Top 10 Expansions That Saved Their Games
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VOICE OVER: Adrian Sousa
WRITTEN BY: Mark Sammut
To save these games, these expansions had to really be something! Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we'll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Expansions That Saved Their Games.
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To have your ideas turned into a WatchMojo or MojoPlays video, head over to http://WatchMojo.comsuggest and get to it!
Top 10 Expansions That Saved Their Games
Well you know what they say: If at first you don’t succeed; make more Downloadable Content. (Is that how it goes?) Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Expansions That Saved Their Games.
For this list, we’re looking at updates that reignited interest or rescued a game from the clutches of irrelevance. Only ground rule: no fan made mods.
“No Man’s Sky” (2016)
Promising the universe but falling considerably short, Hello Games’ adventure-survival game garnered a reputation as one of the eighth generation's biggest flops. While “No Man’s Sky” might never fulfill its self-imposed expectations, the dev studio has continuously published extensive patches that enhance the overall experience. Besides introducing a base building system, the “Foundation Update” added Survival and Creative game modes, while 2017’s “Atlas Rises” kept up the momentum with a 30-hour narrative. Now with the ‘Next’ Expansion, offering a co-op adventure with your friends, Hello Games has finally been about to turn the train of negativity around. It still has some issues but at least it’s no longer the most hated game on the Internet.
“BioShock 2” (2010)
Living in the shadows of its predecessor and successor, the second entry in 2K’s trilogy tends to be viewed as the weak link. “BioShock 2’s” gameplay delivered in spades, but the story failed to replicate the runaway success of 2007’s atmospheric shooter; however, “Minerva’s Den” rose above such issues. Centering around a prototype Big Daddy named Sigma, this single-player DLC has the protagonist following instructions to try and reach the Thinker, a supercomputer that makes Hal from “2001: A Space Odyssey” seem like a delight. Boasting a thoroughly engaging plot that holds a couple of genuinely shocking twists, “Minerva’s Den” is the full package.
“Mass Effect 3” (2012)
It was a shame that such an engrossing adventure spanning a hundred hours, ended up being overshadowed by a mediocre ending. While Bioware did release an extended cut of the ending, it didn’t resolve all the complaints. Then BioWare published “Citadel,” a story DLC that placed a firm focus on the cast. While the main quest revolved around an identity theft, “Citadel’s” coup-de-grace is a party that reunites Commander Shepard with many familiar faces from across the trilogy. Chronologically, BioWare’s DLC takes place prior to “Mass Effect 3’s” ending, but “Citadel” offers a sense of closure that was strangely absent from the base game’s finale.
“The Elder Scrolls Online” (2014)
Latching onto the MMORPG hype train, Bethesda’s title got off to a rocky start before gradually building a head of steam. Due to a lack of personality and perceived ambition, “The Elders Scrolls Online” launched to middling reviews and seemed destined to be nothing more than a footnote in the series’ storied history. Developed by ZeniMax Online Studios and set in Tamriel, the MMORPG regularly publishes new content and patches that enhance the gameplay, but the main reason most players returned was for 2017’s huge “Morrowind” expansion. Named after one of the best entries in the franchise, “Morrowind” turned a decent game into a brilliant one.
“Dark Souls II” (2014)
With Hidetaka Miyazaki stepping aside as director, From Software’s follow-up to 2011’s brilliant action-RPG amassed quite a few detractors. While the base game sacrificed quality for quantity, the DLC fixed most of "Dark Souls II's" shortcomings and elevated the title to the next level. Split into three separate packages, “The Lost Crowns” brought back the intricate level design of its predecessor and boasts some of the best boss fights in the entire franchise. Nowadays, “Scholar of the First Sin” is “Dark Souls II’s” definitive version, but the DLC somewhat redeemed From Software’s B-team.
“Destiny” (2014)
This is how things should have been right out of the gate! Perfecting the FPS genre with “Halo,” expectations went through the roof when Bungie announced the multiplayer-focused “Destiny,” but solid combat was about the only thing deserving of any praise. While not the first expansion, “The Taken King” signified the shooter’s one-year anniversary and transformed “Destiny” into a product worthy of Bungie's name. Bolstered by an exciting quest line, a magnificent raid, and a couple of new sub-classes; “The Taken King” took advantage of “Destiny’s” sound foundation.
