5 Games With Side Quests So Good, You’ll Forget About the Main Story

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A great story is often the heart of a fantastic single-player game. Recent hits like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Baldur’s Gate 3 prove how important a compelling narrative can be. But beyond the main story, many players also enjoy engaging side quests. Some of us even prioritize them, sometimes losing track of the main storyline altogether! I believe the truly exceptional games create side quests that are so interesting, you might even forget you had a main story to finish.

I’ve always loved games with lots of interesting side quests. While I enjoy completing the main story, I really appreciate having a long list of optional things to do. These side quests add hours of extra gameplay and often enrich the game’s story and world. In fact, these 5 games have such compelling side content that it’s easy to get distracted from the main goal – like saving the world or defeating a dragon!

5) Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Before the critically acclaimed Spider-Man games from Insomniac, there were games based on the early 2000s movies. I especially remember Spider-Man 2. It was one of the first open-world games I ever played, and I loved how you could stumble upon different events while swinging around its New York City. Everything from rescuing a kid’s balloon to foiling robberies and even delivering pizzas made the game really engaging and replayable.

I still vividly remember the side missions in Spider-Man 2, especially the seemingly simple task of delivering pizzas – I think about it more than I probably should! The game’s main story closely followed the Tobey Maguire film, with a few added scenes and villains. It was a fantastic experience thanks to the voice actors from the movie and Bruce Campbell’s excellent narration. However, the funniest lines and most fun moments were definitely found in those side quests.

4) The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

While Breath of the Wild is often praised for its side quests, Majora’s Mask also offers a wealth of compelling optional content. Many of these quests are linked together and involve the residents of Termina, who are facing an impending disaster. These side stories not only add extra gameplay, but also deepen the emotional impact of the game’s main narrative.

The side quests in Majora’s Mask largely involve helping the people of Termina, a parallel world to Hyrule. These quests range from short, sweet adventures – like teaching someone to dance or writing a song – to longer, more involved stories such as those with Anju & Kafei or finding The Gilded Sword. Many of them also reward you with new Masks. In fact, these side quests are arguably the most meaningful part of the game, giving players a strong emotional connection and a greater desire to save Termina from impending doom.

3) Baldur’s Gate 3

Okay, so I’m totally hooked on Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s HUGE. Honestly, it’s one of those games where it’s hard to even tell what’s the main story and what’s a side quest. A lot of the game feels like a massive tangle of side stuff that actually changes how the main story plays out, which is awesome. Every time I play, it feels totally different, and that’s a big part of why I love it. There are so many moments you can miss that actually matter, and tons of smaller quests to dive into as you explore the world. Seriously, Larian really nailed this RPG.

Baldur’s Gate 3 has a sprawling story with so many characters that it’s hard to tell where the main plot ends and side quests begin. Every choice and action feels like it contributes to the overall narrative. Moments that would typically be considered side quests – like saving an Owlbear cub or lifting a curse – are surprisingly impactful. These optional experiences are also easily overlooked, meaning you can spend hours exploring the world without even realizing you’re missing key content, and potentially not reach the final act.

2) The Witcher 3

Besides being one of the very best RPGs available, The Witcher 3 is famous for having incredibly engaging side quests. The game features a huge number of these optional missions, and many players actually find them more captivating than the main storyline, often leading them to spend more time on these side adventures.

As a huge fan of The Witcher 3, I’m always amazed by how much depth the side quests have. They aren’t just simple ‘go fetch’ tasks – each one feels like a little story on its own, and they really add to the world’s lore. Even though you don’t need to do them to finish the main game, they enrich the whole experience. Honestly, I love getting lost in those side stories and tying up all the loose ends. Whether you’re a completionist like me or not, exploring beyond the main path in The Witcher 3 is totally worth it.

1) Skyrim

Bethesda is known for creating fantastic side quests in their role-playing games, like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Skyrim really stands out, though, with a huge world filled with strange and interesting optional adventures. There’s so much to discover that many players get sidetracked and never finish the main story. Honestly, some of these side quests are better than the main questline itself!

Honestly, one of the best things about Skyrim is just getting totally sidetracked. I mean, I love stumbling across random quests and just getting lost in all the extra stuff to do. And the DLC? Even more content! It’s seriously one of those RPGs with endless side quests. You can spend hours dealing with everything from creepy nightmares to weird mysteries, or even just helping people with their drama, all without even touching the main storyline. And let’s be real, most of us want it that way!

What game boasts the most unforgettable side quests? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-04-21 23:12