As single-player gaming has evolved, developers have put much of their time and effort into crafting a world so beautifully immersive and capable of exploration that gamers could drop in and get completely lost for hours. One of the main factors in any great open-world game these days is the side quest.
Whether these tasks entail the protagonist running an errand for a friend, or defeating an entire gang of outlaws and looting their corpses, players have come to love the sense of accomplishment following the completion of all these various activities. For those who require help in deciding which game to tackle next and give a hundred hours, these are the open-world games with the most side quests.
Updated on August 12th, 2021 by Ritwik Mitra: Open-world games have become the norm in the modern gaming landscape. Most AAA titles that end up making waves in the industry are just variations of the open-world formula — a formula so addictive that most fans simply can't get enough of these titles. Players want to try out open-world games with the most distractions around, preferably in the form of dozens upon dozens of side quests. The following games definitely fit the bill in this regard.
15 Horizon Zero Dawn
- Playable on: PlayStation 4 and PC
The idea of a AAA company introducing a new IP is something that was unheard of in the video gaming industry for quite some time. For the most part, companies were happy with continuing established IPs in a bid to minimize risk. Thankfully, the PlayStation brand didn't abide by these rules and greenlit a number of excellent new franchises
One such IP is Horizon Zero Dawn. In this post-apocalyptic title, players control an outcast by the name of Aloy and roam a land overrun by mechanical dinosaurs. It's easily one of the best open-world games around, and features a bunch of side content that will keep players occupied for hours on end.
14 Batman: Arkham Knight
- Playable on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
Many consider the Arkham series to be one of the best superhero gaming franchises of all time. The final game in the series serves as the ultimate refinement of the formula...and is also the longest title in the series.
This is mainly due to the wealth of side content present in Arkham Knight. Such content allows players to experience the side stories of several notable villains, and also unlock new goodies for Batman to play around with. Players might be split down the line when it comes to the quality of said content; however, the game has plenty to appease fans who want their open-world games to be full to the brim with content.
13 Assassin's Creed Valhalla
- Playable on: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia, and Amazon Luna
The Assassin's Creed series is easily one of the most notable open-world franchises around. That being said, one has to admit that the games are becoming too bloated over time. Still, gamers seeking out a wealth of side content will definitely be appeased.
The latest game in the series is a perfect recommendation for fans seeking out huge open-world sandboxes to play around in. Valhalla might not be the greatest Assassin's Creed title, but it's the perfect game to scratch that open-world itch for most gamers.
12 Cyberpunk 2077
- Playable on: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Google Stadia, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC
Cyberpunk 2077 might be one of the most disappointing game launches of all time, but that shouldn't take away from the massive scope of the world itself. Night City is a place full to the brim with secrets and side content across the board, which is to be expect from CD Projekt Red at this point.
As a result, Cyberpunk 2077 is a great title for players to mess around in. The game might not be the GTA killer that most people wanted it to be, but it is an excellent game to sink in a hundred hours with ease.
11 Kingdom Come: Deliverance
- Playable on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Amazon Luna, and PC
The idea of a new studio making a massive open-world as their first game is a commendable decision. Warhorse Studios didn't pull any punches when it came to developing a massive world that was jam-packed with content.
Kingdom Come feels a lot like Skyrim when it comes to open-world exploration, with side quests being found and triggered at a moment's notice. It's a great title for gamers who want to play through a huge game with hundreds of hours' worth of content.
10 Grand Theft Auto V
- Playable on: PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC
Grand Theft Auto V is a stunningly detailed game with a wide range of things to do. If the fairly long, action-packed campaign isn't enough to satisfy a gamer's needs, the 100% checklist for the game requires players to also complete hobbies and pastimes such as races and shooting range challenges.
The game also features a very wide variety of character-based and random side mission encounters, and miscellaneous tasks like stunt jumps and robberies. With all of these things spread throughout the map, players will have plenty to keep them busy.
9 Fallout 4
- Playable on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
While Fallout: New Vegas does have a very impressive amount of side quests, Fallout 4 has not only more quests, but also the added base-building aspect as well as several recurring events and collectibles during the game.
