2019 TechRaptor Awards - Best Expansion/DLC Award

The idea of new content being released for an existing game is not a new one by any means. With so many games, even indie hits, seeing support long after launch, we think its worth highlighting the best additions to already released games. For some, it's simply just more of what people already loved, and for others it could be an update that revamps everything. Here's what we thought were the best of 2019.

Here's the list of nominees (and here's the list of nominees for all award categories):

• Assassin's Creed Odyssey: The Fate of Atlantis
• Destiny 2: Shadowkeep
• Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers
• Monster Hunter: World - Iceborne (Our Review)
• No Man's Sky: Beyond

Readers' Choice -  No Man's Sky: Beyond

Developer: Hello Games | Release Date: August 14th, 2019 | Game Page

No Man's Sky's development is one of the greatest stories in gaming. From what may be one of the most disastrous releases ever, No Man's Sky has evolved into an amazing game that has seen some of the best ongoing support. With Beyond, things have just continued to get better. Billed as the 2.0 version of the game, Beyond is everything No Man's Sky fans want and more. 

Third Place - Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers

Developer: Square Enix | Release Date: July 2nd, 2019 | Game Page

By Jack Waibel

It’s hard to keep topping oneself, and yet Final Fantasy XIV does exactly that with 2019’s Shadowbringers expansion. Shadowbringers builds upon everything players loved about the previous two expansions, delivering creative environments, epic dungeons, and spectacular boss fights, accompanied by a soundtrack that is simultaneously haunting and exhilarating.

And Shadowbringers guides you through all that delicious content with a story that is both epic and poignant. Whereas previous expansions’ stories often meandered or struggled to deliver a unified narrative, Shadowbringers is laser-focused on the story it wants to tell—a story of hope in the face of helplessness and acceptance in the face of loss. It’s not only Final Fantasy XIV’s best narrative so far, it’s one Final Fantasy’s best narratives period. 

Second Place - No Man's Sky: Beyond

Developer: Hello Games | Release Date: August 14th, 2019 | Game Page

By Andrew Stretch

Back when it launched, No Man's Sky had a pretty rough go of it. While there were a lot that people found it entertaining, the majority of players felt underwhelmed with the universal sandbox. Instead of leaving it in the past though, Hello Games has worked to make it the game people want. Beyond was marketed as 2.0 and brought with it VR support and expanded multiplayer support. For players who tried the game at launch and were underwhelmed with the game, there has also been story content, single and multiplayer missions, and more. Comparing the game at launch to where it is now, it's truly a different game and a testament to Hello Games standing by their vision.

Winner - Monster Hunter: World - Iceborne

Developer: Capcom | Release Date: September 6th, 2019 | Game Page

By Kyle Downey

Monster Hunter: World - Iceborne is an example of some of the best things a developer can do for an expansion on their game. Iceborne came with new a story about the mysterious arrival of new monsters upsetting the status quo of the local ecosystem that the guild needs to put a stop to. The expansion also added new locales to explore, like the Hoarfrost Reach and Guiding Lands, a bunch of new monsters and variants of base game monsters, as well as fan-favorite monsters from previous games such as Tigrex, Zinogre, and Nargacuga. 

On top of the additions of new areas and monsters came the addition of a number of weapon changes, such as adding new combos and combo starters, like with the Sword and Shield and Switch Axe. Iceborne also saw the addition of the Clutch Claw upgrade to your Slinger, which allows hunters to easily grapple monsters to either weaken the parts they attack after grappling them or cause them to drop Slinger ammo for them and their teammates. New weapons and armor were added as well, because what's the point of hunting new monsters if you can't create powerful weapons and armor from their spoils?

The expansion also set the stage for the continued free content updates that were a part of the base game, with new monsters, sections of the Guiding Lands, and events all coming for no additional charge. Monster Hunter: World - Iceborne provides immense value for its price and sets an example for the entire industry to try to match.