Now look, Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC isn’t some masterpiece that will knock your socks off. It’s short, the enemies are annoying, and if you were hoping to see an overhaul of the base game’s overall structure, you’d be left sorely disappointed. Trust us, we get it.
But here’s a real kicker: if you’ve got that old-school Bethesda itch on your controller-holding hands, the one that wants to explore every corner of the map, chat up every NPC no matter how mundane, and soak in every piece of lore that the game throws at you, then let us pitch you Shattered Space as a DLC that’s 100% worth your time.
It’s simple: if you loved losing hours of your life and yourself in the open worlds of Skyrim and Fallout, that kind of Bethesda magic still exists in Shattered Space.
We can make the argument that the base game itself may be lacking in that regard, but with the way the expansion drops you onto Va’ruun’kai, where everything from the architecture to the religious fanaticism is rich with detail, it’s easy to feel that magic once more.
But, as we said before, the golden path this time around is rather short and unappealing if we’re being honest about it, but when has it ever not been that way? Want to help a fugitive fake their death or decide if a traitor should be turned in or bribed? It’s all here.
The missions in the DLC are full of what made those old games so captivating: a blend of storylines that keep you bouncing from one character’s problems to another.
It’s really important to note that the Va’ruun homeworld, Dazra, is a fully realized setting, packed with unique architecture, a fascinating theocracy, and NPCs you’ll want to spend time with.
This isn’t like the base game where you just hop from one lifeless planet to another in search of interesting—Dazra feels alive, and the rich lore of its snake-worshiping culture adds a lot of depth that’s easy to find yourself sinking into.
All that is to say that Shattered Space’s grounded and overall structure is something old-school fans will most certainly appreciate while removing the burden of the main game’s heavy design of fast travel and loading screens.
So, if you’re into that kind of stuff and love getting lost in the details of a world, ignore all the somewhat valid criticisms surrounding the DLC for once and give it a fair shot. You’ll most likely be in for a pleasant surprise.
Now, while we did ask you to ignore the criticisms aimed at the expansion, there are some things that are still noteworthy. For one, if you’re still planning to just cruise through the main quest and move on, the DLC will undoubtedly leave you cold and disappointed.
The problem here is that the core story is shorter than what you’d expect from a Bethesda expansion, and the final boss is a rather frustrating one—especially if you hate enemies teleporting behind you mid-fight.
Shattered Space really shines when you slow down, immerse yourself, and treat it like a full-fledged Bethesda experience. So, if you’re just in it for the big moments, you may come away a bit disappointed.
Also, despite the setting, it’s best to warn you that space travel will take a backseat here. You won’t find new ship parts, and there’s barely any space combat, which might feel like a letdown given Starfield’s focus on the star-travel. If you were hoping for a deeper interstellar experience, this DLC won’t deliver on that front either.
In the end, though, Shattered Space hits all the right notes for fans who miss the days of getting lost in a richly detailed world, so if you loved Starfield for all it did well or just want to experience more of that Bethesda magic, this DLC brings will surely back that old-school feel you, making it worth every penny.
But with that said, if you’ve played Shattered Space, what other point would you like to add to this pitch? Do you think the game as a whole has been successful in capturing the magic of old Bethesda titles? Let us know in the comments below.
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