Downloadable content can take many forms – from atmospheric expansions that deepen a game’s world to mechanical add-ons that shift how you play. Recent releases show just how varied DLC can be: Rain World: The Watcher doubles down on its cryptic survival challenge with new threats and shifting landscapes on PlayStation 5, Wartales: Contract – The Fief moves its mercenary strategy into full-blown governance on PC, and Prison Boss Prohibition: Stitchin’ Rich spices up its VR crafting sim with playful contraband additions on Quest. Together, they highlight how expansions can either reinforce a game’s identity or take it in an entirely new direction, offering something fresh for returning players.
Rain World: The Watcher review (PS5)
Rain World has always thrived on its ability to make players feel small in a vast, indifferent ecosystem, and The Watcher DLC on PlayStation 5 leans into that philosophy even more strongly. This expansion introduces a new campaign centered around an unfamiliar slugcat, one who is thrown into a shifting world marked by collapse and strange forces that reshape familiar ground. The narrative is deliberately cryptic, continuing the series’ tendency to present story through fragmented lore and environmental cues rather than direct exposition. While this approach is atmospheric and thematically fitting, it can also leave some players unsure of the overarching meaning, especially given how abstract the progression feels at times.
Mechanically, The Watcher doesn’t reinvent Rain World but does alter the flow through new hazards, predators, and traversal challenges. Some of these creatures feel more aggressive and unpredictable than before, keeping the tension high but occasionally leading to frustration when deaths pile up without clear warning. The DLC also introduces altered biomes with shifting layouts, creating moments where navigation becomes as much of an adversary as the wildlife itself. For veterans, this unpredictability adds depth and replayability, though newcomers may find it even more daunting than the already unforgiving base game.
The Watcher’s biggest strength lies in its atmosphere. The art direction continues to impress, with environments that feel hauntingly alive, full of small details that make the ecosystem both beautiful and oppressive. The sound design amplifies this mood, from unsettling ambient tracks to the sharp audio cues that signal danger. That said, the DLC’s pacing can feel uneven, with stretches of wandering that occasionally dampen the intensity the game is known for. Controls remain unchanged from the base experience, meaning they are functional but still occasionally imprecise, especially during tense escapes where a missed grab can mean a sudden end.
Overall, The Watcher expands Rain World in ways that stay true to its identity: punishing, mysterious, and uniquely captivating. It doesn’t smooth out the rough edges that have long divided players – if anything, it amplifies them – but for those who already appreciate Rain World’s harsh beauty, this DLC adds meaningful new challenges and haunting imagery. For others, its opacity and difficulty spikes may reinforce the sense that Rain World is as much about enduring frustration as it is about surviving its world.
Wartales – Contract: The Fief review (PC)
Wartales: Contract – The Fief shifts the game’s focus from mercenary survival to governance, offering players the chance to build and rule their own medieval domain. Instead of simply roaming for contracts, you’re tasked with managing districts, constructing buildings, and addressing the needs of your people. The premise feels like a natural evolution of Wartales’ systems, blending its grounded medieval tone with new layers of simulation. Still, the emphasis is on emergent systems rather than scripted storytelling, so players looking for a strong narrative thread may find it more about management than story.
The new city-building layer is where the DLC shines. Farms, markets, taverns, and other structures all contribute to feeding citizens, maintaining security, and boosting morale. This makes resting more meaningful, as each pause advances time and development, but the system can also feel unforgiving when needs spike simultaneously. For some, that tension adds depth and replay value, while others may find the constant juggling of resources drifts into grind, especially in the early hours when expansion feels slow and progress uneven.
What makes The Fief engaging is how governance ties into alignment. Players can shape their rule through laws and mandates, steering their domain toward tyranny, commerce, or community, with choices that meaningfully affect both mechanics and flavor. Combat still has its place, especially when defending territory, but the draw lies in seeing how decisions ripple outward. The controls hold up well, though menus can become cluttered as more districts and features unlock, creating occasional friction in otherwise smooth management.
Visually and tonally, the DLC fits neatly into Wartales’ grim medieval aesthetic. Settlements expand with believable, grounded architecture, supported by audio that emphasizes the atmosphere of lived-in spaces. While not as immediately thrilling as life on the road, the slow satisfaction of watching a fief grow into something lasting carries weight. It’s not for everyone, particularly those who preferred the base game’s nomadic contracts, but for players eager to take on the challenge of rulership, Contract – The Fief offers a demanding and rewarding new layer of play.
Prison Boss Prohibition: Stitchin’ Rich review (Quest)
Stitchin’ Rich is the first major DLC for Prison Boss Prohibition on Meta Quest, expanding the quirky crafting sim with new content that fits neatly into its satirical take on prohibition-era city life. The setup remains the same – running stalls, crafting contraband, and dodging the ever-watchful police – but now with additional crafting recipes and customization options that broaden the experience. The DLC leans into the game’s humor and charm, keeping the tongue-in-cheek world of New Yolk City engaging, though players looking for a more substantial story layer may still find the premise more playful than narrative-driven.
On the gameplay side, the new content slots smoothly into the existing loop of gathering, crafting, and selling. More items to produce means more variety in how you approach each day, and the economy benefits from the extra layers of depth. The DLC also encourages replayability by letting players refine their efficiency and build street cred across different factions. That said, the same frustrations apply – being caught by police can feel disproportionately punishing, wiping out progress in a way that some will find excitingly tense while others see it as needlessly harsh. The balance is very much a “love it or hate it” element, depending on how much risk you want in your runs.
Controls remain intuitive and tactile, with crafting gestures translating well to VR, but the DLC doesn’t add new mechanics beyond expanding recipes and items. That’s not necessarily a drawback, as it keeps the learning curve smooth, but those expecting big gameplay shifts may find the changes more incremental than transformative. Co-op continues to be a highlight, with the shared tension of sneaking goods past police making for some of the most entertaining moments. On the flip side, matchmaking with strangers can be inconsistent, so the experience shines brightest when played with a friend.
Visually, Stitchin’ Rich maintains the same colorful, cartoon-inspired presentation as the base game, with exaggerated character designs and bustling stalls that emphasize humor over realism. Audio follows suit, with playful sound effects and upbeat music that underline the lighthearted tone. It won’t impress on a technical level, but the presentation suits the style perfectly. Ultimately, this DLC doesn’t overhaul Prison Boss Prohibition but enhances it, adding more ways to craft, sell, and survive in New Yolk City. For players already hooked on the black-market grind, Stitchin’ Rich offers a fun and worthwhile expansion, even if it won’t win over those unconvinced by the core loop.
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