Quests We Hate And Love
Remember pouring hours into a game, only for a side quest to feel like a complete waste of time? We've all been there. Video games are filled with optional tasks; some are so brilliantly crafted they become core memories, while others are downright infuriating chores. This journey revisits those unforgettable moments and the absolute grinds we wish we could forget. Before getting into the good stuff, let's call out the most terrible quests.
1. Nuclear Waste Hunt (GTA V)
To kick off this incredibly boring underwater task, you first have to purchase an expensive property. Then it's just you, a silent submarine, and thirty nuclear waste barrels scattered across the vast, empty seabed. It's as tedious as it sounds.
Every Nuclear Waste Location in GTA5 Story Mode by Old Grumpy Gamers
2. Moogle Wrangling (Final Fantasy VII Rebirth)
The rewards for this quest are often considered completely worthless, which is fitting for the task. Catching these annoyingly erratic Moogles requires frustratingly precise timing within a very limited window. This makes the whole experience an exercise in pure aggravation.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth - Cloud turns into a Moogle by CGInferno
3. The Riddler's Racetracks (Batman: Arkham Knight)
This quest in Arkham Knight forces players to master the controversial Batmobile, demanding near-perfect timing and vehicle control. The repetitive course design and frustrating difficulty spikes feel less like a fun challenge and more like an infuriating chore to complete.
BATMAN™: ARKHAM KNIGHT | Riddler's final race track by Redemption912
4. Figurine Lottery (The Legend Of Zelda: The Minish Cap)
The Figurine Lottery features a broken gacha system for collecting 136 figurines—a long grind for shells just to play. The misleading random system is incredibly frustrating, and the final reward for all that effort is only a single piece of heart.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap - Episode 34: The Figurine Collector by TheJamesRolls
5. Collecting 200 Pigeons (GTA IV)
Considered one of gaming's most infamous fetch quests, this task offers very little reward for a massive effort. You're forced to hunt down 200 pigeons hidden all across Liberty City that turn an action game into a tedious, time-consuming pest patrol.
GTA IV: ULTIMATE Hidden Pigeon/Flying Rat Location Guide [+map markers] by Badinfos
6. Recycled Mission Grind (Metal Gear Solid V)
As a result of troubled development, the quest halts the main story progression abruptly. To see the final mission, players have no choice but to replay the harder versions of old missions. It's an unimaginative grind that feels like blatant, unnecessary padding.
9 Years Later: 9 Reasons why The Phantom Pain is Incomplete. by Jaguar King
7. Lost Sanctum (Chrono Trigger DS)
Added in a later port, this bonus dungeon is filled with monotonous fetch quests. Players must traverse repetitive environments over and over again for a final reward that is basically nothing. The whole thing makes this area a tiresome and entirely skippable addition.
Chrono Trigger (DS) — Part 54 - The Lost Sanctum by aulddragon
8. 260 Lucky Dice (Tiny Tina's Wonderlands)
This massive collectible hunt requires finding 260 dice, many hidden in obscure and hard-to-reach locations. It's a huge grind that takes hours of dedicated exploration, all just to get a marginal increase to your overall loot luck.
Wonderlands: How to get ALL 260 LUCKY DICE [LOCATIONS] Huge Loot Luck Boosts! by Kody McHugh
9. 900 Korok Seeds (The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild)
An infamous example of a pointless reward, this quest asks you to find 900 hidden Korok seeds. Your prize for this monumental task is a completely useless item that only lets you watch a character perform a silly dance.
900 Korok Seeds COMPLETE in Breath of the Wild! by JSkeleton's Nintendo World
10. Mages Guild Suspension Penalty (The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion)
Getting suspended from the Mages Guild results in an irritating fetch quest to regain access. You must find 20 of two different flowers, but the game conveniently doesn't show you what they look like. This makes you question if you really want that arch-mage status.
ES IV Oblivion Mages Guild - Suspension Quest by Typhousneon - 777
But it's not all bad. For every mind-numbing fetch quest, there's a legendary adventure that redeems the entire experience. So, coming up are the top 10 quests we'll gladly play on repeat.
1. The Pale Elf (Baldur's Gate 3)
Unraveling the dark secrets of your companion Astarion, this one's a masterclass in companion-based storytelling. Building a relationship with him reveals his tragic vampire past and leads to a powerful, game-altering conclusion that feels earned and incredibly impactful.
Baldur's Gate 3 - The Pale Elf Quest Ending - Astarion Romance - No Ritual 1/2 by hea
2. Whodunnit (The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion)
Showcasing the sheer creativity of Oblivion's side content, this mission offers a unique twist on the classic mystery formula. You are the killer at a dinner party, tasked with secretly eliminating all the other guests one by one.
Oblivion Guide: Dark Brotherhood: Whodunnit? by KuchikiByakuyaPwns
3. Disciple Of The New Order (Yakuza 0)
In this quest, you infiltrate a suspicious cult to save a young woman from its influence. It perfectly blends the series' signature humor and drama, featuring memorable characters and a poignant story about the dangers of deception and family.
Yakuza 0 Substories - Majima 54-Disciple of the New Order by GuyFromAndromeda
4. Stranger Missions (Red Dead Redemption)
These memorable encounters add a fantastic layer of mystery and danger to the world. You'll meet unique and bizarre characters in the wilderness in quests that have fixed difficulty. Some players feel it has more narrative depth than some main story missions.
Flowers for a Lady - Stranger Mission - Red Dead Redemption by GTA Series Videos
5. Myths And Minotaurs (Assassin's Creed Odyssey)
Deepening the lore of the Assassin's Creed universe, it lets you battle legendary creatures from Greek mythology. Here, you'll explore mythical locations like Atlantis while unlocking powerful new abilities that make for an unforgettable and epic-scale adventure.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey - Side Quest - Myths and Minotaurs by Assassin's Creed Series
6. Shoot This Guy In The Face (Borderlands 2)
Perfect example of Borderlands' ridiculous humor, this quest is exactly as straightforward as it sounds. A man simply asks you to shoot him directly in the face, and doing so rewards you with an achievement for your trouble.
Borderlands 2 - Best Quest Ever! (Shoot This Guy In The Face) by TValoryn
7. Shrine Puzzles (The Legend Of Zelda: The Breath Of The Wild)
The game features 120 unique puzzle shrines to discover, encouraging exploration and creative problem-solving. Each one offers a distinct and clever challenge, which rewards you with orbs that can be used to upgrade your health or stamina permanently.
8. Ranni The Witch Questline (Elden Ring)
Considered one of the most epic quests ever made, this massive and cryptic journey spans the entire game. It opens up a secret ending and huge hidden areas of the map while featuring some of the game's absolute best bosses and lore.
9. A Brush With Death (The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion)
In this surreal and highly memorable experience, you are transported into a painting to save an artist. The world is rendered in a beautiful, painted style where you must fight painted trolls that have suddenly and dangerously come to life.
Oblivion Side Quest - A Brush with Death by xenmordoc
10. The Replicated Man (Fallout 3)
This compelling quest, inspired by the movie Blade Runner, tasks you with hunting down a runaway android. It masterfully raises questions about what it means to be human, culminating in a morally complex and difficult decision that sticks with you.
How To Get Both Rewards For Replicated Man In Fallout 3 by Trapped In Fallout
