I’m late to the party on this one, but Horizon Zero Dawn is a game unlike any other.

I’ve recently completed the main quest and am about to go through the Frozen Wilds DLC. As I was about to head off to the Frozen Wilds, I decided to go back and do some side quests to try to recruit more characters for the final battle.

That effort has only enhanced my view of the game and really put it on a new level.

The main story has such a refreshing take on a post-apocalyptic world and each twist than came was always a fun ride. While Aloy takes center stage in Horizon Zero Dawn, the world and its inhabitants are just as compelling.

I discovered this through the side quests and that’s led me to the conclusion of Horizon Zero Dawn ranking among the best in side content. This is largely because, at their best, these side quests tell compelling stories about characters and the world.

Both the Queen’s Gambit and Traitor’s Bounty quests stand out. The two are connected with Traitor’s Bounty focusing on Ulthid while Queen’s Gambit has you helping Vanasha.

By the end of each quest, I felt connected to each character and learned quite a bit more lore about the Carja. On top of that, the gameplay was fun and challenging.

Another quest I particularly enjoyed was Sun and Shadow, which centered on Aloy’s search for Elida. This was a particularly compelling mission because it touched on some heavy themes as well as forbidden love.

These types of side quests really fleshed out the world of Horizon Zero Dawn and made it feel living. That’s what good side quests can and should do.

Another good example of this is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. While not as good as Horizon Zero Dawn, Tears of the Kingdom does a great job at using its side quests to build out its massive world.

The best examples of this is the Master Kohga side quest along with the Great Fairies/Musicians and all of Penn’s quests. Each one really builds out the characters in the world and helps you feel more connected to Hyrule.

With Horizon Zero Dawn nearing its end, I’ll likely turn my sights to Horizon Forbidden West in the near future. That said, I will always look fondly back on my time with Zero Dawn thanks in large part to its side quests.

But what do you think? Which game has the best side quests? Did you enjoy the side quests in Horizon Zero Dawn? Which was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.

Featured Image: Guerilla Games (via British GQ)

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