“Pokémon GO” (2016)
The ultimate nostalgic trip, Niantic hit the motherload with its catch ‘em all mobile game. An instant success, “Pokémon Go” was a cultural phenomenon that faded quickly due a lack of content. Still, Niantic overtime have made significant strides to increase the game’s longevity. Significant improvements include the addition of Raids for legendary Pokémon, as well as Research Quests that set up major end goals such as finding Mew, However the addition that brought fans back to their phones was the inclusion of Trading and Friends Lists, a boost that helped push the game back onto the most played mobile games list.
“Street Fighter V” (2016)
Remember when an “arcade mode” was a given for any fighting game? Well, Capcom’s memory seems to be on the fritz. Simultaneously brilliant and a bitter disappointment, “Street Fighter V’s” core mechanics cannot be faulted, but the launch version got buried under an avalanche of criticism due to a bare-bones single-player and a puny roster. Expanding the cast to 28 fighters, Capcom's re-release comes packaged with Arcade mode, an Extra Battle mode, an improved interface, and incorporates any previously released story updates. Even though Capcom has done an adequate job of supporting “Street Fighter V,” the “Arcade Edition” should have been the starting point.
“Diablo III” (2012)
Precious few elite studios botched a launch quite as badly as Blizzard Entertainment’s latest entry in the legendary dungeon crawler IP. Lambasted for a poorly conceived auction house that drastically altered the series’ basic gameplay and an endgame best described as imaginary, “Diablo III” threatened to wreck the dungeon crawler’s legacy and put off a substantial subset of the fanbase. Scrambling to right the wrongs, “Reaper of Souls” retooled the loot system, vastly improved the game’s social features, and heightened replayability by introducing Adventure Mode and Nephalem Rifts. For those who abandoned “Diablo III,” “Reaper of Souls” is practically an entirely new game.
“Final Fantasy XIV” (2010)
Square Enix shat the bed so thoroughly with 2010’s “Final Fantasy XIV,” a decade's worth of patches could not hope to mask the stench. Suffering from too many technical glitches to count, Square Enix was left with no option but to rebuild the game from scratch while supporting the still active flop. Learning from past mistakes, “A Realm Reborn” backed impressive graphics with satisfying combat, incredible world-building, and an engine equipped to do "Final Fantasy" justice. Starting out as a cautionary tale for developers eying MMORPGs, the fact that “A Realm Reborn” sits among the genre’s best is something of a small miracle.
Well you know what they say: If at first you don’t succeed; make more Downloadable Content. (Is that how it goes?) Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Expansions That Saved Their Games.
For this list, we’re looking at updates that reignited interest or rescued a game from the clutches of irrelevance. Only ground rule: no fan made mods.
#10: Various Updates (2016-18)
“No Man’s Sky” (2016)
Promising the universe but falling considerably short, Hello Games’ adventure-survival game garnered a reputation as one of the eighth generation's biggest flops. While “No Man’s Sky” might never fulfill its self-imposed expectations, the dev studio has continuously published extensive patches that enhance the overall experience. Besides introducing a base building system, the “Foundation Update” added Survival and Creative game modes, while 2017’s “Atlas Rises” kept up the momentum with a 30-hour narrative. Now with the ‘Next’ Expansion, offering a co-op adventure with your friends, Hello Games has finally been about to turn the train of negativity around. It still has some issues but at least it’s no longer the most hated game on the Internet.
#9: “Minerva's Den” (2010)
“BioShock 2” (2010)
Living in the shadows of its predecessor and successor, the second entry in 2K’s trilogy tends to be viewed as the weak link. “BioShock 2’s” gameplay delivered in spades, but the story failed to replicate the runaway success of 2007’s atmospheric shooter; however, “Minerva’s Den” rose above such issues. Centering around a prototype Big Daddy named Sigma, this single-player DLC has the protagonist following instructions to try and reach the Thinker, a supercomputer that makes Hal from “2001: A Space Odyssey” seem like a delight. Boasting a thoroughly engaging plot that holds a couple of genuinely shocking twists, “Minerva’s Den” is the full package.
#8: “Citadel” (2013)
“Mass Effect 3” (2012)
It was a shame that such an engrossing adventure spanning a hundred hours, ended up being overshadowed by a mediocre ending. While Bioware did release an extended cut of the ending, it didn’t resolve all the complaints. Then BioWare published “Citadel,” a story DLC that placed a firm focus on the cast. While the main quest revolved around an identity theft, “Citadel’s” coup-de-grace is a party that reunites Commander Shepard with many familiar faces from across the trilogy. Chronologically, BioWare’s DLC takes place prior to “Mass Effect 3’s” ending, but “Citadel” offers a sense of closure that was strangely absent from the base game’s finale.
