Sidequests

Sidequests are optional tasks in video games that run alongside the main storyline. They provide opportunities for exploration, world-building, character development, and rewards beyond the central plot. While not required to finish the game, well-designed sidequests can deepen immersion by revealing backstory, expanding the game world, or offering alternate outcomes.

Sidequests vary in scope and objective. Common types include fetch quests that require item collection, escort missions, puzzle quests, exploration challenges, combat trials, and reputation or companion quests. They may be linear or open-ended, and rewards can include experience points, new equipment, currency, or lore items. Some sidequests affect the game world or endings, while others are self-contained.

Design considerations for sidequests include balancing their pace with main quest progression, ensuring meaningful rewards, and avoiding repetitive or tedious tasks. Good sidequests typically have clear objectives, engaging characters, and a sense of consequence or discovery. Developers may organize side content around quest hubs, introduce dynamic or procedurally generated tasks, or gate content behind level checks or area access to maintain pacing.

Notable examples often cited for rich sidequest design include The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, The Legend of Zelda series, Skyrim, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Mass Effect. These titles illustrate how sidequests can enhance worldbuilding, offer moral choices, and extend playtime without compromising core narratives.

Criticism of sidequests notes potential downsides such as filler tasks, grindy repetition, or misaligned rewards. Nonetheless, sidequests remain a central feature of many modern games, contributing to player agency, exploration, and extended storytelling.