
If you've played a handful of video games, chances are you've lost yourself in the side content more often than the main game.
Sidequests are a procrastinator's dream. Don't want to finish the main story? Worried about missing some fantastic rewards or lore dumps? Well, thank goodness there are tons of people across the world that need help rescuing their pets, doing their shopping, or trying to tell their neighbour that they're in love with them.
You can't be a hero without helping a few people along the way, and so, with the help of the lovely Nintendo Life readers, we've compiled a list of the very best sidequests you can experience on the Switch.
To put a definition to that term, sidequests are optional quests that are not required to beta the game — so, while storylines such as Kasumi's Social Link in Persona 5 Royal (which is required for the extra plot added in the rerelease) and Michelle and Kai in Dragon Quest XI (an incredible questline which is actually part of the main story) aren't included here.
We may well return to this piece at a later date — after all, Xenoblade Chronicles X is on the horizon — so let us know if you think we've missed any superstar side content in the comments.
From the Ground Up - Tarrey Town (Breath of the Wild)
When Breath of the Wild gave me the chance to buy a house, I stumbled over my own feet. Of course we want to own property in this beautiful new version of Hyrule. Then, just one quest later, I was thrilled to be given a bigger task — I could help to build an entire town.
From the Ground Up is the quest that kicks off this chain of events, which sees you team up with Hudson (of Bolson Construction) to build a village. Over the course of the quest, you need to collect wood and materials, and gather up helping hands from across all of the villages in the land. As the town expands and the music changes, there's a real sense of relief and progress. And it's all topped off with a heartwarming wedding. Breath of the WIld is a special game, but it's a true testament to this quest that it stands out among the many, many other moments.
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Cyan's Nightmare (Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster)
No one should have to experience what Cyan goes through in Final Fantasy VI. He loses his wife, child, and the entire kingdom of Doma to Kefka, who mercilessly poisons the water supply — one of the most evil acts of the entire game. And yet Cyan still pushes on, struggles against all odds to save the world and keep hope alive.
In the World of Ruin, sleeping in Doma will unlock the Dreamscape dungeon, which is a dreamlike manifestation of Cyan's memories. You have to relive moments of his trauma and defeat the Wrexsoul possessing Cyan's spirit. Doing this helps the bushido come to terms with himself, and he rejoins the party with renewed vigor. As a character with an already standout development arc, Cyan's final chance here is beautiful — a moment of relief and reprieve, and it pushes him to fight for a better world again.
Amnesia (NieR:Automata)
What can I say about NieR:Automata's sidequests? Just like the main story, every single sidequest puts you through moments of beauty, joy, pain, and loss. There's a mix of hopelessness and hopefulness that forces you to experience every aspect of the human condition. From Emil's Memories to The Wandering Couple, rarely can you predict what's going to happen.
Despite having eaten fish and defeating a robot dojo master, I wasn't prepared for Amnesia. Only doable during 9S'ss route, Amnesia sees you helping a Resistance Member to find out who murdered her friend. And my goodness. Whatever you want to happen, whatever sliver of hope you want to see at the end of this quest, put it to one side. Amnesia is one of the most devastating questlines I've ever played through. I won't say anything else — you have to experience this for yourself.
Rebuilding Colony 6 (Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition)
Before Tarrey Town, there was Colony 6. Xenoblade Chronicles' game-spanning quest sees you slowly rebuild and restore Colony 6, which has been raided and destroyed by the Mechon prior to the events of the game. It's as simple as collecting materials throughout the game (and having enough money) and delivering to the reconstruction efforts.
While the rewards are worth it, the true magic is seeing the community reunite as people flock to the Colony to help rebuild it and, ultimately, make a life there. Characters you meet during the story will take a shine to the place, and eventually, business start thriving. And you get to see the town go from rubble to a thriving location, and that alone is worth the time and effort it takes to bring the town back to life. Rebuilding your life and community are key to the Xenoblade series, for me — but thank goodness Definitive Edition makes this quest much easier.
