7 Side Quests That Are In Every RPG, By Law

If you play RPGs there are certain side quests you can’t avoid. Quests that are inextricably woven into the DNA of every adventure. From fetch quests to escort missions and rat hunting here are 7 side quests that are in every RPG, by law. How many times have you taken on these side quests?
You’re probably expecting a few of these RPG side quests. Fetching items for a troubled villager; being tricked into a monster hunt by a troubled villager; having to guide a troubled villager from one side of the map to the other… lots of troubled villagers, basically. These are not always the best side quests, but they are a crucial part of the experience - you’d miss them if they were gone. And if you think we’ve missed any classic RPG quests, let us know in the comments.
And if you’re only just joining us, welcome to the Friday Feature. Every Friday at 4pm we take a look at the world of PlayStation in seven tasty helpings. Such as 7 moments we dread in games we love ( • 7 Moments We Dread In ... ), 7 games we want ti play right now ( • 7 New PS5 Games We Wan... ) and 7 definitely evil corporations we’d secretly like to work for ( • 7 Definitely Evil Corp... ). If you enjoy this list, why not subscribe to PlayStation Access so you never miss an upload.
#rpg #sidequest #playstation
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[@hassmann2000]

An unavoidable escort mission where your run is too fast, and your walk is too slow (compared to the NPC)

[@ArienDrakon]

The moment he said escort I audibly sighed as a reaction!

[@shmookins]

*Ubisoft has left the chat.

[@michaelallen3505]

​@@ArienDrakon Got a lowered head and groan of dread from me when he said it.

[@jamescarroll384]

Well if it's unavoidable then it's not a sidequest.

[@joels5150]

World of Warcraft: has entered the chat.

[@Swift96]

How does Rob not have a side quest for "mentioning Metal Gear Solid"?

[@hakim6933]

That's a main quest for him

[@giantseapanda]

The Friday features are the side quest towards the main quest of mentioning Metal Gear Solid

[@rodrigocampos1302]

That's what we call a legacy/radiant/permanent quest

[@logiclunacy606]

I think they stopped using the metal gear solid checklist gag for a few years now.

[@kiradattei]

​@logiclunacy606 Yeah, they stopped using it...until they bring it back and use it again. I believe the current version is on a clipboard for convenience.

[@lordzeppelin3824]

As The Ghoul so eloquently put it in the Fallout TV show, “Golden Rule of The Wasteland: Thou shalt always get sidetracked by someone else’s bullsh!t.” If that doesn’t perfectly encapsulate the idea of video game side quests, I don’t know what does.

[@theotherandrewowens]

I love how you guys are putting outtakes at the end of Friday features now!

[@RD_Clarke]

Which others have had outtakes?

[@theotherandrewowens]

@@RD_Clarke I think it was about two weeks ago?

[@rosaheartlily]

The quest where you get a 'legendary' item that's less useful than your current gear...

[@jeremylotr]

Looking at you Horizon Forbidden West

[@thorstenbrandt6256]

Or ten levels above yours, so you can't use them

[@user-hi4sm3ig5j]

The legendary item that a shopkeeper will buy off you for 20 gold but charge 1000 for if you want it back.

[@madalice5134]

Or you get really cool armor or weapons after you've done everything there is to do in the game.

[@michaelallen3505]

While it's more or less the same as escort missions, I have to give a dishonorable mention to protect quests. You know, the ones where someone has to do something that leaves them open and vulnerable, so you have to intercept the bad guys while they work on...whatever it is that they have to do, and they've apparently taken lessons on how to do it as inefficiently and painfully slowly as humanly possible.

[@Sadion666]

I'm so happy that Rob's Friday Feature is weekly again... It's like It's 2016 all over❤

[@Berry_Best]

Rob might be the best list maker on yourube. Especially in his talking skills

[@wolfgangwilcox2323]

Fishing side quests are getting more common now. I don’t care for them myself.

[@AmityvilleFan]

If at least you'd get something useful for them.

[@melissagodwin1594]

Oh, Rob. You have no idea how much you have improved my day. Thanks!! 😊💙🎉 Oh oh, I got one. You get to a new town and a quest giver needs you to go give something to three different npcs that are all like 5 seconds from the quest giver. If I didn’t know they were going to be so close, I probably wouldn’t bother. 😂

[@lifeiaskedfor]

you can't forget the classic "you have to not get caught by the npc to gather information" side quest

[@Mitrashi]

Tailing Missions. Ugh

[@riningan]

And it's often done in a game that isn't a stealth game where the game engine isn't really built for stealth mechanics.

[@AmityvilleFan]

oh, stealth-quests with randomly turning-around NPCs. Yeah, those are "fun".

