The popular Destiny series is back with more galactic adventures into the horrific unknown as The Witch Queen DLC has finally arrived. With a new raid, weapons, a compelling story, and enemies to tackle, fans are sure to dive back in with open arms.
But after they've completed the short campaign, the adrenaline withdrawals will have them yearning for similar journeys. From the supernatural to the deepest reaches of space, fans can find comparable experiences to The Witch Queen if they are willing to chart a course into some of the most ruthless genres.
Destiny: The Dark Below
The obvious place to start is at the beginning. This is the DLC that started it all, introducing more depth to The Hive and Eris Morn, who can be seen in The Witch Queen trailer. It has exactly what new fans to the game could want including a raid, strikes, and background to the current arc.
It sets up the Oryx plot, brother to the witch herself, as guardians go through a grueling platforming shootout in order to take down the would-be god. The firefights still hold years later as Bungie's intergalactic FPS shows why it's one of the best in the game.
Resident Evil 7: Not A Hero
If one is looking for some horror with their action, Resident Evil has been cornering the market on survival horror for about three decades. Capcom surprised fans by switching the traditional 3rd person view of the series to first-person in their seventh return to survival-based horror.
For those who were looking for fanfare in RE:7, Chris Redfield returns in this DLC for some good old-fashioned over-the-top combat. Adding some levity to the harrowing experience of the main campaign, Not A Hero gave fans a chance to fight back against some grotesque creatures that would make even the Hive take a step back.
Borderlands 2: Tiny Tina's Assault On Dragon Keep
Some fans of the Borderlands series consider this DLC to be the best storyline in the entire series, including the main campaign. The gunplay is tight and the jokes are even tighter, making this DLC a force that is critical to the looter shooter genre.
Much like Destiny, this entry has gazillions of weapons to choose from, with further modifications to pick up and sort through. One could potentially take hours customizing their ultimate setup. But with medieval folklore and interplanetary travel, this is sure to scratch the itch of interstellar witch hunters.
Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare
Another dip in the zombie genre but this time heading west, Undead Nightmare gave western fans an alternate timeline of the events of the main game. Chills and thrills skulk around as John Marston rides out to find a cure for his undead family.
Adding horde modes and changing up the way combat unfolds was an interesting twist. Undead Nightmare switches out its cover-based mechanics to a run and gun fright fest. On top of this, it added new enemies with differing abilities that challenged players to keep their trigger skills sharp. Not to mention, it added other weird elements such as Sasquatch and the four horses of the Apocalypse as mounts.
Fallout 3: Point Lookout
Exploration can add an element of creepiness when one is isolated. Whether that be on the dark of the moon, or the vast swamplands of Point Lookout. Fallout 3's penultimate DLC took players to a dreadful state park with a cadre of vehement creatures.
Continuing with the theme of scream queens, Point Lookout sent players screaming for cover when The Swamplurk Queens began to spit acid at long range. This and other new challenges presented themself, making the DLC one of the toughest in the game to conquer. Along with radiation and other terrifying obstacles, this spooky aquatic affair is best taken patiently in order to survive the long foggy night.
Prey: Mooncrash
Taking the Groundhog Day approach, Prey: Mooncrash provided players with a wild moon simulation takeover, as well as a preview of things to come in Deathloop. The DLC built on the incredible physics engine of Prey, making the roguelike even more hectic at every turn.
Randomized world elements, moon gravity, and five ways to escape the moon base set up an interesting dynamic as the player takes on the role of Peter, a hacker. As he tries to figure out how the five survivors escaped, he vicariously lives through their decisions which the player sets up via simulation. New creatures such as the moon shark add another element of fear as the ground isn't safe, while the mimics cloak themselves as ordinary objects, and tentacle nests strike from above.
Mass Effect: Leviathan
It was the DLC that changed the scope of Mass Effect as the fan base knew it. Meeting the Leviathan rewrote the history of what gamers knew about the reapers as well as gave background on their origin. Entering the deep, it was found that indoctrination was a natural ability of this species, which was then co-opted into their machine known as "The Intelligence."
These factors make it a great DLC to explore if players want to fight a hive of monsters in a secluded area of despair. The torrential downpour provides a spooky atmosphere as things tense up, providing an equally cool firefight to The Witch Queen's moon. While some entries on this list are exploration forward, this one focuses on telling a story with its gunplay, making it an essential for RPG lovers.
Rise Of The Tomb Raider: Baba Yaga
Platforming has been an element that has been a part of shooters for a while, but Tomb Raider has a large part in influencing that decision. So when the series was rebooted in the wake of Uncharted's success, people responded to it brightly again. Its sequel Rise Of The Tomb Raider was no different, bringing home accolades for its rich story.
When the Baba Yaga DLC came out, fans were treated to a trippy game experience as they fought off visions from the Slavic folk tale. Puzzles can be a fun part of the Destiny experience, and this DLC delivers on that aspect in full. So combining these platforming, puzzle, and mind bending elements, the gameplay becomes a wild and twisted performance that will test players' hand-eye coordination as they simultaneously jump hurdles, dodge witch bolts, and assess the correct path to go down.
Dragon Age Origins: Witch Hunt
For those looking for a thematic similarity without the rush of gunfire, the Witch Hunt DLC from Dragon Age: Origins is a good starter. Instead of locking and loading, this game is catered to those who prefer inventory and battle management. The pace may be slower, but those looking for a challenge can easily find it in the game's nightmare difficulty.
Creatures from deep beneath await players as they pursue their friend, or even possibly their romantic partner. The adventure is paved with fright, gallons of blood, and all the answers to questions players had been asking themselves about Morrigan. For those seeking abominations and body horror, look no further.
Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods
Split into two parts, this hardcore offering takes players to the limit, providing one of the toughest DLCs in existence. The driving metal score intensifies players' heartbeats, sending them through an obstacle course only hell could provide. This game has all the elements that the other entries on this list provide: Laser focus platforming, energetic combat, unnerving lore, waves of fierce enemies, and a challenge for the mind to juggle them all at once.
Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods is the perfect follow-up or warm-up to start Destiny's Witch Queen DLC. It provides players with the shooting skills they'll need to conquer the Hive together on a raid or alone in a free run. Its horror is subtle but creepy, and its thundering galactic atmosphere is a great complimentary piece to Witch Queen's desolate moon.