Summary
By adapting the works of Andrzej Sapkowski to the video game medium, Polish developer CD Projekt Red has built a stellar reputation, offering compelling narrative experiences, intriguing worlds to explore, and tight gameplay. The base games ofThe Witcherseries were already very high-quality products, but players were spoiled by thethird entry’s DLC expansions, which set a new standard for such bonus content.
The company’s stature took something of a hit with the disastrous launch ofCyberpunk 2077, but managed to recover somewhat thanks to patches, updates, and more award-winning DLC. Many would argue that the company is one of the standard-bearers when it comes to expansions, and here are CD Projekt Red’s best DLCs, ranked based on a combination of their overall quality, popularity, and their impact on the gameplay experience.
Set in the world ofThe Witcher,Thronebreaker: The Witcher Talesputs players in the role of Queen Meve as she seeks to protect her land from the Nilfgaardian invaders.A branching and enthralling adventurethat lasts around 30 hours, it features plenty of important decisions that impact the outcome, leading to one of 20 possible endings.
The free DLC doesn’t add anything to the gameplay experience, but the concept art books, graphic novel, and official soundtrack do add to the enjoyment, fleshing out some of the backstory and behind-the-scenes information. While it doesn’t impactThronebreaker, it’s still worth downloading, especially given that there is no cost involved.
The first entry inThe Witcherseries never received DLC in the traditional sense, but received plenty of new content in itsEnhanced Editionrelease, which is worth noting. Its initial release already ranked amongthe best fantasy games ever made, butThe Witcher: Enhanced Editionreceived significant upgrades in terms of visuals, animations, and character models, as well as improved loading times and translation corrections.
On top of these enhancements, there were two new quests added in the form of “Side Effect” and “The Price of Neutrality”, each adding hours of content to proceedings. The addition of the D’jinni Adventure Editor gave crafty and creative players the chance to construct their own quests, too.
The only thing that is better than playingThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntfor the first time is enjoying it all over again, but with all the skills and gear that Geralt collected along the way. Not only do these aspectscarry over into a new game, but enemies are also far stronger, and better loot can be gathered this time around.
The best part of this is the cost – it’s completely free of charge. Much like other CD Projekt Red games, there were several other free DLCs released forThe Witcher3, from new animations and alternative character looks to brand-new quests that added several hours of action.
In the years following its initial release,The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kingsreceived free DLCs and updates, all of which were nicely included in theEnhanced Editionof the game. Players are treated to a brand new introductory cutscene, alongside plenty of other cinematic cutscenes with some ofthe series’ most iconic characters.
Much like the first game, there are several hours of new quests and other content added to the already expansive package, but one of the most popular features is Arena Mode. This mode sees waves of enemies attacking Geralt in a gladiatorial setting, really testing the combat skills of those who enter. Apart from earning points, players also pick up some useful items and plenty of gold to spend on their adventures.
Often credited withbreathing new life into the gameoverall,Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Libertywas released around the same time as the much-anticipated update 2.0. Playing out like a spy thriller, V is tasked with traveling to the lawless district of Dogtown to save the President, after her aircraft crashed in the area.
Not only does this expansion introduce a new district and open new quest lines, but it also increases the level cap to 60, gives V access to new abilities, and provides the possibility of vehicular combat. Even without the fortuitous timing of update 2.0, which significantly improved stability and overhauled the perk tree,Phantom Libertyadds so much content to the overall experience and seemingly helped to boost sales ofCyberpunk 2077.
2The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Hearts of Stone
Engage In Some Unique Quests With Iconic Characters
The first of two major expansions,Hearts of Stonefeatures some of the most unique quests in gaming, as Geralt attempts to complete some seemingly impossible tasks for the cursed Olgierd von Everec. These include entertaining Olgierd’s long-dead brother for one night, and obtaining objects that appear to be unsalvageable at first, but the witcher must find a way.
Some of the game’s best characters are introduced in this DLC, from the enigmatic and powerful Gaunter O’Dimm to fan-favorite romance option Shani. As always, there is a plethora of new gear for Geralt to discover, lots of monster contracts, and even some Gwent cards for those looking to improve their decks and take on fresh challengers.
Arguably one of the best DLCs ever made,Blood and Wineis even bigger than most full games, packing in tens of hours of new content,important moral choices, and a whole new region to explore in the form of Toussaint. As one of the largest areas in the game, Toussaint offers plenty of exploration and quests, as Geralt seeks out a mysterious beast that is plaguing the area and its people.
If this isn’t enough, the witcher can also take ownership of his own vineyard, participate in a chivalric tournament of knights, and build an entirely new Skellige-faction Gwent deck. One of the quests even takes Geralt to a strange fairytale land, which rivals some of theHearts of Stonequests for its unparalleled level of creativity and enjoyment.
