The Evolution of RPG Side Quest Design

Side quests in RPGs have evolved significantly, moving from simple tasks to complex narratives that deeply integrate with the game world and player choices, reflecting advancements in game design.

The top 3

  1. Early RPGs: Simple Fetch & Kill Quests: In early RPGs like Ultima, side quests often consisted of basic 'fetch' or 'kill' objectives, primarily serving to provide experience points or gold rather than contributing to deep narrative or character development.
  2. Mid-Era: Branching Narratives & Moral Choices: Games like Fallout and Planescape: Torment pioneered side quests with complex, branching narratives, offering players meaningful choices and moral dilemmas that could significantly alter the game world and their character's path.
  3. Modern RPGs: Dynamic Worlds & Emergent Storytelling: Contemporary RPGs, such as The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, feature side quests that are deeply integrated into the main narrative, with dynamic events, evolving character relationships, and choices that can significantly impact the game's overall outcome.

Open the full topic