Anju & Kafei Quest (Majora's Mask)
Zelda gets a lot of love on this list, and with good reason. But while modern Zelda is the clear standout, Majora's Mask takes the credit for having some of the best Zelda sidequests of all time. The inhabitants of Clock Town and their human struggle makes Majora's Mask for me. And no more is the game's philosophy captured better than through Anju & Kafei.
The doomed lovers' story evolves over the whole three-day, time loop period of Majora's Mask, and as long as you follow through with the events of the quest, you can grant these two the hope and joy they truly deserve. Link can defy fate for these people, and in turn, it makes an otherwise bittersweet quest end on a beautiful note.
Investigate the Doomed Commercial Area (Disco Elysium)
Good lord, I could easily put every single quest from Disco Elysium here. Who doesn't want to build a nightclub in the middle of a church? Is that traffic jam really as simple as it seems? What about Harry's desperate attempts to sing Karaoke, where he can then attest his appreciation for all-around good boy Kim Katsuragi?
But I'm a disaster detective, after all, so the Doomed Commercial Area quickly became one of my favourite activities in the game. Ignoring Plaisance's ridiculous levels of superstition will lead you to an entire new section of Martinaise. Stumble through a gym, unplug a fridge, meet a dice maker, and uncover the story behind Fortress Accident. It's a microcosm of the beautiful, messed-up tapestry of the town, and interlinks with the game's many incredible storylines, enriching the world and its characters perfectly.
Return to Crookback Bog (The Witcher 3)
There are many reasons that The Witcher 3 is heralded as the gold standard for sidequests, and picking just one was impossible. But as much as we resisted, we really had to go with the obvious one here. The Bloody Baron is a pivotal character in the early stages of Geralt of Rivia's adventure, and after telling The Witcher everything he knows about Ciri, he asks for help in saving his wife and daughter.
Choosing to follow the Baron to Crookback Bog will unravel mysteries about the Ladies of the Wood, the Baron's wife, and a host of orphans — and their lives are in your hands. All of them. There are no easy decisions, not black and white villains or heroes; this is a masterclass in quest design, choice-driven narrative, and emotional payoff.
Olimar's Shipwreck Tale (Pikmin 4)
Gavin swings into Alana's article...
Having wrapped up the main game, I launched straight into Olimar's Shipwreck Tale with a certain cockiness. After an interminably slow, tutorial-laden opening, I'd burned through Pikmin 4, adored it, and felt I was pretty proficient, so I fired up this extra quest without worrying much. I was busy opening paths and making slow-and-steady progress, but around day seven I realised I was way below the two-per-day ship part average I needed to repair the S.S. Dolphin before the 15 days were up.
Getting out of this bind meant strategising to the absolute max and making use of every. single. second. And I squeaked it, finding all 30 parts and wrapping up one of the most exhilarating (and nail-biting) adventures I've had in a Pikmin game.
Aaaand he's off again!
The Madonna of Sasau (Kingdom Come Deliverance)
With the sequel on the horizon (perhaps we'll see it on Switch 2 eventually?), it's time to sing the praises of Kingdom Come Deliverance's worldbuilding and sidequests. The Madonna of Sasau, which was added through the four DLC pack, A Woman's Lot, is an easy highlight, examining the Sasau Monastery and the character of Johanka.
This quest can take some dark turns as you attempt to help Johanka with her dreams, which involve the Virgin Mary. The quest is an examination of religion and morality and is heavily dependent on your choices. Getting the best possible ending requires taking specific steps, and depending on how things play out, you can either be heartbroken or relieved. The Madonna of Sasau runs the full gamut of emotions, and is quite possibly the best part of Kingdom Come Deliverance.
Daniela (Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia)
The Castlevania series isn't really known for sidequests, but Order of Ecclesia bucks the trend in many different ways. In fact, populating the village of Wygol in and of itself is a great quest that requires you to seek out missing residents, but Daniela might be my favourite villager.
