These Side Activities In Video Games Will Distract You From The Main Quest

A game’s main quest is its core, but a lot of games build around that center with robust side quests and activities, puzzles, and collectibles. When players get tired of following the golden thread, it’s nice to have the option to take a break and do something completely different for a while, either to level up, get different gear, or just to experience another part of the world’s lore.

6 Most Relaxing Side Activities In Open-World Games

When players get worn out by the intensity of an open-world story campaign, these relaxing side activities are there to give them a break.

In the following games, the main quest isn’t necessarily bad, but they definitely have side activities that often feel more memorable. For the sake of variety, side activities here mean not just side quests, but also any puzzles, secrets, mini-games, and collectibles that players can find while freely exploring the world.

Hogwarts Legacy

Brilliant Side Character Quests, Puzzles, And More

Hogwarts Legacy’s main quest is fine, but some of the quests related to the notable side characters are simply far more engaging than fighting Ranrok and his lapdogs. Poppy Sweeting’s quest, focused on fantastic beasts and their treatment, and Sebastian Sallow’s controversial dive into Unforgivable Curses, are genuinely well-written side stories that will have players hungering for more. There are also various side quests given by teachers, which is a nice, immersive addition to make you truly feel like a student of Hogwarts.

There are also countless puzzles, such as the Merlin Trials, that are scattered around the world, ready for players to bash their heads against. And as always, collectibles. There are over a thousand of them in the game, which is impressive to say the least. It’s a shame that Quidditch wasn’t shipped in the game, but became its own, separate thing with Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions.

A Weak Main Quest, Brilliant Side Quests

Skyrim is usually the main example given of games where the main quest drags, but the side content fully makes up for it. Becoming a member of the Dark Brotherhood or the Thieves Guild will open up some of the longer side quests in the game (especially the latter), but you don’t need to join a faction to be entertained. The various Daedric quests are dark, funny, and gritty, varying from “a new hand touches the beacon!” to a talking dog.

Great Games Where Your Decisions Truly Matter

The following games stand out for forcing players to make tough decisions that can drastically change the story.

On top of quests, players can also build a house in Hearthfire, get married, and go fishing, provided they have the right DLCs and upgrades included. In many ways, Skyrim has turned into a cozy, near-simulation game where finishing the main quest as the Dragonborn is more of a suggestion than a necessity.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

The Road To Arx Is Long, But The Side Activities Make It Worth It

Larian Studios has always delivered excellent writing and storytelling, and Divinity: Original Sin 2 is no different. The main story is long and windy, and it can get a bit heavy towards the end as players enter the final area of the game. Luckily, each act has its fair share of side content ranging from full-blown quests to mini-puzzles.

In true Larian Studios fashion, it will take creativity and ingenuity to figure out why the pigs are burning, or how to turn two unfortunate cows back into humans. The companions also all have their unique stories that weave partly into the main quest. Lohse’s tale on demonic possession is dark and urgent, while Fane’s backstory is relevant to the whole world’s lore. While it’s recommended to try and finish all the side activities in each area to maximize leveling, these quests also present some of the toughest challenges in the game (like Alice Alisceon), a nice break from the epic main tale.

Mass Effect Trilogy

Amazing Main Story, Even Better Side Quests

No one can deny that the Mass Effect trilogy has an amazing overarching story that will have players on the edge of their seats. Seeing the same Shepherd through three different games, with both returning and new characters, is an experience few games have been able to replicate.

That being said, and perhaps this is a controversial statement, the side missions and DLCs have some of the strongest content in the game. The Shadow Broker content in Mass Effect 2 with Liara is fantastic, and who could forget that epic race to stop Shepard’s clone in Mass Effect 3? Yes, the main quest is fantastic, but it’s these moments that make Shepard and their crew feel real. Better yet, each choice will have ripples down the line when it comes to the main quest and the state of the world.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Gwent And Side Quests Are Highly Distracting (In A Good Way)

There’s no shortage of things to do in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Between finding Ciri and various side quests ranging from dark to not so dark (like Geralt participating in a play), you get to decide just how seriously you take your duties as a Witcher.

Longest Open-World Games

Even the most sophisticated gamer will be bewildered by the sheer scale of these games. These are the open-world games that take the longest to beat.

It’s not just the robust DLC content and lengthy side stories that shine, but Gwent as well. In fact, Gwent became such a success that it has become its own separate card game from The Witcher 3. And if cards aren’t your cup of tea, there are characters to romance, brawls to partake in, monster nests to clear out, crafting diagrams to hunt down, and horse races to attend. Geralt won’t be bored any time soon.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Why Complete The Main Quest When You Could Play Tennis?

GTA 5 is a game that shines because of how fun it is simply to explore and mess around in Los Santos. Sure, the story is okay, but it’s not the main event. The open world is brimming with potential for chaos and fun, as well as many side missions, for those who can’t be bothered to follow the golden thread of the main story.

There are action-packed repeatable missions that come with solid payouts, like the armored van heists, but also more relaxed activities like tennis, golf, or darts if you’ve had too much of shooting and running around. Buy a house, head to the bar, watch a movie at the cinema, or center your chakra flow by performing a few yoga poses. The sky’s the limit in GTA 5.

Cyberpunk 2077

Attend Dates, Do Mercenary Work, Uncover Johnny’s Past, And More

In terms of vibes, Cyberpunk 2077 shares a lot of that similar, chaotic energy as GTA 5 does. While it does have a really solid main story with incredibly emotional moments, the game has a lot more to offer than that. V is a mercenary, as fixers offer near-unlimited dirty work across Night City for easy money.

Later updates also introduced hangouts with characters you’ve romanced at your house, and you can catch up with Panam, River, Judy, or Kerry by hitting them up on a holocall. Alternatively, there’s a whole side quest that uncovers bits of Johnny’s past, and if that isn’t enough, why not take a ride on Pacifica’s roller coaster or find a Joytoy in Jig-Jig Street? Or perhaps see how long you can survive against MaxTac. If all else fails, there’s also tarot cards to collect and guided meditation braindances to calm you down after a long day of slaying gangoons.