Highlights
- Some of the most memorable side quests include A Gift From The Monks in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild , Alexander's Quest in Elden Ring , and The Suspicious Beggar in Bloodborne .
- These side quests often involve solving puzzles, assisting NPCs, or engaging in challenging battles, and offer unique rewards such as powerful armor or rare items.
Side quests have been around video games to add more immersion for players as they explore every nook and cranny the game they’re playing has to offer. Some developers hide their side quests for those gamers who are exceptional at discovering any and all secrets of whatever game they are playing.
Finding these side quests fun, and completing it gives gamers that sense of fulfillment similar to unearthing a secret and either keeping to one’s self or sharing it to the world. But which hidden side quests are the best? Here are some of the most memorable side quests that are worth completing:
10 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, A Gift From The Monks
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is filled with tons of side quests that will make players zip around and explore the many biomes in Hyrule. The A Gift From The Monks side quest is a long side quest that involves accessing and solving all 120 Ancient Shrines littered around Hyrule in the base game.
Each Ancient Shrine in Breath of the Wild has a mini-puzzle or battle which Link needs to solve and accomplish with the help of his Runes and weapons. Finishing all the Shrines will lead players to the Forgotten Temple where the Hero of the Wild armor set awaits.
9 Elden Ring, Alexander’s Quest
Elden Ring has tons of side quests that are waiting for players to discover. Such is the case of Iron Fist Alexander. He is a large living jar that players will encounter along the Weeping Peninsula, and one of the many unmarked quests in Elden Ring.
In order to progress his side quest, players have to assist him whenever they see him in the open world: Alexander is usually stuck on the ground, and needs help to get unstuck. Encounter and interact with him a couple of times, and eventually players will have to face him one last time near the end of the game, as he is looking for a warrior’s duel.
8 Bloodborne, The Suspicious Beggar
As Hunters explore the city of Yharnam’s nooks and crannies in Bloodborne, they encounter various NPCs that can be rescued and safely housed in the Oedon Chapel. But not everyone in Yharnam needs saving: the Suspicious Beggar is a peculiar NPC that is looking for safe haven.
However, when players encounter him, he is hunched over a number of fresh corpses. When talked to, the Beggar will ask where he can go with other survivors. Players can direct him to the Oedon Chapel, where he will eventually murder the survivors, or attack him straight up, revealing his true form.
7 Ghost of Tsushima, The Six Blades Of Kojiro
Ghost of Tsushima expertly provides players with the experience of being a wandering samurai. As players travel around the magnificent island, they will encounter various ronin that are more powerful than the common band of brigands and bandits.
After defeating one of these ronin in Ghost of Tsushima, players will begin The Six Blades of Kojiro side quest. Players have to search for the location of the remaining ronin and best them in duels. Each ronin has a specific sword style and are more ruthless: knowing which stances are effective against them is essential to defeating them. Completing this side quest rewards players with the Kensei Armor that bolsters Ghost weapons.
6 Nier: Automata, Emil’s Memories
Nier: Automata has a slew of quirky and memorable NPCs, one of which is Emil. Emil is a moving cart with a round smiling head who also operates a roving store. Players who encounter Emil can purchase various items from him, and eventually, Emil will mention that he is looking for a flower called the Lunar Tear as it triggers his fractured memories.
After a long-winded side quest in Nier: Automata involving upgrading all available weapons to max level and looking for Emil’s clones, players will have to defeat said clones which are considered to be the toughest optional boss in the game.
5 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Getting the Return Ending
One of the more obscure side quests in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is obtaining the Return ending. Players will have to do specific tasks in order to get this true ending. This includes obtaining seemingly unrelated items, going back and forth between key NPCs, consuming and giving specific items to NPCs, defeating bosses, and choosing the correct prompt after defeating the final boss.
Keep in mind that the abbreviated tasks mentioned above are not clearly stated in the game, and would have to be researched to get the order of things correctly. Players who manage to complete these tasks are rewarded with the game’s true ending.
4 Red Dead Redemption 2, The Veteran Stranger
There are tons of side quests in Red Dead Redemption 2 that can be considered the best ones. The Veteran Stranger Mission has to be added since it gives further character development for Arthur as well as introduces a fleshed-out NPC. This quest involves Arthur speaking with Hamish Sinclair, who asks him to help retrieve his prized horse, Buell, who took his wooden leg.
After corralling Buell, players can go back to Hamish for more missions to complete. Once all of Hamish’s missions are done, players will be rewarded with Buell, a rare horse in the game.
3 Fallout 4, The Silver Shroud
The Silver Shroud side quest in Fallout 4 is a memorable one since starting this mission requires players to listen to the Silver Shroud show on the radio. After talking to Kent Connolly, players will be directed to go to Hubris Comics to retrieve The Silver Shroud and hat.
From there, players will have to acquire the Silver Shroud script and weapon to begin reliving the escapades of the titular superhero in the Fallout setting. After completing this side quest, players receive the Silver Shroud costume, its upgrades and weapon as their reward.
2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: Equine Phantoms
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’sBlood and Wine DLC mixes both serious and wacky side quests for players to enjoy when they are not progressing through the main story. One of the more hilarious side quests in The Witcher 3 is Equine Phantoms.
Geralt needs to drink a brew from a hermit NPC who says is being hunted by a demon and can only be tracked after consuming the concoction. Once players drink the brew, for some reason, they can now talk with Roach, their trusted mare, as well as other animals to further the investigation. This one is a memorable side quest because it is the first time Geralt can converse with Roach.
1 Skyrim: The Mind of Madness
Searching for the Daedric artifacts in Skyrim is a long but memorable side quest to accomplish. One of the more notable artifacts that players can acquire is the Wabbajack from Sheogorath. To get the dastardly staff, players need to complete The Mind of Madness side quest.
After talking to a beggar in Solitude and getting into the Blue Palace, players will be whisked into Pelagius’ mind: there, players will find Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness. He is seated at a dining table similar to Alice in Wonderland, and tasks players to “cure” Pelagius of his “illnesses”. Sheogorath will be commenting throughout the quest as players strive to complete the challenges: the Daedric Prince rewards players with the Wabbajack, a powerful staff that can polymorph targets at will, upon finishing the quest.