Is any of the DLC 'essential'?

[chucklehead]

Hi folks

I've had this game for a little while now, still not gotten round to playing it. Got some free time coming up and was looking to dive in. Is any of the DLC considered integral to the game or is the base game good to go on its own?

Cheers in advance for the help

[sigrid.rothschild]

In my opinion all but the last one. That one is up in the air.

[Ericus1]

None are "essential" in that they add features you need to be able to have an enjoyable experience, but several enhance gameplay so much I would strongly recommend them.

IMO in order of best to least: Green Planet -> Space Race -> Lakita -> In-Dome Buildings Pack -> Mysteries Resupply Pack -> various cosmetic DLCs ->>>> and trailing way behind at the back of the pack Below & Beyond, for being hugely overpriced and adding nearly entirely pointless and aggravating to use content.

I'd recommend getting all the good stuff through the First Colony Edition, and passing on B&B entirely.

[pauloandrade224]

None are essential i agree

[Alex]

1. Green Planet expands and prolongs the game significantly. Otherwise, there's not much to do after sol 100.
2. Space Race adds the element of competition, as well as new game mechanics and unique buildings.
3. Below and Beyond is still half-finished at best, just wait a year to see wheter it's even worth talking about.
4. Project Laika is pointless, the ranches are a mostly cosmetic alternative to farms. The pets are just plain annoying.
4. In-dome buildings pack; the hospital is very useful (and should've been in the base game), the rest is quite OP, especially the retirement home.
5. Colony design; the large wind turbine and the big oxygen tank are very useful, the rest is also OP, the tiny buildings in particular.

[Sensual_T_Rex]

None are essential, but I'd recommend Green Planet as it gives you a long term goal that gives you a good end point.

[Boomer]

Originally posted by Sensual_T_Rex:

None are essential, but I'd recommend Green Planet as it gives you a long term goal that gives you a good end point.

This. I got Surviving Mars for free in steam a while back and enjoyed it but end game felt a little light, green planet really extends it and is very rewarding

[brooklyncontrivance]

Deluxe Upgrade Pack, for Quantum Sonics radio station. And MarsVision, for the radio station of the same name.

Free Earth Radio and Red Mars Radio are awesome too (included in base game) but the radio stations are such a key part of what I think of as the game's identity I couldn't imagine playing without them.