10 Video Game DLCs That Went Off The Rails

Why stick to the formula when you can put cowboys in a zombie apocalypse?

By Michael Fincher /

When people think of downloadable content for games, they usually picture something small, like an offshoot story that slightly expands on the main narrative of the game, or additional features such as new weapons, skins, and perhaps a couple of new mechanics that make the game feel fresher.

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There are games, however, for which DLCs have completely turned their worlds upside down. By taking the game's story in a completely different direction and introducing a variety of brand new mechanics, they change the game beyond recognition and reinvent it into something that might as well be a separate title altogether.

The twist is radical and, more often than not, ridiculous, giving the players even more reasons to reinstall the game and experience what they never thought could happen after completing it.

Brace yourselves for the wonderful world of expansions, which breathe new life into their games by not sticking to the formula. These DLCs will provide you with a lot more content than your average horse armor add-on, and a whole new story that can sometimes turn out to be better than the original.

10. Borderlands 2: Tiny Tina's Assault On Dragon Keep

The Borderlands series is famous for its ridiculous shenanigans and tongue-in-cheek moments. The world of Panodora is filled with charmingly psychotic raiders, joke weapons, and locations that shower you with gags and easter eggs, so there really shouldn't be a way to make it even crazier, right?

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Well, as it turns out, Tiny Tina has found a way to make the game's action-packed silliness even more ridiculous! In Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep, the adorable demolition expert will take you and your friends on a fantasy adventure set in her very own Dungeons and Dragons inspired campaign.

What makes this DLC so special is that it takes place in Tiny Tina's imagination. The entire campaign revolves around the Vault Hunters playing "Bunkers and Badasses" with her, roleplaying as different characters, as their dungeon master narrates what is happening in the story.

The DLC uses this meta narrative in a really entertaining way, taking jabs at all the fantasy clichés and accurately depicting the reality of tabletop role-playing games.

The concept, combined with new enemies and maps, makes this DLC feel like a brand new experience. In fact, it became so memorable that it was released as a standalone game in 2021.

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