We live in a time of plenty. Perhaps even excess. Before I finish a game, or sometimes even start it, the developers are already releasing free updates ranging from new quality-of-life settings to full-blown content add-ons. Each one makes the game worth revisiting and adds to the pull of picking it up for the first time. Here are six great games that recently added free stuff.
Sea of Stars
Released last year as a retro-style, turn-based RPG inspired by the greats like Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG, Sabotage Studio’s Sea of Stars got a major upgrade in September. A free update called Dawn of Equinox marked the game’s one-year anniversary with a new local co-op system, revamped combat, an overhauled prologue, improvements to the secret-seeking parrot relic, and other gameplay tweaks. A paid Throes of the Watchmaker expansion is coming in 2025 that adds a new area and dungeon to explore.
Blasphemous 2
The Game Kitchen’s sequel to its first 2D side-scrolling Souls-like did not disappoint. Blasphemous 2 was one of 2023’s great games, introducing new weapon-based playstyles and putting an emphasis on exploration that pushed it much more in the direction of being a proper Metroidvanaia. The free True Torment update arrived alongside the paid Mea Culpa DLC in October. It added new game+ mode with difficulty modifiers, more enemies, abilities, a Labyrinth of Tides challenge, and expanded zones with better connecting areas to streamline backtracking. The way the new game+ mode was structured has been controversial with fans, but changes based on that feedback are due out before the end of November.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
2022’s TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is one of the defining beat-em-ups of the dcade, combining retro sensibilities with incredible pixel art animations and game feel. Kicking Foot Clan ass never felt so good, or so responsive. And somehow the game is still getting new free content. September’s paid Radical Reptile DLC added Mondo Gecko and Mona Lisa—deep cuts from the ‘80s cartoon—as new fighters, but a free update alongside the expansion also added a Remix Mode that lets you battle with music from guest artists including Jake Kaufman (Shovel Knight), Tomoya Tomita (Yoshi’s Woolly World), Sean Bialo (Penny’s Big Breakaway), Button Masher (Secret Levels), Keiji Yamagishi (Ninja Gaiden), and Anamanaguchi (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World). It’s perfect for someone like me who’s still grinding out the platinum trophy on PS5.
Front Mission 1st Remake
Front Mission 1st Remake isn’t one of my favorite remakes of a Square Enix RPG in recent years, but it gets the job done and is the only way to play one of the best old-school mech strategy RPGs around. In fact, it got a big boost in October from the free Mercenaries update which added new maps, scenarios, and characters along with a separate mode in which you act as your own merc commander maintaining a squad of Wanzers to complete new missions. The other big part of the update is a local multiplayer mode that includes co-op and PvP skirmishes. I’d love a fully online version, but it’s still a neat novelty for hardcore Front Mission-heads.
Remnant 2
Souls-like loot shooter Remnant II’s final DLC arrived this autumn as well. While the paid The Dark Horizon expansion added new storylines and dungeons, the free update, out at the same time, introduced a boss rush mode for a more concentrated action experience. Cutting out all of the exploration, the new mode just throws enemies big and small at players and their co-op squads with the runs augmented by various buffs earned as they progress. It’s basically another roguelite mode with additional loot that rewards players for taking the punishment.
I Am Your Beast
Most recently, the excellent lo-fi shooter I Am Your Beast, which is kind of like Hotline Miami in 3D, just received a bunch of new levels via its free Support Group update on Friday. The new content offers players even more “extraordinary abilities” to overcome “extreme situations” across nine new levels. That’s a big addition given the base game only had 27. The short but punchy experience just got a little less short and a little more punchy.
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