Once you save Daniela from the Giant's Dwelling, she'll want Shanoa to help restore her memories. To do this, you need to revisit a handful of locations and draw them in Daniela's sketchbook. For series fans in particular, Daniela's story adds to the Castlevania lore in a fun way. Also, she has a pet cat called Ink, which is just perfect. Thank goodness for the Dominus Collection for letting me replay this gem on Switch.
Chocobo Hot & Cold (Final Fantasy IX)
Whenever I replay Final Fantasy IX, I'm not simply just excited to re-experience my favourite Final Fantasy story with my favourite Final Fantasy characters, oh no. I'm also excited to spend time with everyone's favourite yellow bird, Choco the Chocobo.
Chocobo Hot & Cold is part digging minigame, part GeoGuessr, and part adorable quest to guide Choco to Chocobo Paradise, this long quest is stuffed full of rewards, and also leads to some of the game's greatest challenges (I see you, Ozma). It's the least narrative-heavy quest here, but it's a sheer delight to play through every single time. Even if I keep missing the correct dig spot in Chocobo Forest by mere inches.
Under Suspicion (Yakuza Kiwami)
The Yakuza/Like A Dragon series is defined by its side content, but the Switch has been lacking a considerable amount of Kazuma Kiryu. At least until last year's Yakuza Kiwami port. There may be no Cabaret Club or Real Estate management, but there are plenty of other bonkers sub-stories.
Under Suspicion is a pretty good summary of what to expect from Yakuza in general — weird. Picking up a bag for a suspicious man, who insists you shouldn't look inside, is anything but innocent. But not in the way you might expect, particularly if you've never played these games. If you do look, well, you're in for a shock — and some docked pay. If you don't, take the money and remain blissfully ignorant.
Finding the 28 Unown (Pokémon Legends: Arceus)
Catching 'em all is the thesis of Pokémon. But often, that task is pretty daunting. Especially if you're like me, a collector who grew up playing collectathon platformers and who wants to catch everything. No way I have the time to catch 800 'mons anymore! Legends: Arceus makes that task easier, but there's also a smaller task you can take on to fill out that Pokédex.
So, who tried to catch all of the Unown in Gold & Silver? How about, rather than leaving it to chance to get the 'I' or the 'X', finding all 28 different 'symbols' of Unown in the wild? Finding all of them takes advantage of Hisui's map and exploration, and rewards you with the chance of catching a shiny Unown, the modern Pokémon fan's dream. It's a fun little quest that encourages you to dig deep across the regions of Hisui.
An Off-Seer's Anguish (Xenoblade Chronicles 3)
Xenoblade Chronicles 3, more than any other game in the series, is about the cycle of life and death. Off-Seers — the role of Noah & Mio for their respective nations — are vital to this cycle, sending off the souls of the deceased by playing music. Noah, in particular, takes this role seriously despite his doubts about the conflict that Aionios is wrapped up in.
Which makes him the perfect lead for An Off-Seer's Anguish, which examines the burden of being thrust into this role through Url, a young boy who struggles to send the souls. Searching across Millick Meadow and Alfeto Valley for the boy, Noah decides to help Url tap into his emotions and help him come to terms with his role. It's a short, sweet, and lovely quest, one that understands the humanity of the characters of Aionios, and give more context for the lives and struggles of the people living there.
Potential Princess Sightings (Tears of the Kingdom)
I think Tears of the Kingdom does sidequests a little better than its predecessor. I know, that's a dangerous thing to say. Especially given that some of the best — like Mattison's Independence and Master Kohga's quest — are reliant on having played BOTW for impact.
But I'm a sucker for stories that span the "globe" (or, in this case, Hyrule), so Potential Princess Sightings and its 12 interlinking quests stand out. Link becomes an investigative reported at the Lucky Clover Gazette and, along with new fan favourite Penn, follow various leads on Zelda's current whereabouts. Of course, all of these leads are false, but it allows us to view Hyrule in a new light, understand the press system, and fall in love with Penn and his antics.
