Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • GTA 6 pre-orders
  • Summer Preview
  • New Games 2026
  • Best gaming tech
  • TennoCon 2026
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games

DLC Quest trailer microtransactions its way into our hearts

News
By Hollander Cooper
Published 7 November 2011

*Please purchase the Strapline DLC Pack to read this*

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Downloadable content is out of control. While it started off innocently enough this generation, with the occasional map pack here, and the downloadable character there, it has gotten to the point where large chunks of games are withheld from release and charged for down the line. Some DLC packs reward players for pre-ordering games with unbalanced upgrades, while others charge for cosmetic nonsense like horse armor or outfits. Luckily, DLC Quest is here, and while it doesn't fix the problem, it sure as hell makes fun of it.

Comedy in games is hard, especially when it's making fun of something as relatively unfunny as DLC. Yet, despite this hurdle, DLC Quest makes it seem effortless. The game is a basic 2D platformer at heart, where a hero-type character needs to wander around a series of levels collecting coins and talking to scattered NPCs. This currency doesn't earn him extra lives or anything like that, though - it's used to buy in-game DLC, which unlocks a wide-array of downloadable content. In the beginning of the game, basic fundamentals like moving left and jumping are locked away, as well as "cosmetic" enhancements like animations and sound effects. Purchasing DLC packs unlocks these features and more, and lets the player advance further... to get more coins and buy more DLC. It's satire at its finest, and it's only 80 Microsoft Points.

Check out the trailer above to see how it works, or just man up and go buy the game.Though it only lasts about 20 minutes, it's likely to be 20 of the funniest minutes you spend this holiday season.

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:

Downloadable content is out of control. While it started off innocently enough this generation, with the occasional map pack here, and the downloadable character there, it has gotten to the point where large chunks of games are withheld from release and charged for down the line. Some DLC packs reward players for pre-ordering games with unbalanced upgrades, while others charge for cosmetic nonsense like horse armor or outfits. Luckily, DLC Quest is here, and while it doesn't fix the problem, it sure as hell makes fun of it.

Comedy in games is hard, especially when it's making fun of something as relatively unfunny as DLC. Yet, despite this hurdle, DLC Quest makes it seem effortless. The game is a basic 2D platformer at heart, where a hero-type character needs to wander around a series of levels collecting coins and talking to scattered NPCs. This currency doesn't earn him extra lives or anything like that, though - it's used to buy in-game DLC, which unlocks a wide-array of downloadable content. In thebeginning of the game, basic fundamentals like moving left and jumping are locked away, as well as "cosmetic" enhancements like animations and sound effects. Purchasing DLC packs unlocks these features and more, and lets the player advance further... to get more coins and buy more DLC. It's satire at its finest, and it's only 80 Microsoft Points.

You may like
  • The title character of Mina the Hollower looks over a note "No free DLC": Devs learn their lesson after accidentally promising 4 entire new Shovel Knight games
  • Pro wrestler Tina in Dead or Alive 6: Last Round Dead or Alive 6 returns with $1,700 worth of DLC and gets blasted with 79% negative Steam reviews
  • A close-up crop of Butch telling the player to get out of his face in in Gothic 1 Remake Gothic 1 Remake review: "A beautiful remake of a true original, but too much jank made the cut too"

Check out the trailer above to see how it works, or just man up and go buy the game.Though it only lasts about 20 minutes, it's likely to be 20 of the funniest minutes you spend this holiday season.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
TOPICS
DLC
CATEGORIES
Xbox Platforms
Hollander Cooper
Hollander Cooper
Social Links Navigation
Former Features Editor at GamesRadar+

Hollander Cooper was the Lead Features Editor of GamesRadar+ between 2011 and 2014. After that lengthy stint managing GR's editorial calendar he moved behind the curtain and into the video game industry itself, working as social media manager for EA and as a communications lead at Riot Games. Hollander is currently stationed at Apple as an organic social lead for the App Store and Apple Arcade.

