DLC roundup: Shadow Gambit, Walkabout Mini Golf & The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

December seems like the season for DLC releases, and we’re checking out new ones for three titles today – join us as we explore new content for Shadow Gambit, Walkabout Mini Golf and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Shadow Gambit – Zagan’s Ritual and Yuki’s Wish review (PC)

As a bit of a farewell to both the game and the studio behind it, Shadow Gambit’s seeing two DLC releases being launched this month, with both Zagan’s Ritual and Yuki’s Wish now available. Released together by Mimimi Games, these expansions promise fresh characters, islands, and narratives for the extremely well-received Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew. Zagan’s Ritual introduces a new character in “Zagan the Apostate,” a fallen Inquisition elite with dark powers. Spread across Zagan’s eerie island and six missions, the new campaign that is included provides great fun for those who enjoyed the base game, but it does dive into familiar territory quite regularly as well. Zagan’s character fits in well with the existing lore though, so it’s an essential playthrough just for that reason – offering somewhat of a darker side of the story.

Contrastingly, Yuki’s Wish brings a burst of energy and personality to the cursed seas, reuniting players with the lively thief from Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun – another title from the same developer. Yuki, armed with new cursed abilities this time around, and accompanied by her tanuki companion Kuma, delivers a nostalgic and enjoyable experience – especially for Mimimi fans. Dragon’s Dream, the Japanese island on which the campaign takes place, unfolds gracefully across six missions, seamlessly integrating with the main game. Yuki’s ingenious trap-setting skills and the new island’s visual allure make this DLC a standout, offering a delightful detour into the familiar yet mystical realms of Mimimi’s universe.

Zagan’s Ritual and Yuki’s Wish stand as both a farewell and a legacy to what came before. While Zagan’s Ritual adheres to the established formula, providing a continuation of what Shadow Gambit had to offer, Yuki’s Wish transcends the game with its tie-in to Shadow Tactics. With familiar mechanics and nuanced storytelling, these DLCs beckon players to embark on one last journey with Mimimi – though we wish this wasn’t the end for the studio and their excellent brand of real time tactics games.

Walkabout Mini Golf – Meow Wolf review (Quest)

New courses for Walkabout Mini Golf are a regular staple in our DLC roundups, though the Meow Wolf DLC is a bit different – it’s a collaboration between Mighty Coconut and the avant-garde art collective known as Meow Wolf. This new DLC introduces players to Numina, an otherworldly being communicating through the language of mini golf. Because… why not? The new course was inspired by Meow Wolf’s “Convergence Station” exhibition that’s located in Denver, and features a vibrant, surreal environment with inventive gameplay mechanics.

It’s nice to Mighty Coconut’s creative use of Meow Wolf’s source material – which most players will likely never see in real life. The environments are visually stunning and feature inventive challenges, such as altering the ball’s size in an Alice in Wonderland-type twist and skimming it across water. As such, even if you’re not into the kind of art experience that Meow Wolf has to offer, there is plenty to enjoy here from a gameplay perspective, providing a captivating and well-designed experience that’s unique among the currently released courses. And when just exploring, fox hunt style, the VR experience on offer here faithfully captures the artful essence of source material – making is an extremely affordable way to enjoy a glimpse of what might otherwise be hours of a long flight away.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre – Nancy review (PS5)

Gun Interactively has been steadily releasing new content for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and we checked out the recently released Nancy DLC to see what the new content brings into the mix. This one, unsurprisingly, introduces the character of Nancy, a member of the Family who uses her deceptive charm to lead victims into deadly traps. Equipped with barbed wire traps and a unique Spy ability, she offers promises a new, distinct and deadly gameplay experience.

As a character DLC, the main focus is on the new gameplay mechanics, showcasing Nancy’s strategic use of traps and her spy ability, enhancing the suspense and strategy. The game also seems like it was balanced correctly to make sure that Nancy fits in seamlessly, and from both a gameplay and a personality perspective she’s an excellent addition to the roster.

Our main concern, however, is the DLC’s price point. For a single character, a price point that’s roughly 25% of the entire base game seems a bit steep – especially when you’re a fan and might want to consider buying a lot more of the add-on content, which would add us to a premium price indeed. As such, it might be worth waiting for a bundle or collection before diving in.