By their very nature, side quests and other non-story-related activities are considered optional, but it doesn't always feel that way in certain video games. Sometimes, developers find a way to weave side content so seamlessly into their games' narratives that failing to complete it all can give players the impression that they're being punished for focusing only on the main story.
Whether it's a case of side content making main story content much easier through its completion or players being given unique rewards that can completely transform the gameplay experience, there are times when skipping side quests really is ill-advised. There are plenty of games that punish players for ignoring side content, the most notable of which can be found in the article below.
Grand Theft Auto
Side quests and other non-story-related content have always played an important role in Rockstar's GTA series, even if it's never directly forced upon the player. That the games often feature side missions involving main story characters can make fully completing them feel somewhat essential for the true GTA experience, but that's far from the only incentive to engage with the games' side content.
In just about every GTA game to date, players have been able to unlock new vehicles and weapons by interacting with the game's side activities, most of which can completely change the gameplay experience. Sure, players don't need to feel the rush of driving around town in a Rhino tank or tearing up the skies in a top-secret jetpack, but being unable to do so without having to resort to the use of cheat codes can still feel a bit like a form of punishment.
Red Dead Redemption 2
When it comes to world-building, the Red Dead Redemption series is arguably streets ahead of GTA, with many considering the 2018 game to be one of the most immersive open-world video games ever made. A huge part of this is down to the game's side content, which fills in a lot of the major gaps that are glossed over by the game's fantastic main story.
As with the GTA games, Red Dead players aren't forced to engage with the side content, but failing to do so is definitely ill-advised. This is because, in many instances, players really are missing out, particularly when it comes to Arthur's interactions with the Downes family. In fact, certain side missions are tied to the player's honor level, which itself is heavily reliant on engaging with side activities.
The Witcher 3
Though the writing can be a little sketchy at times, it's clear to see that a lot of care and attention went into creating the fantastic world of The Witcher 3. Just about every side quest and main story mission is incredibly well-implemented, encouraging players to interact with as much as they possibly can, if only for fear of missing out on some interesting snippet of lore or useful weapon or item.
In a lot of ways, some of the side content in The Witcher 3 is better than the main story itself, with players able to lose themselves in it for hours at a time without giving poor Ciri a second thought. What's more, players who do skip the game's side content will likely find themselves massively under-leveled and without the weapons and armor needed to make the closing stages of the game even remotely manageable on higher difficulty settings.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Like CD Projekt Red's Witcher games, The Elder Scrolls series derives much of its strength from its excellent world-building, most of which is accomplished through players engaging with the games' many side activities. Failure to do so can lead to a much more shallow experience, though, in some instances, it can even have an impact on the main story.
As with the fight against the Wild Hunt at Kaer Morhen in The Witcher 3, Oblivion players are able to recruit allies ahead of the Great Gate battle. Completing the Allies for Bruma side quest can have a huge impact on the battle, with those who opt to skip it treated to a much more challenging fight. Horizon Zero Dawn does something similar with its final battle too, though recruiting all of Aloy's potential allies makes no difference to the difficulty of her showdown with Hades.
Cyberpunk 2077
When all's said and done, Cyberpunk 2077's main story campaign is actually fairly short, at least when compared to some of its peers, anyway. It more than makes up for this with its side content, however, a lot of which can end up having an impact on which of the game's six possible endings players are treated to.
Though the developers don't exactly force players to engage with the side content if they don't want to, the sheer size of Night City and how much of it is left unexplored by a main story mission-focussed playthrough can easily make players feel as though they're missing out. It's not exactly a punishment per se, but it can sometimes seem like it is.