When you think of The Legend of Zelda, you likely picture epic battles against Ganon, traversing vast landscapes, or solving intricate dungeon puzzles. But one of the often-overlooked aspects of the series is its memorable side quests. These seemingly small, optional tasks often add depth to the world, enrich the characters, and provide players with some of the most rewarding and emotionally resonant moments in the entire game. In this article, we’ll explore how Zelda’s side quests enhance the overall experience and highlight some of the best side quests in the franchise that leave a lasting impact.
1. What Makes Zelda’s Side Quests So Special?
Side quests in The Legend of Zelda aren’t just filler content or distractions from the main storyline. They serve as opportunities to explore the rich world of Hyrule, interact with unique characters, and sometimes uncover key elements of the game’s lore. Unlike many games where side quests can feel like repetitive chores, Zelda’s side quests are carefully crafted experiences that often result in personal, emotional payoffs or rare, valuable items.
One of the reasons these quests stand out is that they often require more than just fetching items or defeating enemies. They ask players to pay attention to the world, observe patterns, solve puzzles, and connect with NPCs. These tasks invite the player to care about Hyrule beyond the primary goal of saving the world, adding emotional weight and a sense of personal investment in the people and places encountered.
Let’s dive into some of the best side quests in the Zelda series that demonstrate how much they enhance the adventure.
2. The Anju and Kafei Quest – Majora’s Mask (2000)
When we talk about side quests in Zelda, the Anju and Kafei quest from Majora’s Mask is often at the top of the list. This side quest is a perfect example of how Zelda’s side content can tell a deeply emotional story that rivals the main plot.
Why It’s Memorable:
Majora’s Mask is already a dark, time-bending game, and the Anju and Kafei side quest takes full advantage of the game’s three-day cycle. The quest spans all three in-game days and involves numerous steps, from delivering letters to reuniting a bride and groom whose wedding was derailed by a curse. The attention to detail is incredible, and you need to observe NPCs closely and be in the right place at the right time to succeed.
The emotional weight of the quest—where you witness the anxieties, hopes, and heartbreak of the characters—is what makes it unforgettable. Watching Anju and Kafei embrace as the moon threatens to crash into Termina is one of the most poignant moments in any Zelda game. It reminds players that, despite the larger mission of stopping the apocalypse, the smaller, personal stories of Hyrule’s citizens also matter.
3. The Trading Sequence – Ocarina of Time (1998)
The Trading Sequence in Ocarina of Time is another standout side quest, and it’s a perfect example of how Zelda uses side quests to challenge players in creative ways while offering unique rewards.
Why It’s Memorable:
Starting with a simple trade (a Pocket Egg), this quest evolves into a chain of increasingly complex trades, each bringing you closer to the ultimate reward: the Biggoron Sword, the most powerful sword in the game. The quest requires players to travel across Hyrule, making trades with various characters, many of whom have quirky personalities that add humor and depth to the experience.
What makes this side quest especially engaging is that it’s a puzzle in its own right. Players must figure out who to trade with and when, as some trades are time-sensitive, adding a layer of tension. The reward of wielding the Biggoron Sword makes all the effort worth it, and the quest itself reinforces the interconnected nature of Hyrule’s citizens and landscape.
4. Tarrey Town – Breath of the Wild (2017)
Breath of the Wild is filled with side quests that encourage exploration and experimentation, but Tarrey Town stands out for how it lets players take part in building a community from scratch.
Why It’s Memorable:
This side quest begins when you meet Hudson, a worker from the Bolson Construction Company, who is starting his own town in the remote Akkala Highlands. What follows is a series of tasks where you gather materials and recruit residents from across Hyrule, each with their own unique stories and backgrounds.
Building Tarrey Town is not just about gathering resources—it’s about bringing together people from different races and regions, including a Gerudo merchant, a Goron blacksmith, and a Zora jeweler. Watching the town grow from a barren plot of land into a bustling community is incredibly satisfying. Plus, the completion of this quest leads to Hudson’s wedding, where you can see the diverse residents celebrate together.
Tarrey Town embodies the themes of unity and cooperation that run through Breath of the Wild, and it provides players with a tangible sense of accomplishment as they see their efforts materialize into a thriving settlement.
5. The Island of Riches – Link’s Awakening (1993)
Link’s Awakening may be one of the smaller Zelda games in terms of scale, but it’s packed with quirky side quests. One of the most memorable is The Island of Riches, a secret island that requires some serious puzzle-solving to access.
Why It’s Memorable:
To unlock the path to the Island of Riches, players must solve a challenging set of riddles, including deciphering cryptic clues and performing precise tasks. This quest stands out because it feels like an adventure within an adventure—finding hidden treasure on an unknown island harkens back to classic adventure stories.
