Leave it to Borderlands to do something truly strange. Almost seven years since the original release of Borderlands 2, developer Gearbox Software dropped a new downloadable content expansion for the PC and current-generation versions of the game at E3 in June. Series fans worried that the new DLC, Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary, is nothing more than a promotional tool for this fall’s Borderlands 3 can rest easy: Not only is this new expansion comparable to previous efforts, it is one of the better slices of Borderlands content to date.

The setup is straightforward: after the events of Borderlands 2, the main cast is struggling to decide on a course of action. Lilith (who is more or less the protagonist of the entire series by this point) does not want the responsibility of leadership, and the other Vault Hunters are growing restless in the peace they won. That peace lasts all of two minutes before Hector, a new villain with some menacing plant-based powers, shows up and kicks the heroes out of their home base, Sanctuary. From there, it is up to the player to reunite the scattered cast, make some new allies and foil Hector’s world-conquering ambitions.

The method for doing so is standard Borderlands fare: players will shoot everything between them and victory, looting tougher enemies for even bigger and better guns. The core gameplay loop found in Borderlands 2 remains immensely satisfying, and the introduction of a new loot tier above legendary, an increased level cap and a few new areas to explore will give even veteran players much more to do.

The new enemies introduced come in two forms: plant-based mutations of existing foes and New Pandora soldiers. Of the two, the mutated plant monsters are more interesting to look at, if only slightly more taxing to fight than normal enemies. New Pandora enemies are tougher, but some of their variants, like a powerful sniper with a cloaking ability, skew more irritating than legitimately challenging.

The main story is quite lengthy, clocking in at around seven hours. Plenty of worthwhile side missions lengthen the experience even more, and these missions are often even better than the main campaign.

Borderlands has always bounced between very different tones, sometimes poorly, but this expansion just about nails it. A fallen character’s ridiculous prerecorded will turns into a touching eulogy. A hit list ends in a celebration of a main character’s sobriety. Even Tiny Tina, a character often derided as an example of Borderlands at its groan-worthy, meme-fueled worst, gets moments of genuine humor and pathos. While this expansion undoubtedly exists to set up more Borderlands adventures, it also serves as an affecting conclusion to several years-long, multi-game character arcs.

Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary is an easy recommendation for any Borderlands fan, new, lapsed or otherwise. This DLC is free until July 8, but even after it gains a $15 price point, it is still worth the price of admission.

Some gripes about the new enemies aside, this is a strong note on which to end this long chapter of the Borderlands story.