Summary
There are so many open-world games across the market nowadays, but unfortunately for fans, these sweeping, epic adventures take a lot of time to make. Franchises likeThe Elder ScrollsandGrand Theft Autohave been proving just how long it can take to build the next generation-defining game in a series, but fortunately, these games are also great at building hundreds of hours of content beyond the main campaign into their worlds.
While modding communities and online options can keep players entertained almost endlessly, it is great to see a game that builds in a huge amount of content outside the main game. This leaves players wondering what they can do next when they finish the game, as opposed to feeling left at a dead end and immediately moving on. Easter Eggs, random encounters, side quests and even other campaigns can be hugely influential in keeping a game relevant for longer, and these games did that right.
Few games have so much material to work with when it comes to side quests. ThoughBatman: Arkham Citywas created in 2011, it managed to capture the scope of modern open-world games with a truly vast volume of extra content.TheBatmanmythos had been built since 1940and that meant there were continuous Easter Eggs, side villains and other stories to be told outside the main quest line for developers willing to put the effort in.
Rocksteady nailed this game, from Batcomputer simulation training to side quests involving a tonnage of Batman villains. Everyone from the Mad Hatter and Deadshot to Hush and Bane appear in this game. The sheer mass of side quests and collectables to be taken on make for one of gaming’s great experiences, particularly for those familiar with theBatmanmythos.
There have been so many differentLegend of Zeldagames over the years that this franchise also had a huge amount to work with when deciding to create a huge open-world game filled with hundreds of hours worth of content.Link’s adventure across this ultimate version of Hyruleis packed with over 70 side quests alone.
From purchasing land in Hylian Homeowner to Hunt For The Giant Horse, the side quests are varied and wildly entertaining in this game. Players can hunt for the Thunder Helm or Sand Boots and various other items that aren’t necessary but sure are cool and useful to have. If players want more challenges beyond the normal story, they can even search for side quests like Stranded On Eventide for a real head-scratcher in this massive, content-filled game.
When an open-worldSpider-Mangame arrived that allowed players to swing freely through a huge map of New York City, it was going to be a success no matter what. But the fact that it included a mass of side quests, collectables and other general activities outside the main story made Spidey’s New York feel like a real, alive city.
From fights with Taskmaster and huge construction sites filled with waves of enemies to tracking down different missions from Harry Osborn and collecting photos of landmarks,Marvel’s Spider-Manis a fantastic, vibrant open-world game which is complete with a nearly never-ending mass of content that players should make sure to check out on their next playthrough.
The Continent has been expanded upon in books, games and on Netflix, but nothing has ever captured the feel of it as well asThe Witcher 3. This game was massive, set across the Continent,from the notable city of Novigrad to the no-man’s land of Velen, and features the main quest to find Ciri and deal with the Wild Hunt, but also many other notable side stories and events.
Geralt is a witcher, which means many monster hunts are available throughout the game. But various choices made affect romances, Ciri’s survival, and the war between Nilfgaard and the Northern Kingdoms. Side quests inThe Witcher 3are numerous and incredible, and it is noted as a game that players can adventure through for years without ever finishing the main story.
Although theAssassin’s Creedfranchise is one of the longest-running in gaming history, and the quality has been incredibly consistent, even the size of most of the entries in this series will be left dwarfed byOdyssey. This epic game set in Ancient Greece tells a mythological history of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta.
Players take control of the Eagle Bearer and engage in battles, assassinations, naval combat and more, all while finding there iseven more of a mass of side questsand content than previous entries in the beloved franchise.
Players can just charge through much of the main story inRed Dead Redemption 2, venturing across several fictional states and a massive open world which feels surprisingly desolate for how much content is hidden there. But they’d be missing out on side quests that include everything from more backstory on Arthur to incredible storytelling involving a veteran and Marko Dragic’s surprisingly fun stories.
Red Dead Redemption 2is one of the biggest games ever and the kind of world it builds makes it easy to forget how much extra content is just hiding out there. The Stranger missions are a huge gateway into exciting storytelling. There is much more to Arthur’s redemption than players will likely realize on their first time playing through his story, makingRed Dead Redemption 2one of the most revisited open-world games ever.
TheFalloutfranchise is massive and continues to grow with the second season of the successful live-action show on the way. ButFallout: New Vegasremains one of the greatest games ever made because it packs the open-world setting of the Mojave Wasteland with content of all sorts.
Defending Bitter Springs against Legionnaires, hunting the creatures of the Wasteland for their eggs and the hilarious quest about freeing Raul are some particular highlights from this filled world.Fallout: New Vegashas die-hard fans who continue to replay it despite newer entries in the series because there was just such a worthy,hilarious and epic volume of exciting optional contentin this game.
Though fans are still waiting for a sequel over a decade later,Grand Theft Auto 5did bring an expansive world to life and filled it to the brim with activities, quests, and non-compulsory content. A truly fantastic game that can easily be considered one of the best of all time, players get to experience the life of a criminal as they try to complete jobs and heists, rack up huge volumes of money, and purchase all sorts of great items and weapons.
From trying to get a 5-star police rating to traveling up mountains and across the country, players can fly planes or drive boats. The options are endless in this world. AlongsideGTA OnlineandGTA Roleplayservers, and with a huge modding community, there is easily a decade’s worth of enjoyment to be gotten out of a simpleGTA 5purchase.
Normally, players can freely explore a game and look at everything there is to see without too much fear, as their character will level quickly enough to be able to handle most enemies. In a game likeElden Ring, this simply isn’t the case, as every enemy can be deadly, and every extra set of ruins could contain a huge maze that will frustrate players endlessly.
The challenges in even the optional content ofElden Ringare what makes it so memorable, so rewarding to get through, and so interesting to replay even, because players will normally sprint for the finish afterdying so many times to individual bosses. This means most players, even those that have finished the game, haven’t seen most of the other terrifying bosses and side material that this bleak world is filled with.
Even huge games likeGTA 5andElden Ringdon’t come with a huge number of different campaigns.Skyrimhas a main campaign, which focuses on the Dragonborn taking on and defeating Alduin, the ancient dragon. However, italso contains several other campaignsthat are essentially wonderful optional content, like the Thieves Guild, Dark Brotherhood and Civil War.
Beyond even these,Skyrimhas side quests, miscellaneous quests, random encounters, repeatable quests, Daedric Quests, and more. There is no end to what players can do, and to see everything within the game ofSkyrimtakes hundreds of hours spent venturing around the massive open world, particularly with the DLCs and anniversary edition content added in. This all makes for a hugely enjoyable mass volume of side material.
