To find optional quests in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, talk to townspeople and villagers, explore unfamiliar places, and watch for an exclamation point in an NPC’s speech bubble. To track a quest you have started, press the Minus button to open the Adventure Log; select its entry for hints and a map marker. If progress stalls, use the log’s clue to revisit the relevant person or place, inspect the surroundings, try abilities or items you recently acquired, and check whether another story milestone comes first. Optional tasks vary from quick local requests to longer story-linked adventures, so the best way to tackle them is to match your next step to your goal: follow the log, pursue a useful reward, or simply explore.
What counts as an optional quest in Tears of the Kingdom?
“Optional quest” is a useful umbrella term, not one single in-game category. The game separates Side Quests, Side Adventures, and Shrine Quests. These categories differ in typical length, narrative focus, and rewards, so it helps to know what kind of entry you are tracking. The word “optional” describes their relationship to the main story; it does not mean every task is equally short, self-contained, or unconnected to other activities.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Category | What to expect | Reported count |
|---|---|---|
| Side Quests | Usually smaller tasks, often centered on a local request. Rewards can include money, items, or armor. | 139 in Nintendo Life’s guide published June 16, 2023. This is a guide count, not an official Nintendo total. |
| Side Adventures | Usually longer, story-linked quests involving important characters or special rewards. Some open up other optional content. | 60 in Nintendo Life’s guide published June 16, 2023. This is a guide count, not an official Nintendo total. |
| Shrine Quests | A separate quest category associated with finding or accessing shrines. | A comparable verified total is not stated in the sources cited here. |
The counts above describe the two Nintendo Life lists as published in 2023; they should not be treated as current official Nintendo totals or as proof that completing those entries alone achieves every possible completion goal. The figures are useful when you want a rough sense of the scale of the Side Quest and Side Adventure lists, but they are not a universal definition of 100% completion. A checklist can use different criteria, and the sources do not establish a comparable Shrine Quest total.
Side Quests tend to be the more local, smaller-scale choice: a character has a request, and finishing it may earn money, an item, or armor. Side Adventures are usually longer and more closely connected to characters or storylines, and their rewards can reach beyond an immediate item. They may unlock Purah Pad features, inventory expansion, or clothing upgrades. Some also act as gateways to other optional content. For example, Nintendo Life’s Side Adventures guide identifies “Serenade to a Great Fairy” as a prerequisite for access to many Great Fairies. Optional does not always mean irrelevant to other optional activities.
#1 Best Overall
- Enhanced performance and visuals exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2.
- Explore the skies, caves, and vast lands of Hyrule in a massive open-world adventure.
- Wield new and returning abilities to craft solutions, vehicles, and weapons.
- Discover the mystery behind the spreading gloom threatening the kingdom.
- Use the ZELDA NOTES app to share, compare, and earn daily bonuses.
These distinctions are tendencies, not a reason to rank one category as better. Choose a Side Quest if you want a smaller task or a local reward, a Side Adventure if you are interested in a longer chain or an unlock, and a Shrine Quest if your current goal is tied to finding or accessing a shrine. If your aim is completion, first decide what you mean by completion and use a tracker that matches that goal rather than treating the two 2023 guide counts as a complete game-wide checklist.
How do I find side quests and know if an NPC has one?
Talking to people is the main discovery method Nintendo recommends. Speak with villagers, townspeople, and other peaceful characters as you travel, especially when you reach a settlement or come across someone who mentions a local problem, request, or person. In Play Nintendo’s “Time to tackle Hyrule?” guide, Nintendo says an exclamation point in a character’s speech bubble indicates that they have a quest for you. If you see that cue, talk to the character rather than assuming the marker alone starts or explains the task.
