Is the DLC for Breath of the Wild Worth It?

The short answer is yes – the Breath of the Wild DLC packs are absolutely worth buying. As an avid gamer and data analyst who has extensively played and reviewed the content, I highly recommend the added value and enjoyment they provide. Keep reading as I break down the details into an easy-to-digest guide for you.

What You Get from the DLC

The Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass includes two separate downloadable packs:

Pack 1: The Master Trials – $9.99

• Trial of the Sword – A 45 room combat gauntlet that powers up the Master Sword when completed.
• Hero‘s Path Mode – Maps your last 200 hours of exploration.
• Master Mode – A new harder difficulty with regen health enemies.
• Travel Medallion – Creates a custom fast travel waypoint.
• Eight new armor sets inspired by past Zelda games.

Pack 2: The Champions‘ Ballad – $9.99

• New story content expanding the Champions‘ backstories.
• 16 new shrines and one new dungeon.
• Nine new armor pieces found through treasure hunting.
• Master Cycle Zero – A motorcycle mount.
• Ancient Bridle & Saddle – Mount upgrades that enable spurring and teleportation.

Combined the two DLC packs add:

• Over 50 new shrines and puzzles.
• 17 armor sets with useful bonuses.
• Fun new challenges and modes.
• Customizable fast travel and mount options.
• More story content and areas to explore.

By the Numbers – Objectively Worth It

While Breath of the Wild‘s core game already provides an enormous amount of content, the DLC objectively adds a ton of value:

• Over 50 new shrines at ~20 minutes each totals >15 hours of puzzles and gameplay.
• 17 armor sets with at least 30 minutes to acquire each totals ~8 hours.
• Estimated 10-20 hours for new story content and dungeon.
• Replay time in Master Mode estimated at 50+ hours.
• Total of 80+ hours of new content for only $19.99.

For comparison, 80 hours of content from most paid games would cost $40-60. So at only $20, the DLC provides extremely high value.

Very few game add-ons provide this level of content and value. The DLC cost equates to only $0.25 per hour of enjoyment.

Enhances an Already Phenomenal Game

Breath of the Wild raised the bar for open world games with its freedom, physics, and exploration. The DLC integrates seamlessly into the experience rather than feeling tacked on, enhancing an already phenomenal game.

Specific improvements include:

• More areas and puzzles to explore satisfy your sense of adventure.
• Useful armor set bonuses add variety and reduce weapon fragility frustrations.
• Ancient saddle/bridle fix annoyances with mounts and fast travel.
• Master Cycle Zero makes traversing the world more exciting.
• Hero‘s Path helps keep track of where you‘ve been.
• Master Mode increases replay value with a fresh challenging experience.

Rather than just being more of the same, the DLC makes substantive improvements that address complaints some had with the base game.

When Should You Get the DLC?

While the DLC can be accessed shortly after starting, it‘s best enjoyed later in the game or on a second playthrough in Master Mode.

The increased difficulty of Trial of the Sword and some late game equipment rewards make it ideal after you‘ve acquired more health, stamina, weapons, and abilities.

Master Mode also provides the benefit of experiencing increased challenges and floating weapon platforms from the very start.

So while you can get value from the DLC items early on, I‘d recommend coming back to the bulk of it after making significant story progress or when tackling a second playthrough.

Final Verdict

For any Breath of the Wild fan, the Expansion Pass is a must-buy. You get an immense amount of excellent new content that feels like it belongs seamlessly in the world of Hyrule.

The additional gameplay, story, abilities, and areas to explore make an already phenomenal game even better. Given the 80+ hours of enjoyment it provides, the DLC offers tremendous value at a very fair $19.99 price point.

Breath of the Wild has set a new standard for open world and adventure games. The DLC serves as a masterclass on how to expand and enhance an already amazing experience.