For better or worse, DLCs are here to stay. However, some are as good as the base game, and sometimes they even improve on the original experience.
JRPGsaren’t particularly known for adding DLCs—aside from the usual school-themed cosmetics—but they often label them as expansion passes when they do.
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These expansion packs vary widely. They add new gameplay elements to the base game or sometimes deliver enough content to stand alone as their own titles.
We’ve rounded up the best JRPG DLCs to help you decide if it’s worth investing a little more to continue enjoying your favorite game.
8Beyond the Dawn
Tales of Arise
Tales of Ariselaunched in 2021 and became a phenomenon for theTales ofseries, reaching sales milestones that a few mainline entries had achieved.
While Bandai Namco had released DLCs for previousTales ofgames, most were underwhelming and delivered primarily cosmetic packs. Lots and lots of cosmetics.
So when the publisher announcedBeyond the Dawn, a DLC featuring a brand-new storyline forTales of Arise, fans, including myself, were thrilled.
Beyond the Dawntakes place after the main game’s conclusion, exploring how the world of Dahna is coping with its aftermath. Not everything is as resolved as our protagonist, Alphen, would like.
The DLC also introduces a new character, Nazamil, a hybrid of Dahnan and Renan descent. Her very existence attracts prejudice from both races, creating an intriguing dynamic in the plot.
The only downside is that this DLC adds almost nothing new to gameplay. The party members, abilities, and mechanics remain the same.
Ultimately, this DLC is for those who want to further immerse themselves in the world ofTales of Arisewhile waiting for anewTales ofmainline.
7Episode Aigis – The Answer
Persona 3 Reload
Some would argue that Aigis is the best character inPersona 3 Reload, and Atlus knew it, creating an entire storyline dedicated to her.
Episode Aigis – The Answerunfolds after players achieve the true ending inPersona 3 Reload. Just as the students are saying their goodbyes, a new mystery arises, and they must embark on another adventure.
The DLC ditches the calendar system of the base game, meaning there’s no time limit. After all, the crew is trapped in a time loop, a clever way to counter the original’s time constraints.
Aigis comes equipped with new field abilities, allowing her to bulldoze through breakable objects and collect items more efficiently. She also inherits the protagonist’s power to equip multiple Personas.
The DLC introduces a new character, Metis, Aigis’s sister. She joins the party as a regular member with her unique Persona, Psyche.
Some findEpisode Aigisrepetitive, since it essentially rehashes the Tartarus gameplay without thesocial features ofPersona.
6Episode Ignis
Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy 15
In all honesty, I’m not a fan ofFinal Fantasy XV’sDLCs. Not because of their content but because I found it underhanded for Square Enix to carve out chunks of the main story and sell them separately.
But this article isn’t about ranting; it is about the best DLCs. Among all the expansions inFinal Fantasy XV,Episode Ignisstands out, andEpisode Ardyncomes in as a close second.
Episode Ignistakes place in Altissia during the chaos unleashed by the Astrals Titan and Leviathan, coupled with the Niflheim invasion.
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Separated from the group, Ignis ventures through the city, determined to reach Noctis. Ignis battles Niflheim’s forces and even temporarily teams up with Ravus.
In the end, he finds Noctis unconscious and Lunafreya dead. Ardyn appears, forcing Ignis to wield the Ring of Lucii, which fell from Noctis’s hand.
Using the ring’s power without being a worthy descendant takes a devastating toll. Ignis confronts Ardyn but pays the price and loses his eyesight. This heart-wrenching DLC highlights Ignis’s devotion to protecting Noctis, his close friend and prince.
5Dark Arisen
Dragon’s Dogma
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Dragon’s Dogmaleans more toward Western RPG elements than JRPG ones, but its phenomenal DLC earned it a spot on this list.
The extraordinaryopen-world action RPGDragon’s Dogmalaunched in 2012, and itsDark ArisenDLC arrived in 2016, proving to be well worth the wait. The DLC introduced a new area, Bitterblack Isle, featuring fresh enemies, bosses, items, and even an alternate ending.
Bitterblack Isle is home to cursed items that can be purified by an NPC at the dungeon’s entrance, offering a variety of rewards at the cost of Rift Crystals.
This loop—venturing into the dungeon, farming enemies, upgrading your Arisen and Pawns, and collecting cursed items—is the core of theDragon’s Dogma:Dark Arisenexperience.