We're only picking one sidequest per game, so there's bound to be other ones we've missed. Let us know your favourites by voting in our poll and sharing your thoughts in the comments below!
Comments 35
Ending Majora's Mask just doesn't feel right without beating all four temple bosses and doing the Anju and Kafei quest in its entirety during the final cycle.
@Splash_Woman I came here to say the same thing.
Now I need to play Majora's Mask again...
Solid list. I struggled with picking only 1 option but in the end I went with Majora's Mask. A superb quest that spams the entire in game 3 days and leaves you (at least) a little emotional to the fictional people's anguish and hopes in a doomed world.
Olimar's Shipwreck Tale is surprisingly really good considering it's an optional side thing you get just by talking to Olimar
I do definitely like the TOTK one, especially because you get the Froggy Armor, which increases slip resistance while climbing; and once you upgrade the set by two levels, it makes you slip-proof, meaning you will never slip while climbing in the rain again. It's basically the most practical of payoffs for the sidequests in the game, even though building Tarrey Town in BOTW is more emotionally satisfying (especially with the wedding).
I love an early sidequest in Chained Echoes, the awesome indie RPG.
In the first playable map, a lush green valley called Rohlan Fields, we meet a fella named Don Q., who claims he was attacked by a monster, but all you see are windmills, one with a broken wheel.
You might think from the name you know where this is going, but... he's not crazy: the windmill with the busted wheel is a Mimic!
Mine is the casino sidequest in Super Mario RPG, has been since the SNES days.
Not reading the article fully as there are several games listed that I haven't played yet but still, overall great picks - if I have to choose only one then like others here I can't help but go with Anju & Kafei!
I didn't fully read the article since I haven't played some of the games listed that I'm interested in yet - such as NieR: Automata - but I went with From the Ground Up in BotW in the poll. It was so satisfying to completely build up the town and recruit all the townsfolk. Then it all culminates in a wedding. I got a kick from returning to the area in TotK and seeing that, yes, everyone did grow and change. Which led into one of my favorite TotK quests: Mattison's Independence.
The Anju and Kafei quest in Majora's Mask is a close second, though I've only played MM 3D and don't have the NSO expansion pack.
I guess I don't do play a lot of games with sidequests and even then I don't do a lot of sidequests. However my favorite might have to be the Scientology sidequest in GTA5. Kifflom!
Shoutout to "Fear For The Children" in Ghostwire: Tokyo. Just played it and it turned the game horror for an hour or so. Love it.
I'd have to say Cyan's. Kefka was a hulluva evil character, and what he did to Cyan's life was unforgivable. I already loved Cyan, so when he could cleanse himself figuratively and literally of what weighed him down, only to become even more bad ass, then it was all worth it. Quadtech for the win.
@MeloMan I think between this and catfishing the Lola (from his hideoutin Zozo?), he's got the most tragic and interesting story of the cast. It's a shame his sword tech is just super impractical for the ATB system anywhere after the MagiTek facility.
Many sidequests in The Witcher 3 are better than most of the other quests in video game history.
I am so glad the chose Cyan's nightmare. This was pioneering story telling in a game back then. And my god the theme track from Doma's castle and his side quest. How Squeenix got that music out of the SNES sound chip is nothing short of incredible.
Out of those, definitely Potential Princess Sightings. It's a ton of fun, has you uncovering pockets of the world, and has a reward well worth the effort. Cyan's Nightmare is a close second though. I miss when Square games had that efficiency and effectiveness in their storytelling.
Before Tarrey Town and Colony 6, there was Terranigma's house and town building! The Tarrey Town sidequest was brilliant and gave me big Terranigma vibes.
These polls are good but they’ll likely be skewed in favour of the most popular games as many people will not have played all the titles and therefore vote for the best one they know. The only other way I can think would be for each reader to assign a score to each side quest - much like rating games. This might reduce some of this bias.