Read more
The title character of Mina the Hollower looks over a note
Action Games "No free DLC": Devs learn their lesson after accidentally promising 4 entire new Shovel Knight games
 
 
Pro wrestler Tina in Dead or Alive 6: Last Round
Fighting Games Dead or Alive 6 returns with $1,700 worth of DLC and gets blasted with 79% negative Steam reviews
 
 
A close-up crop of Butch telling the player to get out of his face in in Gothic 1 Remake
RPGs Gothic 1 Remake review: "A beautiful remake of a true original, but too much jank made the cut too"
 
 
The Binding of Isaac art showing a crying cartoon-like hand-drawn-esque figure lying on the ground, surrounded by others of various sizes and colors
Roguelike Games Steam Summer Sale brings my favorite indie roguelike and all its DLC down to $5
 
 
The key art for Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight showing a shadowed Batman superimposed in front of a neon and spotlight lit Gotham City
Action Games Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight review: "Arkham flavor combines with Lego comedy better than I expected"
 
 
Samara and Amani stand in their Goddess food truck mech in Dosa Divas key art, cooking up a big meal for surrounding villagers
RPGs Dosa Divas review: "I came for the culinary mechs and Jet Set Radio vibes, I stayed for the emotional rollercoaster"
 
 
Latest in Games
The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Former ESO dev says the MMO "basically funded other failing projects" as Microsoft guts the studio
 
 
State of Decay 3
Survival Games State of Decay 3 could reportedly skip Xbox Game Pass after Microsoft dumped its studio
 
 
Horizon Zero Dawn
Games It feels like PlayStation underestimated the backlash to ending physical games, new post bombarded
 
 
A boy holds his friend as they are surrounded by animatronics in FNTD2.
Strategy Games FNTD2 codes (July 2026) for Tokens, Souls, Presents, and more
 
 
Spyro: Reignited Trilogy
Platforming Games Spyro: Reignited Trilogy devs used an open-source emulator to ensure a faithful remake
 
 
Cropped official art for Project Fantasy shows three characters looking out at a landscape from a cave mouth.
RPGs IO Interactive regains "full ownership" of online RPG project after Xbox reportedly pulls funding
 
 
Latest in News
The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Former ESO dev says the MMO "basically funded other failing projects" as Microsoft guts the studio
 
 
State of Decay 3
Survival Games State of Decay 3 could reportedly skip Xbox Game Pass after Microsoft dumped its studio
 
 
Horizon Zero Dawn
Games It feels like PlayStation underestimated the backlash to ending physical games, new post bombarded
 
 
Spyro: Reignited Trilogy
Platforming Games Spyro: Reignited Trilogy devs used an open-source emulator to ensure a faithful remake
 
 
Super Pocket Activision Edition with River Raid on screen and game screenshots in backdrop.
Retro The next Super Pocket is hoarding classic capers that are missing from the Atari version
 
 
Cropped official art for Project Fantasy shows three characters looking out at a landscape from a cave mouth.
RPGs IO Interactive regains "full ownership" of online RPG project after Xbox reportedly pulls funding
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Cropped official art for Project Fantasy shows three characters looking out at a landscape from a cave mouth.
    1
    Hitman and 007 First Light dev IO Interactive regains "full ownership" of its mysterious online RPG project after Xbox reportedly pulled funding
  2. 2
    Spyro: Reignited Trilogy devs used an open-source emulator to look at the original platformer and measure "all the metrics" of gem placements, enemy paths, and more for their remake
  3. 3
    The best Replay clips for June
  4. 4
    Doom developer id Software "is essentially dead," Duke Nukem 3D co-creator says after layoffs reportedly cut almost half of the studio
  5. 5
    Doom creator John Romero praises the devs who carried on id Software's legacy as Microsoft reportedly lays off half of the studio: "The last few games showed real care, skill, and respect"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...