To be clear, the basic gaming experience is pacific drive It can get really intense sometimes. Tinkering with an old station wagon or decorating your garage with ornaments scavenged from the surrounding woods may seem very relaxing, but most of the time you’ll end up sweating. A game that can tempt you to explore for a few more minutes than you should and quickly punish your complacency, earning it a spot on our list of best survival games. Its strange and mysterious anomalies may get your heart racing, but the latest DLC, Whispers in the Woods, takes things to a new level. With a dark atmosphere, cults, and new survival mechanics, Pacific Drive’s first expansion looks incredible. And guess what? It’s just a shadow.
Whispers in the Woods was released earlier this year with a wide release window of 2025, but its spooky atmosphere meant it was always destined to be canceled at some point during the spooky season. A new trailer aired during Galaxy’s Showcase, giving Pacific Drive fans their first look at proper gameplay, while also unexpectedly revealing that the expansion is now playable. I love Shadow Drop.
This DLC takes you on an adventure into unexplored areas of the Olympic Exclusion Zone. There is a dark cult out there that is crazy about abnormal situations. Candlelit shrines, statues, and strange symbols make this new area far more chilling and haunting than anywhere you’ve discovered before. It’s your job to investigate what the cult is up to, meet new characters, and harness the power of artifacts.
Artifacts are the core of the new gameplay system, allowing you to find mysterious objects and load them onto your vehicle to add new effects to you and the environment. According to developer Ironwood Studios, these effects will make conditions in the OEZ more difficult, but the artifacts will “help with survival.”
Throughout the new DLC areas, you’ll also encounter new types of anomalies that may behave differently than anything you’ve witnessed before. Ironwood claims that the DLC will provide between 8 and 12 hours of gameplay and will include side missions in addition to the main quest. New car components with similar aesthetics to the cult you’re investigating will be unlockable, as will new cosmetic items in your garage.
Pacific Drive Whispers in the Woods DLC is out now. You can download it here.

If you want more fright, be sure to check out the best horror games. I don’t think any of the games we’ve chosen involve driving a run-down station wagon. In that sense, this DLC is truly unique. Our guide to the best single-player games is also packed with all sorts of immersive experiences.
What’s your favorite video game Shadow Drop for as long as you can remember? Come on over to the Discord server and let us know – Hi-Fi Rush is right around the corner.