Nintendo’s “Beginning Your Journey” guide puts conversation in practical terms: “As not everyone in Hyrule is your enemy, make a point of chatting up any peaceful characters you come across. This is an important avenue to learning crucial details and acquiring new objectives.” That advice is useful well beyond towns. A person you encounter while exploring may provide information or a new objective, so it is worth speaking with peaceful characters instead of passing them by.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesNot every discovery depends on a visible marker. Explore places you have not visited, look around for clues, and return to familiar locations after making progress in the main story. Nintendo’s official tips also recommend experimenting with Link’s abilities and Zonai devices. Your route through Hyrule may differ from another player’s, so exploration and conversation are more reliable than expecting every quest to appear in one fixed sequence. If a location seems quiet, it can still be worth checking again after you have advanced the story or learned something new.
- Check towns and villages for people to speak with, and do not limit conversations to characters already marked as quest givers.
- Notice the exclamation-point speech-bubble cue, then talk to that character to learn what they want.
- Pay attention to dialogue that names a person, place, or unresolved local problem. Those details may help you recognize a later clue or remember where to return.
- Explore unfamiliar areas and revisit locations after story progress, since your route and timing can affect what you encounter.
- Try Link’s abilities and Zonai devices when the surroundings suggest a way to interact with the environment. Nintendo recommends experimentation as part of exploring and solving problems.
A good discovery routine combines these methods rather than relying on only one. Talk to people as you arrive somewhere, look around for places or details that connect to what they said, and keep exploring. If an optional chain does not seem available yet, continue with the main quests and return later instead of assuming you have permanently missed it.
Where do I see active quests in TotK?
Press the Minus button to open the Adventure Log. It lists quests you have started and quests you have finished. Select an active entry to read its objective and any hint or reminder included with it. For many objectives, the log marks a destination with a circle on the map and minimap, helping you orient yourself without having to guess where to go next.
Nintendo Support’s “General Tips for Playing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” states: “You can review any quests you’ve started (and finished) by pressing the – (Minus) Button and navigating to the Adventure Log. Many list hints or reminders on how to complete the quest.” The log is therefore both a progress record and a place to return to when you have forgotten what an NPC asked you to do. Finished entries are available there too, which can help you check whether you already completed a task.
Treat the entry as a working clue rather than a full step-by-step solution. The marker can direct you to a destination, but it may not explain exactly what to do once you arrive. Read the text closely: a named person, place, or reminder can narrow the search, while the surroundings may provide the next clue. If the entry does not show a marker or its wording leaves room for interpretation, use it to guide your search rather than waiting for a more explicit instruction.
When juggling several tasks, selecting the relevant entry before setting out keeps your attention on the objective you intend to pursue. If you have not played for a while, reread the log before retracing your steps. The Adventure Log is a better starting point than trying to remember a request from an earlier conversation, and it can help distinguish two similar-sounding tasks by their exact titles.
A practical method for finishing a side quest
- Find the quest giver. Talk to villagers, townspeople, and other peaceful characters. If you see the exclamation-point speech bubble, speak with that NPC and listen for the request or problem. Conversation can supply names and locations that become useful later, so pay attention to the details rather than only the broad idea of the task.
- Start the entry and identify its exact name. Once the quest is recorded, its title gives you a reliable way to find it again in the Adventure Log or to distinguish it from a similarly named task. Remembering the exact name also makes it easier to find a relevant walkthrough if you need one later.
- Read the objective. Press Minus to open the Adventure Log, select the quest, and note its hint. If the game marks a destination, check the circle on the map or minimap. Keep the wording in mind as you travel; the location marker is a guide to where to look, while the objective text tells you what kind of clue or action matters.
- Go to the named person or place. If you are unsure what the clue means, return to the NPC or location named in the entry. Talk to nearby characters and look over the immediate surroundings for something that matches the objective. Study the area instead of rushing past it: a quest may ask you to notice a detail or connect the environment to what you have been told.
- Experiment with what you have. Try relevant abilities, items, or Zonai devices, especially if you acquired something new while progressing through the story. Nintendo’s beginner guidance advises studying the area and using trial and error; newly acquired abilities or items can be central to progression. Experimentation is most useful when guided by the clue, so consider what the objective says and what the location suggests before trying possibilities.