[@SkeggsyDAR]

Excellent video as always, though I will hear no slander towards the 'bow wow wow' song

[@N0LES65]

Hello you've caught me waiting all day for this

[@shaneyboy619]

So weird, I was just thinking about this topic the other day 😂 And how one I see all the time is when you have to find a missing person, but you inevitably find their corpse instead. You loot their corpse and if the game has dialogue options then you have the option to return the loot to the quest giver or keep it for yourself. Seen this exact quest in more games than I can count 😂

[@gregorybrandenburger9457]

Clearing out bandit camps over and over and over again.

[@PierlucF]

That jab at Dragon Age Inquisition 😂😂😂

[@frisby7143]

For real besides from the exaggeration he is completley right

[@mouadchaali7537]

I am a simple man, I see a Friday Feature and immediately watch and drop a like.

[@kcwonder99]

A man of fine culture in fact

[@dalmarampere6637]

Photo qursts have been my favorite side quests since Beyond Good and Evi. Now i find myself trying to get that perfect shot in any game that gives me a camera or photo mode. One thing I'd like to see in more games are photo quests that test your mettle. Getting that one shot during a boss fight, sure you might sacrifice a bit of health, but just look at the sheer majesty of that attack. Breathtaking.

[@amyford2971]

A side quest that involves stealth in a game that isn’t normally about stealth. Yeah those are fun. 😢

[@coyoteartist]

The Pictograph Contest in Majora's Mask is really useful to the game. Worth a heart piece that Deku King picture.

[@sirprintalot]

love how creative the Friday Features have been since they came back, cracking work PA.

[@matthewburg9604]

Escort quests are devs revenge for criticizing their games. They are easily the most detestable quests in RPGs. This channel is also better than anything on TV or Cable

[@jwizarrd]

The outtakes at the end are fantastic

[@TheShaneGuy]

My least favourite side quest is the follow someone and eavesdrop on their conversations. Especially when you have follow them without being seen and they always manage to see you by looking up at the rooftops or can see round corners and through walls. Assassins Creed is the biggest culprit for this quest.

[@joelsmith7078]

My least favorite obligatory sidequest is to go collect XX items like feathers.

[@kyledavidson6635]

Especially if they are rare drops. It’s one thing to do something repetitive, it’s another to not control the outcome due to RNG. Looking at you Giant Eagle eggs from Nier…

[@Jedi_Chimp]

Don't forget the shop orders in the Star Ocean games 🫠 Also 🎵 Bawawow Bawawow!! 🎵

[@queeniekay2154]

Surprised Baldur's Gate 3 didn't get a mention with the 'rats in the cellar' quest. Doesn't show up until Act 3, but it's still there 😂

[@faranior]

He did have Baldur's Gate 1 and Dark Alliance. And as they say, three is a crowd. 😜

[@MyNameIsJotaro]

I was actually wondering how many takes it took for the party popper bit, so I’m glad the outtakes were put in there 😂

[@marybdrake1472]

I remember how the rats in cellar was somewhat mocked in Dragon Age Origins during the human noble origin story. XD

[@sinned6us]

Or Skyrim where you protect the women's pet rat from cougars

[@marybdrake1472]

@@sinned6us The pet rat job I remember was in Oblivion. It's in the Fighter's Guild quest line.

[@sinned6us]

@@marybdrake1472 right thank you cause in Morrowwind you were tasked with killing rats for the fighters guild there

[@marybdrake1472]

@@sinned6us Why does that no surprise me? Yeah, Oblivion was my start point for the Elden Scrolls. I've never played Morrowwind.

[@rossrandall22]

Just reiterating the universal joy that Friday Features have returned.

[@Kylestien]

The best part of this is that Rob hasn't class changed from "noob" yet. Hopefully he can class change into something else soon. Though I dunno what classes he has Access to...

[@dragon-kitty]

Playstation Access Overlord

[@edwardpinto1544]

We need a bloopers/outtakes compilation video. Really enjoyed this weeks Friday Feature. Thanks guys

[@notoriousbmc1]

Every RPG is an endorphin boosting ego trip. And *ALL* XP bars are just "Self Worth" metres. "Excuse me, hero. 'Tis I, a regular person. I lost my thing in the dangerous woods. I know exactly where I lost it (so it isn't lost) but 'tis too dangerous for a mere mortal, such as I." "Of course. What's the point in saving the entire realm, if u can't take a moment to squeeze more popularity from the small folk. That's what I always say."

[@LostOnHoth308]

An escort mission in a non-rpg is in Star Wars battlefront 2015, the training mission overpower, where you pilot an AT-ST escorting an AT-AT. It’s probably an okay escort mission, as you’re defending an armoured vehicle, and it usually only takes minimal damage, especially if you’re quick. Other than that, I can understand the frustration with escort missions, though I can’t remember specifically what games I’ve played where there are any but I remember doing them. They are so frustrating, for the reasons Rob says, as the devs conveniently forgot to give the escorted character enough IQ points to not do the dumbest things possible.

