strikes on Earth and the Moon. Players gained access to new gear tiers, quest lines from Eris Morn, and Crucible maps. It also expanded the loot table and vendor inventories across the Tower. The add on released in December 2014 as the game’s first major expansion.

Zaeed The Price of Revenge – ‘Mass Effect 2’

This companion pack added Zaeed Massani with a recruitment and loyalty mission tied to the Blue Suns. It included a new heavy weapon, squad dialogues, and Zaeed’s presence in key story hubs. New copies granted access through the Cerberus Network while others purchased it separately. The content was available at launch in 2010.

Episode INTERmission – ‘Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade’

This Yuffie focused chapter introduced the Wutai operative in Midgar with a new synergized combat system alongside Sonon. It added the Fort Condor minigame, a new summon, and endgame combat challenges in the Shinra Combat Simulator. Completing it unlocked items and materia that carried into upgraded saves. It launched in June 2021 alongside the PlayStation 5 version.

Share your pick for a DLC that felt essential to the launch experience in the comments.