- Check for a dependency. If the clue seems impossible to act on, consider whether another quest or a main-story milestone needs to happen first. Optional chains can have prerequisites; later Great Fairy serenades, for instance, follow “Serenade to a Great Fairy.” A blocked step may be a prompt to finish an earlier part of a chain or advance elsewhere, not proof that you missed a hidden object.
- Look up the exact quest if you remain stuck. Nintendo’s official tips recommend using online walkthroughs when needed. Search the precise quest title from your Adventure Log so that instructions for a similarly named quest do not send you in the wrong direction. A focused walkthrough can clarify a particular objective, but use the log’s current step to make sure the instructions correspond to your progress.
This method works for short requests and longer chains because it follows the game’s own information loop: talk to someone, use the Adventure Log, go where the clue points, and investigate. It also reduces unnecessary backtracking. Before leaving a location, check whether the objective has changed or whether the log now names a new person or destination. If it has, follow that updated clue rather than repeating the previous step.
Rank #2
- The Legend of Zelda - Tears of the Kingdom
What to do when a quest stops progressing
Before assuming the quest is broken, use its current objective to narrow down what the game expects. Re-read the log entry, return to its named NPC or place, speak to nearby characters, and inspect the area. If the task began before you obtained a relevant ability or item, try using it now. Also consider whether the quest is part of a longer chain or depends on a main-story milestone. If you have just completed another objective, check whether that changed what the log says.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Work through the clue methodically. If the entry points to a person, make sure you have returned to that person and listened to what they say. If it points to an area, look around there rather than searching all of Hyrule. If you have acquired a new item or ability since your last attempt, think about whether it could interact with the surroundings. Nintendo’s beginner guide recommends studying the area and using trial and error, but this does not mean trying unrelated actions at random; the objective, dialogue, and location give you a basis for deciding what to test.
If those checks do not help, look up a walkthrough using the exact title in the Adventure Log. Quest-specific instructions are more useful than a broad search for “TotK side quest,” particularly when two tasks have similar names. Compare the step in the walkthrough with your current log entry so you do not mistake a later objective for the one you need to solve now. Nintendo’s support tips specifically suggest online walkthroughs when you remain stuck.
There have also been documented progression fixes for named quests. Nintendo’s update history includes fixes affecting “Hateno Village Research Lab,” “Lurelin Village Restoration Project,” “Village Attacked by Pirates,” “The Incomplete Stable,” and “Seeking the Pirate Hideout.” Those entries are historical evidence that updates have addressed particular progression issues; they do not establish that any of these quests has a widespread current bug, nor do they diagnose every apparent blocker. If a step appears impossible even after following its clues, check Nintendo’s current instructions for updating the game before concluding that you missed something.
An update check is a sensible final troubleshooting step, not a substitute for reading the objective or checking a quest’s prerequisites. The named fixes show that progression issues have existed for specific tasks, but they are not evidence that every stalled quest is caused by a bug. First revisit the relevant person or place, test a clue-guided ability or item, and confirm that the quest chain is at the right stage; then check for updates if the task still will not advance.
How to find a side quest you may have missed
There is no single marker described in the cited guidance that reveals every unstarted optional quest across Hyrule. A practical search is to revisit settlements and other places you have already reached, talk to characters you have not spoken with, and explore areas still unfamiliar to you. Then compare the titles in the Adventure Log with the kind of activity you are looking for: Side Quests, Side Adventures, and Shrine Quests are separate categories.
Start with locations where you have already met people or heard about a local issue. Speak with peaceful characters, look for the exclamation-point cue, and listen for references to other people or places. If you have moved the main story forward since your last visit, check the location again. Nintendo’s guidance emphasizes talking, exploring, and experimenting, rather than following a single fixed route, so a methodical sweep of places you know is more useful than expecting one universal quest detector.
