Along with the main story, most Legend of Zelda games come with an abundance of side quests. With so many across the franchise, not all of them are going to be great. Most involve simply collecting a certain amount of resources to obtain an item, but some can make an already great Zelda game even better, and be just as memorable as the main story.
Side quests in Zelda games allow the writers to go off-piste, to experiment with characters and lore. Often times this culminates in quirky quests that add in some humor to round out a game’s experience. But they can also be heartrending, disturbing, and downright bizarre.
10 Skyward Sword: Gathering Gratitude Crystals Is A Heartwarming Endeavor
Gratitude Crystals are items Link receives from the bat-like demon Batreaux in return for completing various quests. While none of the side quests are particularly lengthy or taxing, they do provide for some humorous, strange, and heartwarming interactions.
One of the most memorable missions, Cawlin’s letter, begins with Link hearing ghost-like moaning outside the bathroom, asking for some paper. If Link supplies Batreaux with all 80 crystals, he will turn into a human.
9 Twilight Princess: Collecting Golden Bugs Is Satisfying
Of all the collectathons across the Zelda series, there was something particularly satisfying about tracking down all the golden bugs in Twilight Princess. Unlike Breath of the Wild and its hundreds of koroks, there was a manageable amount of golden bugs to find, 24 in total, male and female versions of 12 different varieties of bug.
It made for a nice and relaxing activity in between the gritty reality that permeates Twilight Princess. It wasn’t mandatory to find all the bugs, but doing so got Link the Giant Wallet, capable of holding up to 1000 rupees.
8 Breath of the Wild: From the Ground Up Rewards You With A Completed And Lively Town
One of the lengthiest side quests of any Zelda game, let alone Breath of the Wild, saw Link having to gather up resources from across Hyrule to build an entire village, complete with houses and shops.
As much as that might sound like a chore, once all the buildings have gone up, the villagers have moved in and Tarrey Town is complete, it’s heartwarming, rewarding, and functional, given that players can buy various items in one place. Along the way, you meet a host of colorful characters such as the chic and extravagant Bolson, and the stout and dependable construction worker Hudson.
7 Ocarina of Time: Biggoron’s Sword Is Tedious But Worth It
Lengthy and potentially frustrating, the Biggoron Sword side quest in Ocarina of Time sees all kinds of strange and unique items get added to the menu’s item screen. Twice as powerful as the Master Sword at the expense of Link’s shield, as the Biggoron Sword must be wielded with both hands.
This is a worthwhile if tedious quest and one of the longest trading sequences in the entire Zelda franchise.
6 Majora’s Mask: Protecting Romani Ranch Gives You A Break From The Main Quest
Aside from being the darkest, most disturbing Zelda game in the series, Majora’s Mask is known for its abundance of side quests. This side quest saw Link shooting down aliens that have come for the cows at Romani Ranch.
Hold the aliens off until morning and he gets a bottle of milk. The next part of the quest involves protecting Cremia’s cart from the Gorman brothers. If Link gets to Clock Town with everything accounted for he’ll be rewarded with Romani’s Mask.
5 Wind Waker: Lenzo’s Deluxe Picto Box Enhances Immersion
Link can obtain the original Picto Box on Windfall Island, but in order to obtain the Deluxe Picto Box, the player has to complete Picto Box Shop-owner Lenzo’s challenge. At the time, taking pictures inside a game was a relatively new concept, allowing for a rare level of immersion.
Lenzo’s challenge involves using the Picto Box to focus on a villager and observe them as they carry out their daily tasks, which really helps to make the player feel like they’re “inside” the game. It’s like a mini version of Pokémon Snap, Link having to do certain things in order to get the shot he needs, such as throw and break a vase to get someone to shake.
4 Ocarina of Time: Epona Can Speed Up Travel Times
Although extremely useful for traversing the vast fields of Hyrule, Epona is not actually a requirement for beating Ocarina of Time. Players can get Epona as soon as they finish the Temple of Time as an adult.
The quest spans Link’s transition from childhood to adulthood, learning Epona’s Song in childhood before returning to the now-decrepit Lon Lon Ranch as an adult. Link must beat Ingo, who has since taken over the farm, in a series of races before jumping the fence after Ingo attempts to lock him in.
3 Breath of the Wild: Call The Royal White Stallion Your Own
The Royal White Stallion is Zelda’s old horse, so Toffa at Outskirt Stable tells Link. Toffa wants someone to return the horse so he can see it for himself. There’s something magical about seeing the horse in the wild for the first time, and then trying (and most likely failing, at first) to capture it.
Trying to catch up to this fast, skittish horse and then remain on its back long enough to calm it is impossible without enough stamina. Once caught and tamed, Link can take the horse back to Outskirt stable to register and name her. The horse comes with the royal saddle and royal bridle.
2 Twilight Princess: Cave of Ordeals Is Deeply Cathartic
A simple side quest that has Link venturing ever deeper into a dungeon and defeating enemies that get stronger the deeper he goes. There’s no collecting, no people to talk to, just mindless hacking and slashing your way through hordes of enemies.
Every 10 levels there’s a floor where Link can replenish his health, but other than that there’s no way to heal as the enemies don’t drop hearts. Deeply cathartic and a lot of fun, this side quest provided a great way for players to test their resilience and ability.
1 Majora’s Mask: A Testament of Love Is Lengthy But Beautiful
Perhaps the hardest and longest—in terms of how many in-game days it takes to complete—of all the side quests in the Zelda series, A Testament of Love has Link acting as a matchmaker. Occurring over 3 in-game days, Link is tasked with reuniting Anju and Kafei, who are due to be married but for Kafei’s sudden disappearance.
As it turns out, the mischievous Skull Kid had transformed Kafei into a child, causing him to run away, ashamed. Once Link finds Kafei, he and Anju exchange the Sun and Moon Masks Link obtained, creating the Couple’s Mask, and they die side-by-side.
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