Summary
Over the years,Bethesda Softworkshas developed areputation for enthralling storytellingacross a wide variety of genres and settings. Perhaps best known for theElder Scrollsseries, they have also acquired and added to established franchises likeFallout,Doom, andWolfenstein, among countless others, improving their prominence within the gaming community.
Many Bethesda games have received some noteworthy expansions, many of which have improved the gameplay experience or even surpassed their base games with captivating narratives and expanded mechanics. Here are some of the best Bethesda DLCs, ranked based on a combination of their overall quality and popularity, plus their impact on the respective base games.
Games published but not developed by Bethesda will be considered.
Following on fromDishonored’s well-receivedThe Knife of DunwallDLC campaign about Daud’s redemption arc,The Brigmore Witchescontinues the story and allows all abilities to be carried over. After murdering the Empress at the beginning of the main game, Daud now seeks to save the Empress’s daughter Emily, upon discovering a plot by the eponymous Brigmore Witches that threatens her life.
Just as in the main game, Daud’s abilities allow for either a chaotic murder spree or acompletely pacifistic playthrough. His unique chokedust and stun mines open all kinds of possibilities, as well as the power to summon friendly assassins to do the dirty work in both familiar and brand-new locations around Dunwall.
Partway through thecampaign of the survival horror gameThe Evil Within,protagonist Sebastian Castellanos and his colleague Juli Kidman become separated from one another. The first of three DLCs, titledThe Assignment, fills in the gaps in Juli’s actions during their separation, while also delving into her backstory and motivations.
Taking control of Detective Kidman, players are forced to use stealth if they have any hope of survival, since she does not have access to firearms like Detective Castellanos in the main game. There are occasions where she can use an axe, but she must mostly lure enemies with her voice or bottles while sneaking around. Those who enjoy a challenge can play in the new KURIYAMI mode, which takes away all light sources, except for Juli’s flashlight.
The first expansion ofThe Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind,calledTribunal,is certainly worth playing, but it sits in the shadow of the far superiorBloodmoon. The new island setting of Solstheim is unlike the setting of the main game, featuring far more detailed environments and weather conditions, plus it is largely inhabited by Nords instead of Dunmer.
Questlines are separate from the main story ofMorrowind, involving the establishment of mines on the island as part of the East Empire Company, which was added as a faction for this expansion. The Daedric Lord Hircine is a major character, giving players the opportunity to become a werewolf, drastically altering gameplay and NPC interactions, and adding plenty of replayability.
A decade after exploring Solstheim for the first time, players were given the chance to travel to the island once again inThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim – Dragonborn.Some may preferSkyrim’s other expansions, butDragonbornpacks the most features, with a new island, more powerful abilities to learn, and the chance to battle the Dragonborn known as Miraak.
Despite Miraak’s prominence, he only makes up a small part of everything on offer. Players also travel to Apocrypha many times, the realm of Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora, in order to unlock forbidden knowledge. Stahlrim weapons and chitin armor, combined with finding new powers and dragonborn abilities, add countless hours to any playthrough, and these valuable experiences carry over into the main campaign.
Rageis arguablyone of Bethesda’s best shooters, and its expansion,The Scorchers, only adds to that prestige. Featuring six new areas to explore, the main focus is on the clan known as The Scorchers, a maniacal group of bandits with a dastardly plan to destroy the wasteland and all its inhabitants.
This DLC gives players the option to continue the main game beyond its original ending, and they can even try out the Ultra-Nightmare mode for a challenge. The Nailgun weapon is a fun addition to mess around with, possessing three different types of ammunition to take enemies down. Plus, there is another round of Mutant Bash TV to enjoy, where players can earn large amounts of money.
After completing the main campaign inFallout 3, many were disappointed that the story was over, butBroken Steelallows it to continue. By far the biggest and most important DLC ofFallout 3, it sees the Lone Wanderer join the ranks of the Brotherhood of Steel as they seek out the last remnants of the Enclave in order to wipe them out.
Not only are there extra quests and side quests for players to sink their teeth into, but the level cap is also raised from level 20 to 30 inBroken Steel, plus there are new perks and weapons. While fearsome new enemies like the super mutant overlord and feral ghoul reaver may present a challenge, players get to witness Liberty Prime spectacularly tearing through foes.
Partially due to itsfantastic DLC options,Fallout: New Vegasis regarded by many as the best game in the series, and one of the best games ever made.Old World Bluesis perhaps the standout of the four excellent story expansions, introducing new areas, iconic characters, and increasing the level cap by five, just like the other DLCs.
Players can explore Big MT or the “Big Empty” and assist the scientists within, whose experiments have gotten out of control and need to be contained. Not only are there bizarre enemies like robot scorpions, but the iconic Dr. Mobius is one of the main characters. The Courier has access to the Sink, a building that can be used as a new home where players can install useful upgrades.
Considered by many to beBethesda’s greatest expansion,The Shivering Islesis one of two major DLCs forThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. Available from the very beginning, players can travel to the titular Shivering Isles, home of the Daedric Prince of Madness, Sheogorath, and become his protégé.
At around a quarter of the size of Cyrodiil, there is plenty to explore in the diverse landscape, from the brightness and beauty of Mania to the doom and gloom of Dementia. This new land includes plenty of new enemies, unhinged NPCs, and unique gear such as madness armor. Dozens of hours can be spent in this quirky setting, making it almost like a new game within an already stellar RPG.