The dungeon is significantly more challenging than the base game, encouraging players to gear up and prepare before tackling its depths. And if the new final boss doesn’t finish you off, Death itself might catch you on your way.
4The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zerois DLC content forPokemon Scarlet and Violet, split into two parts:The Teal MaskandThe Indigo Disk.
These expansions added over 230 returning Pokemon, a new Pokedex, and even evolutions of older Pokemon like Applin, initially introduced inPokemon Sword and Shield.
TheDLC also introduced five new Legendaryand Paradox Pokemon, a feature introduced in this generation. However, the expansions didn’t just inflate the Pokedex; they also brought new quests.
InThe Teal Mask, trainers embark on a school trip to the land of Kitakami, participating in a local festival while uncovering the truth behind an ancient legend.
Meanwhile, inThe Indigo Disk, players become exchange students at the Blueberry Academy and return to Area Zero. There’s even an epilogue calledMochi Mayhem, which ties up the overarching storyline ofThe Hidden Treasure of Area Zero.
3Torna ~ The Golden Country
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Now, we move on to DLCs that are so expansive that they could easily be a standalone game, and in some cases, they are. Such is the case withTorna ~ The Golden Country, the DLC forXenoblade Chronicles 2.
Players who purchase the season pass forXenoblade Chronicles 2receiveTorna ~ The Golden Country, but the DLC is also available as a standalone title for those who don’t own the base game.
Torna ~ The Golden Countryserves as a prequel, though familiarity with the events ofXenoblade Chronicles 2is almost essential to fully understand what’s going on. The story centers on Mythra and her driver, Addam.
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Leveling up is just the beginning.
The DLC refines several gameplay systems from the base game, including combat, the Affinity Chart, and other minor mechanics.
Unlike the base game, Blades and Drivers now fight side by side, each wielding their own weapon. The combat feels similar but flows more smoothly, thanks to this tweak.
That said,Torna – The Golden Countryis still DLC, so to stretch the playtime, players must complete side quests before tackling the main story. In the end, though, it’s all worth it, as the expansion enhances thegreatness ofXenoblade Chronicles 2.
2Episode INTERmission
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Final Fantasy VII Remakeis a fantastic game, even if some fans have mixed feelings about it. The remake methodically reintroduces the world, characters, and their motivations driving this journey through the dying planet of Gaia.
The DLCEpisode INTERmission, included inFinal Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, tells the story of Yuffie Kisaragi, the ninja from Wutai before she joins the main cast.
In addition to introducing a new plot, characters, and ties to theFinal Fantasy VIIspin-offDirge of Cerberus, the DLC showcases Yuffie’s gameplay mechanics alongside a new combat feature: Synergy duo moves.
Granted,Episode INTERmissionis shorter thanTornaand takes about 5 hours for players focused solely on the primary campaign. However, those hours are well-spent, enriching the lore ofFinal Fantasy VII.
The DLC also reinforces Yuffie’s motivations, elevating her from an optional character in the original game to a significant member of the group, particularly due to her connection to Wutai, a storyline likely to be explored further in thethird part of theFinal Fantasy VII Remake.
1Future Redeemed
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
If there’s one DLC that changes my stance on whether DLCs should qualify for Game of the Year, it’sFuture RedeemedfromXenoblade Chronicles 3.
Future Redeemedoffers around 20 hours of new content and serves as a prequel toXenoblade Chronicles 3. Without diving too deeply into spoilers, it’s a must-play for anyone familiar withtheXenobladeseries.
This DLC truly shines in its gameplay. After four mainline titles and two expansions, it refines the exploration system to perfection.Future Redeemedsets a standard for exploration that every JRPG should strive for.
Theprogression system revolves around exploration. Discovering new areas, battling monsters, collecting items, and engaging in various activities that reward you for investigating every corner of the world. These rewards range from unlocking new abilities to enhancing existing ones.
Combat is streamlined by removingXenoblade Chronicles 3’sclass system, giving each character a defined role, and replacing the Ouroboros mechanic with Unity Attacks. While more compact than the base game, this combat system works well within the DLC’s scope.
DLCs can be divisive. Some are mere cash grabs, while others genuinely enhance the mythos of their worlds.Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemedbelongs to the latter category, and I wouldn’t complain one bit if more of my favorite JRPGs received content of this caliber.
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