Horror games aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. The excessive gore and terrifying jump scares often associated with survival horror can be a turn-off for even the most seasoned gamers, even at Halloween. Thankfully, video games from the Mario series to InFamous 2 have found ways to incorporate the spooky Halloween spirit via spin-offs like Luigi’s Mansion and Festival of Blood.
Though not every series lends itself to an entire standalone spin-off, games across a variety of genres have been able to get in on the Halloween fun in recent years with themed DLC. By adding spooky expansions to existing games, these DLCs are able to capitalize on pre-existing popularity and add fun new elements that appeal to both horror fans and the less scare-inclined.
Here are a few of the best Halloween-themed DLCs and expansions to check out this October. For the best in-game Halloween celebrations, check out Screen Rant‘s video game Halloween live event roundup.
Best Halloween DLC – Hitman 2: Halloween
Already considered an improvement over its predecessor, Hitman 2 took the franchise to a whole new genre with last year’s Halloween DLC. In place of Agent 47, players assume the role of an exceptionally creepy jack-o’-lantern-headed assassin for an escalation contract titled The Mills Reverie, named for the level’s unwitting target, Orson Mills. The level effectively turns the game into a slasher flick without losing any of Hitman’s core elements, melding perfectly with the existing gameplay. Full of spooky imagery – including weeping angel statues, summoning circles, and effigies of the mysterious player character – Hitman 2: Halloween has plenty of treats to offer fans of Halloween gaming.
Best Halloween DLC – Bloodborne: The Old Hunters
FromSoftware’s Gothic action RPG Bloodborne was already on the creepy side, but the game takes its Lovecraftian horror to new heights with The Old Hunters. Set in an even more warped version of Bloodborne‘s foreboding world, aptly titled the Hunter’s Nightmare (a counterpart to the main game’s sanctuary realm, the Hunter’s Dream), the player must fight their way through vicious monsters, crazed blood-drunk hunters, and twisted versions of familiar environments in their quest to discover and ultimately halt the cause of the nightmare. Not for the faint of heart, The Old Hunters features a variety of horrors, including grotesque beasts, gruesome human experiments, and a literal river of blood. Adding to this list of horrors is the fact that, in true FromSoftware fashion, the DLC cannot be played once one has beaten the game: Players must either start a New Game Plus or an entirely new game and play roughly one third of the main campaign in order to unlock The Old Hunters. Truly chilling.
Best Halloween DLC – Assassin’s Creed Origins: The Curse of the Pharaohs
A decade after the launch of the franchise, Assassin’s Creed gave the series a spooky new spin with The Curse of the Pharaohs. One of three DLCs released for 2017’s Assassin’s Creed Origins, Curse of the Pharaohs sees the player attempt to halt a curse that causes Ancient Egyptian rulers to rise from the grave. Featuring mummies, monsters, and a trip to the Ancient Egyptian afterlife as the player works to put a stop to the gods’ curse, the expansion offers no shortage of spooky content. With gorgeous new environments and Ancient Egyptian mummies straight out of a classic horror film, Curse of the Pharaohs gives the long-standing Assassin’s Creed franchise a fresh new twist perfect for the Halloween season.
Best Halloween DLC – Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare
No list of Halloween expansions would be complete without Red Dead Redemption’s Undead Nightmare DLC. Released for the original RDR back in 2010, Undead Nightmare remains the gold standard for Halloween-themed DLCs. The expansion sees player character John Marston face off against hordes of zombies, as well as mummies, sasquatches, and even the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Though set in an alternate timeline, Undead Nightmare ties into RDR’s main game by resurrecting many of the characters and enemies killed during the campaign. By blending elements of the core game’s story with spooky new content, Undead Nightmare delivers a perfect Halloween-themed DLC that holds up even a decade after its original release.