@WheresWaveRace Bias is the foundation of the entire endeavor, though.
Like, I totally agree that because people haven't played them all, the most popular game will rise to the top irrespective of the quality of the mission relative to the competition. 100%.
But I don't think the nature of these lists revolves around unobtainable objectivity.
Of course, you're already asking the real question: where's Wave Race? And why have we had to wait 22 years for another 1080?
@Max_the_German this I can totally agree with! Most side quests I completed I just assumed were part of the main game because they were that good! Brilliant brilliant game
@Zaruboggan Wave Race 4. Switch 2 launch window title. It’s happening. (I’m deluded).
There are many fantastic sidequests across all games, this one is a nice collection! From my side, I can say that since Skyrim is on Switch, we have a LOT of great stories from that game alone.
Yakuza - That one where you have to teach a shy girl how to be a better dominatrix.
Also Yakuza - That one where a child asks you to buy them pornography.
Also Yakuza - The one where you have to protect a Michel Jackson impersonator from thugs dressed up like zombies from "Thriller", doing the dance from "Thriller".
Wait, are they from Zero and not Kiwami? I can't remember. If so, they are technically not on Switch yet, but still ... you can just pick any Yakuza quest.
Listen guys, I know we all love Xenoblade Chronicles, but rebuilding colony 6 is horrible.
@cvrator Gotta disagree. The weapon/gem rewards aren’t all that great, but to me it has the same effect as Tarrey Town in that the main reward is the experience of building up a community and seeing it blossom as you progress throughout the game. I honestly wish more RPGs or games in general had quests like this, since they’re the ones where you most tangibly feel like you’re changing the world for the better.
Wait until Yakuza Kiwami 2 comes to Nintendo and you find the "Be My Baby" substory. Under Suspicion has nothing on that.
The series has so many bizzare side quests, it's easy to forget the drama of the main story.
Olimar’s is the only one I’ve played, so I can’t really say which is best
@MonadoBoy The quest itself starts fine, but if I never see another black liver bean again it will be too soon. And if I do ever see one again then I'll be surprised, because they're so freaking rare
Colony 6 is probably my favorite, but Tarrey Town and Princess Sightings were also great. The Baron quest in Witcher 3 is also very good.
Mattison's Independence. I actually played it before i played BotW and it is still my favorite!
@cvrator Lol, fair enough. Pretty stupid they didn’t have an NPC make it tradable in the original. It does get tiring running throughout that titan’s interior. Glad they made it exchangeable for points in the definitive edition.
This definitely isn’t my all-time favorite sidequest, but my favorite one from recent memory is “Retrieve the Confidential Intel” from NieR: AutoMata. Initially, it appears to just be a normal enough mission, but the ending of it is so impactful and bone-chilling.
As much as I want to give it to Tarrey Town a lot of it was wood collecting busywork, my vote goes to Anju & Kafei's because their story is so devastating; even after all the payoff we're reminded that we're still in Majora's Mask, a game about the end of the world.
I just played Return to Crookback Bog, and, while it's a great quest, doesn't really belong on this list. It's a main quest, not a side one.
Out of these options, I gotta go for "Amnesia" in Nier: Automata. Like the article says, it really is emotionally devastating, and it doesn't overstay it's welcome either – the quest ends before you get bored of it. (In fact, I think one of the reasons why the sidequests in Nier: Automata are so highly rated is that almost none of them are overtly long.)
Also, "Amnesia" is an ideal sidequest in that while it isn't mandatory, completing it gives you a better grasp of the main characters and the larger plot of the game. It's not some completely trivial busywork that only rewards with you XP and items, the real reward is a deeper understanding of the game's central themes. That's how all good sidequests should be.
I don’t think you need to worry about revisiting this after Xenoblade Chronicles X releases. Unless you change it to the best 500 side-quests, one or two may squeeze in then.
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