5 Games With DLC Longer Than Most Games

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Downloadable content, or DLC, is usually a relatively short addition to a game you’ve already finished, offering more enjoyment and expanding on parts of the original story or world. It’s generally seen as a nice bonus for players who really loved the game and want to experience more. This mostly applies to single-player games, while online games typically use DLC to add new maps and game modes, keeping players engaged and coming back for more.

I’m particularly drawn to downloadable content (DLC) that’s as substantial as a full game – the kind that takes ten to twenty hours to finish. It’s interesting to consider how much effort and money developers invest in these large expansions, especially since there’s no guarantee of a big profit. They’re essentially betting that the original game is successful enough to justify the cost and risk. Fortunately, this gamble often pays off, as these expansive DLCs are frequently praised for their generous content. And if you’re looking for games with DLC like this, I’ve put together a great list that will keep you busy for months, if not the entire year.

5. Dragon Age: Inquisition

Dragon Age: Inquisition is a substantial game, and it becomes even longer if you complete all the optional side quests – which I highly recommend! Plus, the three downloadable expansions add a considerable amount of playtime. Jaws of Hakkon, the longest of these expansions, takes around 10 hours to finish – that’s longer than half of the main Mass Effect game! It’s definitely worth experiencing, particularly if you enjoyed the combat and exploration in Inquisition.

The ‘Trespasser’ DLC takes about 7 hours to complete and is highly recommended, particularly for those planning to play ‘Dragon Age: The Veilguard’. ‘The Descent’ is the shortest expansion at around 6 hours, similar in length to ‘Titanfall 2’. Altogether, these DLCs add about 23 hours of gameplay, which is comparable to the length of the entire main story in ‘Dragon Age 2’. It’s remarkable how much quality DLC ‘Inquisition’ received, making all of it well worth experiencing.

4. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

The Assassin’s Creed series, particularly starting with Origins, is known for its substantial downloadable content. Despite some past criticisms, Ubisoft consistently supports its single-player games with post-launch updates, addressing player feedback and adding new content like missions, areas, and story elements. This commitment is especially evident in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which received three large DLC expansions, along with numerous improvements to the original game, adding even more playtime.

If you loved Valhalla, you’ll be thrilled with its DLC, which adds about 40 hours of gameplay. The Ragnarok expansion is the biggest, taking around 16 hours to finish, followed by Wrath of the Druids at 14 hours, and the fantastic Siege of Paris, which takes about 10 hours. In fact, you could complete Assassin’s Creed, Assassin’s Creed 2, and most of Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood in the same time it takes to play through all of Valhalla’s DLC. While Valhalla might not be the best Assassin’s Creed game, it’s definitely the most content-packed and will keep you busy for a long time if you decide to play it all.

3. Cyberpunk 2077

It wasn’t surprising that Cyberpunk 2077, a truly remarkable open-world game, eventually received a major expansion. Although plans originally called for two expansions—one even taking place on the moon—Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty more than satisfied fans. The expansion adds roughly 23 hours of new content, set in a completely new area of the game’s map, and boasts a compelling story that’s just as emotionally impactful, visually stunning, and mysterious as the original game. In fact, Phantom Liberty could very well be one of the best DLCs ever made.

The Phantom Liberty expansion exceeded expectations, adding features fans wanted in the original Cyberpunk 2077, like thrilling car chases and a deeper look at groups like MaxTac. It also shifted the story’s mood, leaning more towards a spy thriller than the original game’s action-packed style. Phantom Liberty felt substantial enough to stand on its own as a separate game – even the Dogtown area was impressively large for a smaller title. This makes the expansion particularly noteworthy and gives potential players even more reason to dive into Cyberpunk 2077.

2. Xenoblade Chronicles 2

The DLC for Xenoblade Chronicles 2, called Torna ~ The Golden Country, is a bit longer than Phantom Liberty. It’s a prequel to the main game and offers a fantastic experience, improving on the gameplay of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and introducing new areas and characters. Completing most of what Torna offers will take around 25 hours, though I personally spent closer to 40 hours exploring its detailed new regions.

Many players actually consider Torna to be an improvement over the original Xenoblade Chronicles 2, which is rare for downloadable content. What’s even more impressive is that you can play Torna entirely on its own, making it feel like a full game rather than just an add-on. It’s also available at a lower price and includes extra content for the main game, like new quests, characters, and items. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 isn’t alone in offering substantial DLC, though. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition featured the 11-hour Future Connected story (which is my personal favorite), and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 later received Future Redeemed, a DLC that takes around 24 hours to complete.

1. The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt

No discussion of great DLC is complete without mentioning The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. CD Projekt Red really set the bar with how substantial both Blood and Wine and Hearts of Stone were, and it arguably became a benchmark for the industry. It’s likely that Assassin’s Creed’s lengthy DLC episodes were influenced by The Witcher 3. Blood and Wine adds an entirely new area to explore and takes about 28 hours to finish, while Hearts of Stone features one of the best villains in gaming and a compelling story that will take around 14 hours to complete.

Just to give you an idea of how much content there is, you could finish the original Witcher game and about half of The Witcher 2 by playing through the combined 42 hours of extra content offered in these two DLCs. Now that they’re included in the often-discounted Witcher 3: Game of the Year edition, there’s no reason not to give them a try, especially if you’re a fan of great fantasy RPGs. The DLC for Witcher 3 is truly outstanding, and while it might be a high goal for other developers, it represents the level of quality that should be aimed for when possible.

What’s your favorite DLC that adds a significant amount of gameplay? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-04-10 18:13