The necessity of downloadable content has been debated among gamers. Some feel it’s just a cash grab and a way to put out incomplete games to make more money. Others see it as providing the potential for additional ideas to be added to great games later on. In reality, both groups can be correct depending on the circumstance. However, when done correctly, DLC can add to a game’s world or provide additional goodies to keep players interested in online play.
The Nintendo Switch is a different animal than the other big next Gen consoles, Xbox One and PS5. Because of Nintendo’s more hands-on approach with many of its exclusive game series, DLC tends to be less prevalent on its consoles. However, when Nintendo does DLC and does it right, it gives players more to explore in their favorite games without having to wait even longer for the sequel.
10/10 Captain Toad’s DLC Offered Players Even More To Treasure
Captain Toad is a criminally underrated game for the Nintendo Switch. The game follows everyone’s favorite mushroom, Toad, as he traverses difficult puzzles and mazes in order to find the Gold Stars.
In its Special Episode DLC pack, Captain Toad receives even more levels and challenges to put the player’s puzzle-solving skills to the test. Its also one of the cheaper DLC packs out there at only $6, and some of the new levels integrate areas that were in Super Mario Odyssey, which seemed to be a way to hold off players who had been asking for Odyssey’s own DLC for years since its release.
9/10 Sword And Shield Gave Trainers More Space To Explore
While Sword and Shield met mixed reviews from gamers and critics, Pokémon is Pokémon, and fans are always going to come back for more. Sword and Shield’s fully-3D environments were attractive for fans, though there really wasn’t much for players to explore in a non-linear sense.
Developers sought to rectify that issue somewhat with SS’s DLC content, which provided extensions to the Wild area and more Pokémon to catch. In particular, The Crown Tundra is one of the coolest areas to explore in the game and features the super powerful new Legendary monsters Spectrier and Glastrier.
8/10 Breath Of The Wild Added To Its Huge Open World
Breath of the Wild was already a landmark entry for the Legend of Zelda franchise. It is the game’s first truly open world, and its emphasis on survival and new gameplay elements made Zelda feel more immersive than ever. After that kind of experience, it’s only natural that players would finish the game wanting more, and players got their wish with the Expansion Pass.
While BOTW’s DLC wasn’t as huge and expansive as the game itself, it did offer a whole new area for players to explore with new quests and monsters. Given the sheer size of the original game, adding more onto that map is a great way to expand the experience and keep players exploring for several more hours of gameplay.
7/10 Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle’s DLC Included More Battles & More Kings
Being that its sequel, Sparks of Hope, recently won an award for Best Sim/Strategy Game at the Game Awards 2022, it’s only right that Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle received its flowers as well. The game won Best Strategy Game in 2017, praised for its unique tactical turn-based gameplay and beautifully rendered animations.
Not only was Kingdom Battle itself a great game, but its DLC content added to the fun exponentially with an entire additional campaign featuring Donkey Kong. Fans of the series can expect more great DLC for Sparks of Hope, with a number of expansions scheduled for release in 2023.
6/10 Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ DLC Gave Players More Of What They Love About The Series
Animal Crossing is the ultimate relaxing, slice-of-life videogame series, and it ascended to new heights with its latest release, New Horizons. One great thing about New Horizons is that it fully takes advantage of DLC content to keep the game fresh and keep replay value high.
The Happy Home Paradise DLC pack adds an entirely new element to Animal Crossing, as players become engineers and build vacation homes for clients on several different islands. For many players, customizing their own home is the best part of Animal Crossing, and with the DLC content, that aspect of the gameplay is heavily expanded upon.
5/10 Splatoon 2’s Octo Expansion Made A Big Splash
Splatoon is one of the premier multiplayer games for the Nintendo Switch console. Its fast-paced gameplay and unique art styling have made the series a fan favorite, and Splatoon 2 made great improvements from its predecessor.
With Splatoon 2’s Octo Expansion DLC pack, players get access to several new missions starring a new playable character and one of the most difficult boss fights in the game, Secret Agent 3. Players can even get the DLC Expansion for free if they already are signed up for a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass Membership.
4/10 Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3’s DLC Was An Easy Choice For Marvel Fans
In Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, players take control of their favorite Marvel Superheroes as they battle it out across expansive levels with action RPG gameplay along a similar line to fan favorites like Diablo or Warhammer. While the game itself was already full of content, the Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 DLC was a no-brainer for Marvel fans.
MUA3’s DLC gave players access to a plethora of big-name playable characters, such as Gambit, The Fantastic Four, and The Punisher. In addition, it also came with new multiplayer game modes and a new storyline that allowed players to face off against Doctor Doom.
3/10 Fire Emblem: Three Houses’ Expansion Pass Added Depth To Its Characters
Fire Emblem: Three Houses was easily the most critically acclaimed entry in the Fire Emblem franchise, and fans immediately wanted more. Nintendo answered the call with the game’s Expansion Pass.
Not only does FETH’s DLC include new attires, quests, and recourses, but also new Side Storylines, which add several new chapters to the game. The Expansion Pass consists of four waves of new DLC that were released over the year after the game’s initial release, adding an army of content for tactical RPG fans to command.
2/10 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s DLCs Paid Attention To The Players
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate already had the most playable characters in any entry in the Super Smash Bros. series thus far. However, the consistent release of new fighters to the game satisfied gamers looking to play as their favorite view game characters and kept the hype going by adding new dynamics to online play long beyond the game’s initial release.
In fact, the game was steadily releasing content up until 2021, a whopping five years post-release. Not only that, but the game’s final character was Sora from Kingdom Hearts, a character who players themselves voted to have, demonstrating the developers’ willingness to listen and respond to the players.
1/10 Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country Was Another Story Entirely
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is often cited by fans of the series as having some of the best DLC of any game on the Switch. It provided players with new playable characters and added to the story significantly, to the point that many players consider it a separate game.
It’s not every day that developers really take advantage of the DLC concept and implement it in a way that makes it feel worthwhile, but Xenoblade did exactly that. Torna ~ The Golden Country is essentially an entirely new game with new battle system elements and a storyline that acts as a prequel to the events of Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
