Most modern games that aim to be epic narrative-driven RPGs spend a bulk of time adding as much content into their worlds as possible to keep players occupied for hundreds of hours. This has become especially impressive with the prominence that certain studios place in the side content of their game, letting players go through totally optional adventures that end up being the best part of the experience for many.
This reaches a point where certain side missions that players can totally ignore have such a massive impact that it dwarfs the main quest in terms of sheer enjoyment. These instances have occurred pretty frequently, with the most notable instances of the bunch being mentioned below.
8 Return To Crookback Bog – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a game that needs no introduction. It's easily the most popular and successful game CD Projekt Red has ever published, capping off Geralt's epic journey across all three games on a high note and putting the studio on the map as one of the most respected developers around.
The game was known for being filled to the brim with memorable side quests that almost eclipsed the main story in terms of overall quality. A great example of this is the Bloody Baron's questline that ends with "Return to Crookback Bog." This character is easily one of the most complex individuals in the game, and seeing his storyline to the end is a wild and memorable ride indeed.
7 A Night To Remember – The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Some of the most memorable quests in Skyrim truly take the player by surprise and send them down a wild adventure. This is precisely the case with "A Night to Remember," which will send players to an entirely different corner of the map before forcing them to retrace their footsteps.
It's a great quest that lets players explore the world of Skyrim in a way that they never expected, serving as a great break to take in between the relentless exploring. Fans of Skyrim know that the main quest is as generous as can be, so the variety of memorable side quests in the game is very much appreciated.
6 Beyond The Beef – Fallout: New Vegas
Most people would be up in arms at the idea that Fallout New Vegas' main storyline isn't as compelling as most people would want. This is a bold claim, although some people might agree that the story might end up taking a backseat to the side content for so long that most people just naturally stop being invested in the proceedings.
For players who want a shorter and more contained storyline to explore in the game, there's no better alternative than "Beyond the Beef." This amazing side quest sees players deal with everything from corrupt barons to cannibals, with each twist in the tale being absolutely brilliant.
5 Next To Godliness – Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Most people wouldn't expect Kingdom Come: Deliverance to be as great as it was upon release. For their first title, Warhorse Studios has done a truly impressive job of crafting an incredible medieval open-world game where the sense of progression is extremely palpable.
The heart of this game is definitely its wide cast of brilliant characters, with Hans Capon being a pretty solid mention. This character seems like nothing more than a cliched pompous noble who couldn't bother to acknowledge anyone of a lower status than him, only to slowly evolve into one of Henry's best friends over the course of the game.
4 Pisces – Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is another game where CD Projekt Red shows just how great their quest design really is. The main quest feels almost threadbare compared to the effort put into the many side quests that players can engage with in Cyberpunk 2077.
One of the best side jobs in the game is "Pisces," where players are tasked with killing the leaders of the Tyger Claws and taking over Clouds. However, the player can also side with the Tyger Claws or Maiko, which can cause a serious rift in their relationship with Judy.
3 Oasis – Fallout 3
The first-ever 3D open-world Fallout game was nothing short of a massive success, despite the obvious hit that Fallout 3 took when it came to the writing department. What really helped the game was its massive world that was filled to the brim with fun locations to explore and great side quests to complete.
One such quest took place in the town of Oasis, where players need to decide the fate of a mutant who has evolved into a stationary tree and wishes for death, while his worshippers want to use him for their own agendas. Regardless of what path players take in this quest, it'll have a substantial impact on them for quite some time indeed.
2 Tali: Treason – Mass Effect 2
Tali's character was pretty intriguing in the first Mass Effect title as is. However, it's the massive steps taken by BioWare in the second game that makes Tali one of the best characters this studio has ever written.
Her companion quest sees players fighting to clear her name after she's wrongfully accused of treason by the Quarian Fleet. The events that take place hereafter are pretty action-packed and shed great light on Tali's nuances as a character.
1 Whodunit – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls games are known for their brilliant Dark Brotherhood quests, which end up being the highlight of these titles in some form or the other. Oblivion is no exception to this golden rule, with the Dark Brotherhood being a ton of fun in this game like always.
One of the better quests players take part in as a member of the Dark Brotherhood is "Whodunit." It's a unique quest where players need to kill five people within a locked house, with covert and secretive assassins getting a bonus if no one figures out that they're the killer.