The main story is always a lot of fun, but it is the side quests that can really make or break your experience with a game.
Sure, a main story is vital to the overall experience, but the side quests help determine your longevity with any given game. Whether you play long after the credits or delay completing the main story, side quests will determine how long you play in each situation.
So what makes a side quest enjoyable enough to prolong your time with a game?
For me, there are several factors. A good side quest should expand the story and help you better appreciate the world without being required. It should also be fun and not feel like a chore.
My favorite types of side quests are story-driven ones. An example of this is for the player to follow a narrative path in completing the storyline.
Horizon Zero Dawn was a game that did this well. In particular, the Queen’s Gambit and Traitor’s Bounty side quests stood out because of their short narratives and deepening of the game’s world and characters.
On the same token, neither or these quests are vital to the story as you’ll understand the ending the same as if you didn’t complete them. Whenever a side quest like this appears, I’m all in.
Fetch quests are often the template for any side adventures and these often get a bad rap. I don’t think they’re all bad, but they definitely can feel like chores.
Final Fantasy XV was an example of fetch quests being rough. I had a hard time participating in the hunts solely because the premise was “kill these monsters to get money.”
That said, fetch quests can be fun. The Legend of Zelda trading quests are examples of this with Ocarina of Time‘s sequence standing out. Sure, the general fetch mechanic was the same but there were just enough wrinkles to make it interesting, often with fun narrative tidbits wrapped into it.
Another area I believe side quests can either exceed or fail are collectibles. For me, I generally really enjoy tracking down a collectible because it helps me better explore the map.
Marvel’s Spider-Man is an example of collectibles I enjoy tracking down. I think this is because there are often other quests associated with these collectibles such as Harry Osborn’s research stations. I also loved tracking down backpacks because of the additional lore you got.
Side quests are a mixed bag. You can either get engaging ones or you can get a grocery list of chores. For me, narrative-driven quests and collectibles tend to be my favorite but I’m a fan of anything that enhances the world.
What about you? What type of side quests are your favorite? What are the kinds you hate? Which game has your favorite side quests? Let us in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.
Featured Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment (via Horizon Wiki)
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