[@modestasmurauskas12]

The type of quest that comes to mind, I recently saw in Stellar Blade. A person asks you to look for another person who went to get some crucial supplies. After going to the place where that person should be, you find not only a dead body but also a boss battle just waiting to greet you. A lot of that type of side quest exists in other games too.

[@Fretter18]

Friday feature idea. 7 video game jump scarse that almost made you soil yourself. Dave should be the master of this.

[@chrisalvarez4298]

For the Scooby Doo quest, Ghost Of Tsushima's "vengeful ghosts in the forest at night" quest, whatever it is actually called, would have been perfect to use.

[@davidludwig7501]

Hello, you've caught me watching my favorite KZbin channel on a Friday. Cheers.

[@TakingTheMick1008]

Oh this looks like a good one. If one person understands the mind of an RPG player it’s Rob 😂

[@fandomFREAKxo]

The album full of Barret photos is such a mood.

[@wisemoon40]

Doesn’t hold a candle to the number of beefcake photos I took in Baldur’s Gate 3 (mostly starring Halsin).

[@Peregrintoook]

I love the end bloopers, feels like a 90s-2000s pixar movie

[@Mcox720]

I am loving the blooper reels at the end of these videos. I would love a blooper compilation

[@samsmith7454]

Good to see Dave’s saving system in ff7 being put to good use

[@davidg2927]

Loving how clever these new Friday features are! Very entertaining!

[@Dean444ful]

I love seeing clips of Stellar Blade on this channel cuz you know Access is trying their best to only show work appropriate attire lol

[@Brellor]

There's one I like to call the cataloguing side quest. It's the one where some NPC asks that you gather information about specific things, whether it's artifacts or enemies. Cataloguing quests really grind my gears 😂

[@blakejanssen1135]

The delivery quest! Go talk to Bob half-way across the kingdom, give him this letter, then come back and tell me.

[@marceloreis7327]

My weekly side quests include watching Rob's lists.

[@aoifehart554]

The production and creative quality of these are just 👌🏻 incredible! Please please continue including outtakes at the end they're my new favourite bit 😂😂

[@claratalbot7613]

1. Find X amount of an item. Ex: Feathers in AC2 2. Help solve a mystery. Ex: Find a killer in Fallout 4, solve an murder mystery in Skyrim, or help the police solve crimes since they're short-handed in Sherlock: Chapter 1 3. Gather X items to help an NPC complete a ritual of some kind. Ex. Fable 2 to bring Lady Gray back to life 4. Join a faction or factions if the game lets you. Ex: Skyrim, Bloodborne, or Dark Souls 5. Get married/Romance either a party member or random NPC: Final fantasy 7, Fable series, & the Dragon age series

[@bigc181]

The obligatory "you've lost all your equipment and must reclaim it" side quest. Have you been drugged/robbed/tricked or convinced out of your equipment to level the playing field for one particular side quest. Yes, it happens in every game.

[@kekohokko7213]

Kudos for referencing the original Baldur's Gate. I salute you, Access.

[@bakaryansama]

Although not in every RPG, there is also the mini game side quest that can also tie into the collectable side quest. e.g Triple Triad, Gwent, Chocobo hot n cold.

[@jamielee5695]

Hello, you've caught me absolutely loving the re-introduction of this series ❤

[@blackonyx1]

What about Turret missions. You know the ones where you man a gun turret and have to take out a certain number of enemies or try to stay alive for a certain amount of time.

[@MikeRKO316]

It was kinda mentioned but the "Save the cat" mission is in EVERY game. Also, the escort missions where instead of following you stealthily around the shadows, you have to follow them as they run directly down the middle of the road through the enemies.

[@PartovtheFurniture]

Here's another one: the rescue quest. Oh no, happless NPC a has wandered into/been dragged into , go get him back. And if you're lucky they'll either get back on their own once found, or are in no state to go back. If not... well, it'll chain nicely into number 7 of the list, ticking off two mandatory sidequests at once!

[@sinned6us]

And it's usually a dungeon you just finished so now you have to clear it a second time

[@nitinnishant7783]

It's videos like these that made me fall in love this channel.

[@madalice5134]

I like that Greedfall was designed with a goal to avoid fetch quests. Sometimes, I enjoy doing fetch quests to add more exploration to the world and lore and to do something easy if I'm not up for more challenging quests, but it was nice to play a game where quests had a deeper narrative payoff. I absolutely adore photography sidequests. I end up spending a ton of time in photomode anyway, so it's nice to get some XP, reputation or unlockables out of it too. I'm pretty sure l spent about 100 hours in Ghost of Tsushima just taking beautiful shots of the scenery, and Jin looking pensive ir badass.

