Expansion of the game that became independent titles

DLCs ​​are very popular, but there have been cases in the past where some DLCs have been so good that they have become standalone games.

Some of these games are already household names, such as GTA Vice City, but originally, they were either meant to be DLC or were planned as such. The common thread with most of these games is that they were either too popular or had too much content that putting them in a DLC wouldn't do them justice.

8 Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

Publication: 2013

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is the result of what happens when a game director loves his B-movies. Director Dean Evans' fondness for 1980s B-movies led him to launch this parody of 80s glamor and over-the-top action. The game was made in just six months and Ubisoft really embraced the “so bad it's good” mentality. And we must say that it was successful. The game first started as a DLC for Far Cry 3 but soon became a cult classic.

Blood Dragon takes place in the “distant” future of 2007, where players take control of Sergeant Rex “Power” Colt, a cybernetic soldier who is thrown into a dystopian world populated by cyborgs, mutants, and blood dragons. It has been conquered. If you're a fan of Far Cry 3 and haven't played it yet, we highly recommend giving it a try.

7 Notorious: First Light

Publication: 2014

Infamous: First Light was supposed to be a DLC for Infamous: Second Son. The game follows the character of Fetch but gives more details about the main story and his powers. But this is where everything changed.

As the project grew, it became clear that it would be better as a stand-alone game, so in 2014 the game was released. Infamous: First Light follows the character of Fetch, especially his ability to manipulate neon. The game was definitely a hit, with over 140,000 reviews giving it a high 4 out of 5 rating.

6 Wolfenstein: The Old Blood

Publication: 2015

Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is similar to Infamous: First Light in that it was supposed to provide a story for the protagonist, BJ Blazkowicz, and his previous adventures. Not only was this game planned as a DLC, it was also released as a DLC.

Due to its massive success and the positive reception of the Wolfenstein reboot, the developers decided to make it a standalone title. The Old Blood is an action story set in 1946 that combines first-person shooter mechanics with a compelling narrative while maintaining the series' sense of great action and dark humor.

It should be noted here that although the game is related to the events of The New Order, it is more of a prequel than a development of the main story.

5 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Publication: 2002

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City needs no introduction. It's safe to say that if you're reading this, you've played it. But did you know it was supposed to be a DLC? Leslie Benzis, the game's producer, admitted that the goal was to create a mission pack. However, the project expanded so much that it was released as a standalone game.

This is easily seen if you have played both GTA 3 and GTA: Vice City. Both the games are very similar and if you have played one of them before, they can sometimes give you a feeling of déjà vu.

Vice City ended up being one of the most popular games of all time, especially because of the colorful 1980s version of Miami that drew players to it.

4 Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Publication: 2017

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End was set to receive a downloadable expansion focusing on Chloe Fraser and Nadine Ross. But like many games that started out as DLC, the developers quickly realized the potential of this game and decided to develop it as a standalone game.

And thus Uncharted: The Lost Legacy was born. Set in the jungles of India, The Lost Legacy introduces players to an all-new adventure with new combat mechanics and puzzles while keeping the Uncharted style at its heart.

The game was well received and praised for the strong performances of the new cast. Although the game was supposed to be an expansion, in many ways it felt more like a spin-off with a compact and focused adventure compared to the original Uncharted games.

3 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Release: 2023

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was often compared to Breath of the Wild and earned its reputation as a DLC, but the truth is that this was one of them. This was later confirmed by producer Eiji Aonuma.

The team's initial plan was to create a DLC, but due to growing ideas, this plan was abandoned and eventually resulted in Tears of the Kingdom, with two additional scenes added.

2 Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare

Publication: 2010

Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare was essentially a zombie-twisted version of Red Dead Redemption mixed with the game's Wild West setting. It offers a complete RDR storyline, but with much darker themes, set in a world overrun with the dead.

Undead Nightmare was released as a spin-off and was very well received. It added new weapons, enemies and a completely different style. In fact, this game is considered one of the best DLCs in the history of the game. Because of this, it was eventually considered a standalone video game.

1 Mafia 2: Vendetta Jimmy

Publication: 2010

Unlike Mafia 2, which had a rich narrative and immersive atmosphere, the main character of Jimmy's Vendetta offered a more action-oriented and point-based gameplay. The actor replaced Vito Scaletta in the role of Jimmy, who led his revenge. Missions were fast and arcade mechanics were prioritized.

Although it was intended to be DLC, the game's contrasting style and theme with Mafia II eventually earned its title as a standalone game, marking a clear departure from the cinematic video game approach.