Castle Crashers, which first graced Steam with its presence back in 2012 to widespread acclaim, has just dropped its very first DLC. As if to celebrate this milestone, the base game has surged back into the upper echelons of Steam’s global best-sellers list, proving that nostalgia is a powerful motivator indeed.

Originally hitting the Xbox 360 in 2008 before arriving on Steam in 2012, Castle Crashers tells a fairly standard tale: stop a wicked wizard, save the princess, retrieve the magic crystal. Yet, the charm lies in the developer's signature brand of 'wacky' humour, frantic combat with a diverse cast, and the chaotic joy of four-player co-op. It currently boasts an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' rating, backed by a staggering 97,912 reviews and a 96% approval rate.

For years, the game lacked fresh content beyond a few character packs. However, in July 2024—a full 12 years after its Steam debut—The Behemoth announced the official 'Painter Boss Paradise' DLC. Following a trailer that caught the community's eye and consistent updates on development, the launch on the 7th has propelled both the base game and the expansion up the sales charts.

Painter Boss Paradise introduces a new character, Paint Junior, alongside a 'Template' toolkit that lets players customise their own DLC characters. With this toolkit, players can design heads, bodies, weapons, shields, and physiques, even sharing their creations via the Workshop. Additional art assets have also been added, and the DLC features can be toggled from the main menu. Early impressions are 'Very Positive' (91% approval), with many players enjoying the trip down memory lane.