When you finally reach the island and claim its rewards, it’s not just the treasure that makes the quest satisfying—it’s the sense that you’ve uncovered something hidden, something that only the most determined players will find.
6. Skulltula Family – Ocarina of Time (1998)
Not all side quests in Zelda are about glory and rewards; some, like the Skulltula Family quest in Ocarina of Time, are more about helping others, even if the payoff is a bit grim.
Why It’s Memorable:
In Kakariko Village, you’ll encounter a family cursed to live as half-human, half-spider monsters. The only way to lift the curse is by collecting Gold Skulltulas, creepy spider-like enemies that can be found scattered across Hyrule. The more Skulltulas you collect, the more family members you free from their curse.
This quest is memorable because of the eerie and unsettling nature of the family, as well as the rewarding sense of progress as you lift their curse bit by bit. The quest encourages players to explore every corner of Hyrule, as many of the Gold Skulltulas are hidden in hard-to-reach places. While the ultimate reward for freeing the family might not be as powerful as some other Zelda items, the quest itself is an unforgettable reminder of Zelda’s ability to mix darker, emotional storytelling with gameplay.
7. From the Ground Up – Breath of the Wild (2017)
Another stellar side quest in Breath of the Wild, From the Ground Up, ties directly into the Tarrey Town questline but takes on a life of its own as a mini construction and recruitment simulation.
Why It’s Memorable:
After purchasing and building your house in Hateno Village, Hudson leaves to start Tarrey Town. Your job, as the hero of Hyrule, isn’t just to slay Ganon—you also become an unexpected town planner. You’ll travel across the map recruiting merchants and artisans to build a functional town in the middle of the Akkala Highlands.
The sense of accomplishment that comes with each new resident moving in, and seeing Tarrey Town transform from barren land into a bustling town, makes the whole quest deeply satisfying. The final scene, Hudson’s wedding, adds a heartfelt, personal touch that brings this epic side quest full circle.
8. The Ghost of Impa – A Link Between Worlds (2013)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds offers a nostalgic return to the world of A Link to the Past, and with it comes an emotional side quest involving the Ghost of Impa.
Why It’s Memorable:
In this quest, you encounter the ghost of Impa, a recurring character in the Zelda series. She asks you to find the remnants of the Seven Sages and return her beloved Lorulean pendant. What makes this side quest stand out is the emotional depth it brings. Through simple dialogue and interactions, you feel Impa’s pain and loss, and her gratitude when you complete the task is genuinely touching.
The quest serves as a reminder that not all Zelda side quests are about grand battles or epic rewards—sometimes, it’s the personal stories and moments of kindness that leave the biggest impression.
9. The Bombers’ Notebook – Majora’s Mask (2000)
In Majora’s Mask, side quests are more than just optional—they’re vital to understanding the game’s world and its many characters. One of the most useful tools for tracking these quests is the Bombers’ Notebook, which helps you keep track of NPCs and their schedules.
Why It’s Memorable:
The Bombers’ Notebook essentially turns Majora’s Mask into a living, breathing world simulation, where every NPC follows a daily schedule across the game’s three-day cycle. Using the notebook, players can track NPCs, discover their problems, and solve them to earn rewards.
What makes this system so engaging is the sheer number of side quests tied to the notebook, each one offering a unique glimpse into the lives of Termina’s citizens. From helping a couple reunite to recovering stolen goods, the Bombers’ Notebook turns side quests into an essential part of the game, encouraging players to engage with every corner of the world.
10. The Korok Seeds – Breath of the Wild (2017)
No list of Zelda side quests would be complete without mentioning the Korok Seeds in Breath of the Wild. While collecting Korok Seeds may not offer the emotional weight of other side quests, it’s a perfect example of how Zelda rewards exploration and curiosity.
Why It’s Memorable:
Scattered across Hyrule are 900 hidden Koroks, each offering a seed when found. While the sheer number of seeds can feel overwhelming, the process of finding them is part of what makes Breath of the Wild so special. These tiny puzzles are woven into the fabric of the world, encouraging players to explore every nook and cranny of the map.
From solving environmental puzzles to spotting out-of-place objects, collecting Korok Seeds is both a challenge and a joy, making it a perfect example of Zelda’s attention to detail when it comes to rewarding exploration.
Conclusion: The Power of Zelda’s Side Quests
The Legend of Zelda series is known for its epic adventures, but it’s the side quests that add heart, depth, and richness to the world. Whether it’s reuniting lovers in Majora’s Mask, building a town in Breath of the Wild, or solving intricate trading sequences in Ocarina of Time, these side quests create memorable moments that enhance the overall experience.
Zelda’s side quests aren’t just about the rewards—they’re about connecting with the world, its people, and its stories. They invite players to slow down, take a detour from the main quest, and explore the nuances of Hyrule in a way that makes the world feel truly alive.