The map is huge, the story is relatively long, and Preston Garvey will always, always know of a settlement that needs the player's help. There aren't any games in the Fallout franchise that are short, even Fallout 76 despite its issues, but the expansiveness of Fallout 4 is hard to overlook.
8 Final Fantasy XV
- Playable on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
Fans of the Final Fantasy series are no strangers to the amount of hidden content placed into each game, as well as the optional missions you are given by NPCs in the later entries. These missions are an excellent source of in-game items, equipment, and weapons, so fans are encouraged to be on the lookout at all times.
Final Fantasy XV is no exception to this, offering over a hundred side quests and bounty hunts, meaning gamers will have logged an extra twenty or so hours into the game before they even realize it.
7 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
- Playable on: Wii U and Switch
If gamers were to ask someone to name just one adventure game franchise, a very likely answer would be The Legend of Zelda. That is because for years these games have raised the bar for creative dungeon design, interesting maps and monsters, and a lovable hero. Breath of the Wild is one of the most played Nintendo Switch games released so far and for good reason.
Players have logged in hundreds of hours on here and still come back to find things they have not yet finished. Even before the Champion's Ballad DLC, there are still many side quests and shrines to run around searching for and finishing. Also, those Korok seeds. Curse those Korok seeds.
6 Red Dead Redemption 2
- Playable on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
Being a part of the other Rockstar Games powerhouse franchise, Red Dead Redemption 2 has a breathtakingly gorgeous open world with a laundry list of things filling it with life. Once players are finished with the main campaign, clocking in at just over 60 hours on average to complete, they have really only just begun.
Only when players have finished the stranger missions, gang hideouts, chance encounters, hunting and fishing collections, collectible gatherings, and multiple categories of discovery, can they truly say that they have seen all that the game has to offer.
5 Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Playable on: PlayStation 4 and PC
Side quests are a major part of learning more about different characters in video games. This sense of world-building is just the kind of thing that Dragon Age: Inquisition thrives on.
If one were to include all of the rifts and requisitions strung throughout the game, there would be over 350 quests in total and only 11 of those could be considered main quests. That is a pretty ridiculous amount of side quests. The average playtime for this game sits between 90-100 hours, and it is very clear as to why.
4 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Playable on: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, and PC
Even though Skyrim includes a map relatively smaller than other open-world games, the number of side quests mixed in makes this game incredibly dense. Those who have played Skyrim can simply wander around for hours, talking to townspeople, crafting items, or farming skill points.
Players can literally go wherever they'd like and even completely ignore the game's main story if they choose. Add to that an abundance of random side quests, and one can see how this game has become known as one of the most replayable games of the century so far.
3 Just Cause 3
- Playable on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
Just Cause 3 offers one of the largest maps in single-player gaming. Aside from the game being a massive open-world sandbox, there is no shortage of insane challenges and chaotic side missions to take part in.
While the number of actual quests isn't particularly high, one can still spend hours upon hours searching for the various collectibles, shrines, and tombs, as well as taking part in several types of challenges like destruction frenzies and races. It is also worth noting that Just Cause 2 and Just Cause 4 are very large games, too, with many of their own things to complete.
2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Playable on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC
As many gamers know, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the most talked-about games of the last decade. It is nearly impossible to find a gaming website that doesn't feature articles upon articles of The Witcher content. Truly, there is no better game for getting immersed in, especially given the level of consistency through all of the base game and both DLC expansions.
If one were to complete all of The Witcher 3's quests, horse races, dungeons, hunts, hidden treasures, and Gwent activities, they would be looking at over 200 hours of gameplay. If only there were more time in the day.
1 Xenoblade Chronicles
- Playable on: Wii, 3DS, and Switch
Unfortunately, many didn't get the chance to play Monolith Soft's spectacular adventure RPG Xenoblade Chronicles. The scale of this game despite coming from a rather modest studio is impressive on its own. Once players discovered how truly massive this experience is, it became overwhelmingly praised among RPG fans around the world.
Throughout the game, there are over a dozen regions, all of which contain a flurry of side quests to journey through. Some of these quests feature different ways to go about completing them as well, affecting the conclusion and relationship with the NPC. Overall, players are looking at over 400 quests and well over 200 hours to complete. It's a good thing the Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is releasing this year on the Switch.