[@rus.t]

The “introducing a new game mechanic” sidequest

[@wehavesixdogs]

last Friday, I was told to check if there's an available slot for promotion. Well? love watching Friday Feature.

[@PlayStationAccess]

Spent all the money on party poppers, no money left for wages. Sorry.

[@wehavesixdogs]

Hello! you caught me grinning while reading your reply. thanks!

[@gforce440murtaza]

Catching Rob on Fridays.. best accomplishment !!

[@g8282]

Hello! You caught me watching another great Friday Feature 😊 It got me thinking of the next topic…7 Best Game Pause Menus in Videogames, not sure if it was done before, but that be something 😇

[@YrvenGalied]

those after video ending scene of the production are great 🎉😂 love them. also, that Bow wow wow song is a Jammer 🕺

[@Theenigmaticpotato]

Rob as a KZbin boxer? I think I'm sensing a head to head with Dave when Undisputed comes to PS5. Walk outs are a must!

[@SepSyn]

Always a treat!

[@kingxhaki_91]

12:47 Rob’s face 😂😂😂

[@Draw2quit]

You're forgetting the "herding animals", usually that worlds representation of a sheep into a three walled structure. Sheep that will instinctively go the opposite direction to whichever you need them to go. Great fun always.

[@wanderer6161]

6:07 Hot damn Rob, HOT BLOODY DAMN!!😂😂

[@3row4wy23]

"Shots fired"

[@docholliday4537]

I love the outtakes!

[@nairilee]

The Fluffy side quest was great and tied in so beautifully with Traces of Two Pasts idk what to tell you.

[@Erisplay]

These videos and the weekend are the best thing about Fridays! 😊

[@pirateadam3686]

What about the Collectathon? The ones where you spend 90% of your time on a game with the annoying line jammed open in the log until you collect all the MacGuffins or scan every random animal on the planet...

[@codydoxey2497]

I find the killing rats as your 1st mission oddly satisfying. I think of the og baldurs gate bar rat infestation mission and the ff12 sewer rats opening and the rdr2 bar rat cleaning oddly alot.

[@Vincent_N89]

Nothing like a good end game side grind

[@leonhart99]

Rob doesnt like the stamp song? Im actually shocked, its such a banger

[@sirloinestakegames7866]

FIGHT FOR US LITTLE STAMP

[@mdw1138]

This was a really good one!😂😂👏

[@isaacmarston1682]

The side quest that introduces a mini-game that never appears again

[@andrewdaniel184]

These just get better and better

[@shadowlinkbds]

Ah side quests. Usually a fun delight and a must if you're a curious completionist myself.

[@dadofboys4956]

Outtakes!? Yes please and thank you!

[@shadowlinkbds]

11:20 Now let see who The Fridge Ghost thief really is. GASP! DELSIN RODENT!!! 😮

[@anthonyware566]

So glad your back Rob 🎉 I stopped watching when you stopped doing stuff like this 🎉 we missed you

[@ArtoriasNX]

Say what you will but bow wow wow absolutely slaps!

[@rodrigocampos1302]

The "princess" monster: - oh adventurer! You have come to kill the evil monster, well... Actually the monster is in another castle (repeat 3 or 4 times for good measure)

[@francisco24slb1]

good content !!

[@Goomba1280]

Yoo Dave Strife cameo!! 7:02

[@TheKennyboy92]

I knew with the second one Stellar Blade was going to be shown. It is either an important item or a dead relative.

[@blooper_reel9408]

Please do a fri feature outtake montage video that last bit was class 🎉😂

[@shmookins]

Yes, more bloopers and behind the scenes, please.

[@tzovlask]

I'm so glad delsim made it back from the vet!!

[@matthewburg9604]

Take away fetch quests from DA and the game is only 8mins long. Lmao, priceless Rob. Scooby Doo quest, lmao

[@martynpotter21]

The secretly tail/follow side quest. Like how I secretly follow PlayStation Access all week only to reveal myself at the opportune moment with a comment on the Friday Feature.

[@ArveEriksson]

Rats inna basement?? Ah. Yep, that one was represented early.

[@nutsymcgregor]

What about the side quests that just involve talking to an NPC. Maybe it’s a person, maybe an animal, or even a vending machine.

[@djdannyp86]

The way Rob stressed 'escort' made me think it was the sort of side missions you'd find down a back alley in GTA rather than one involving accompanying someone to their destination

[@hoosierbuddy1251]

That felt more like a badger threat than an insult.

[@mistermorningthere]

'Next, we swap bone snapping for phone papping' 👏👏👏👏

[@dennigalla]

Nice seeing SMT5 Vengeance on the channel. Would love to see a stream.

[@amyford2971]

How about the fetch or give npcs valuable things like healing herbs, potions etc. I’m like no I want all the potions. Unless they give me useful accessories or weapons of course.