#7: “Morrowind” (2017)
“The Elder Scrolls Online” (2014)
Latching onto the MMORPG hype train, Bethesda’s title got off to a rocky start before gradually building a head of steam. Due to a lack of personality and perceived ambition, “The Elders Scrolls Online” launched to middling reviews and seemed destined to be nothing more than a footnote in the series’ storied history. Developed by ZeniMax Online Studios and set in Tamriel, the MMORPG regularly publishes new content and patches that enhance the gameplay, but the main reason most players returned was for 2017’s huge “Morrowind” expansion. Named after one of the best entries in the franchise, “Morrowind” turned a decent game into a brilliant one.
#6: “The Lost Crowns” Bundle (2014)
“Dark Souls II” (2014)
With Hidetaka Miyazaki stepping aside as director, From Software’s follow-up to 2011’s brilliant action-RPG amassed quite a few detractors. While the base game sacrificed quality for quantity, the DLC fixed most of "Dark Souls II's" shortcomings and elevated the title to the next level. Split into three separate packages, “The Lost Crowns” brought back the intricate level design of its predecessor and boasts some of the best boss fights in the entire franchise. Nowadays, “Scholar of the First Sin” is “Dark Souls II’s” definitive version, but the DLC somewhat redeemed From Software’s B-team.
#5: “The Taken King” (2015)
“Destiny” (2014)
This is how things should have been right out of the gate! Perfecting the FPS genre with “Halo,” expectations went through the roof when Bungie announced the multiplayer-focused “Destiny,” but solid combat was about the only thing deserving of any praise. While not the first expansion, “The Taken King” signified the shooter’s one-year anniversary and transformed “Destiny” into a product worthy of Bungie's name. Bolstered by an exciting quest line, a magnificent raid, and a couple of new sub-classes; “The Taken King” took advantage of “Destiny’s” sound foundation.
#4: Trading And Friends List (2018)
“Pokémon GO” (2016)
The ultimate nostalgic trip, Niantic hit the motherload with its catch ‘em all mobile game. An instant success, “Pokémon Go” was a cultural phenomenon that faded quickly due a lack of content. Still, Niantic overtime have made significant strides to increase the game’s longevity. Significant improvements include the addition of Raids for legendary Pokémon, as well as Research Quests that set up major end goals such as finding Mew, However the addition that brought fans back to their phones was the inclusion of Trading and Friends Lists, a boost that helped push the game back onto the most played mobile games list.
#3: “Arcade Edition” (2018)
“Street Fighter V” (2016)
Remember when an “arcade mode” was a given for any fighting game? Well, Capcom’s memory seems to be on the fritz. Simultaneously brilliant and a bitter disappointment, “Street Fighter V’s” core mechanics cannot be faulted, but the launch version got buried under an avalanche of criticism due to a bare-bones single-player and a puny roster. Expanding the cast to 28 fighters, Capcom's re-release comes packaged with Arcade mode, an Extra Battle mode, an improved interface, and incorporates any previously released story updates. Even though Capcom has done an adequate job of supporting “Street Fighter V,” the “Arcade Edition” should have been the starting point.
#2: “Reaper of Souls” (2014)
“Diablo III” (2012)
Precious few elite studios botched a launch quite as badly as Blizzard Entertainment’s latest entry in the legendary dungeon crawler IP. Lambasted for a poorly conceived auction house that drastically altered the series’ basic gameplay and an endgame best described as imaginary, “Diablo III” threatened to wreck the dungeon crawler’s legacy and put off a substantial subset of the fanbase. Scrambling to right the wrongs, “Reaper of Souls” retooled the loot system, vastly improved the game’s social features, and heightened replayability by introducing Adventure Mode and Nephalem Rifts. For those who abandoned “Diablo III,” “Reaper of Souls” is practically an entirely new game.
#1: A Realm Reborn” (2013)
“Final Fantasy XIV” (2010)
Square Enix shat the bed so thoroughly with 2010’s “Final Fantasy XIV,” a decade's worth of patches could not hope to mask the stench. Suffering from too many technical glitches to count, Square Enix was left with no option but to rebuild the game from scratch while supporting the still active flop. Learning from past mistakes, “A Realm Reborn” backed impressive graphics with satisfying combat, incredible world-building, and an engine equipped to do "Final Fantasy" justice. Starting out as a cautionary tale for developers eying MMORPGs, the fact that “A Realm Reborn” sits among the genre’s best is something of a small miracle.