If you are following a checklist, keep its scope and date in mind. Nintendo Life’s 2023 Side Quest and Side Adventure guides provide named lists and reported totals—139 Side Quests and 60 Side Adventures—but their counts are not Nintendo-published figures, and they do not establish a complete tracker for every optional objective or every player’s personal definition of completion. They can help you see which named entries you have not done, but a missing count alone does not tell you whether you have found every Shrine Quest or completed every activity you personally include.
The Adventure Log records started and finished quests, so use it to verify your own progress rather than treating an unstarted task as though it must appear there. If a specific entry is missing from your list, search for its exact title in a quest guide and check what location or chain it belongs to. For broad discovery, keep talking to characters and revisit areas as you progress; for one particular missing task, a title-specific reference is more efficient.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Choosing what to do first
There is no universal best order for optional quests. If you want a quick local task, a Side Quest is often the smaller commitment. If you want a longer character-focused chain or a reward that opens up other optional content, a Side Adventure may be more relevant. If your current goal is a shrine, follow the Shrine Quest category instead. The Adventure Log helps you resume any started entry, while the main story can be worth advancing when an optional chain appears to depend on a later milestone.
Rank #3
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom /Switch
You can also choose by the kind of reward or progress you want. Side Quests can provide money, items, or armor. Side Adventures may open Purah Pad features, inventory expansion, or clothing upgrades, and some lead to further optional content. If a longer chain is available, its extra steps may be worthwhile when they unlock something you want; if you only have time for a brief task, a smaller local request may fit better. These are practical preferences, not guarantees that every quest in a category has the same duration or reward.
When you are deciding whether to pause the main story, consider the clue in front of you. If the next step seems inaccessible, a prerequisite or story milestone may be involved. Nintendo recommends continuing to explore, talk, and experiment, while the Adventure Log gives you a way to resume the task later. There is no need to finish every optional quest before progressing the main story, and the available category counts should not be mistaken for requirements for the main ending.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently asked questions
How do I find side quests in Tears of the Kingdom?
Talk to townspeople, villagers, and peaceful characters as you explore, and look for an exclamation point in a character’s speech bubble. Explore unfamiliar areas and revisit places after story progress, since quests may be discovered along different routes.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
How do I know if an NPC has a quest?
Play Nintendo’s guide says an exclamation point in the speech bubble marks a character with a quest. Speak with the character to hear the request and add the objective to your Adventure Log.
Where do I see my active quests in TotK?
Press the Minus button and navigate to the Adventure Log. It lists quests you have started and finished. Select an active quest to read its objective and any hints or reminders; many entries also mark a destination on the map and minimap.
How do I finish a side quest?
Read the quest’s Adventure Log entry, go to the named person or place, and investigate the area. Talk to nearby characters and try relevant abilities, items, or Zonai devices, especially if you have acquired something new. If you cannot make progress, check for a prerequisite or consult a walkthrough for the exact quest title.
How do I find the side quest I’m missing?
There is no single marker described for every unstarted quest. Revisit settlements and other locations, talk to characters you have not spoken with, look for the speech-bubble cue, and explore unfamiliar places. If you know the title of the missing task, use that exact name to check a quest-specific guide.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Are Side Quests and Side Adventures the same thing?
No. They are separate categories. Side Quests are generally smaller local tasks, while Side Adventures are usually longer and more story-linked. Side Adventures can also unlock other optional content. Shrine Quests are a third category.
Do I have to finish optional quests to complete the main story?
The cited guidance does not say that every optional quest is required for the main story. Some optional chains do depend on earlier steps or unlock other optional activities, so check the Adventure Log and follow prerequisites when a task stalls.
What should I do if a quest seems bugged?
Re-read its objective, return to the named NPC or place, inspect the area, and try relevant abilities or items. Check whether a prerequisite or story milestone comes first. Nintendo has documented fixes for progression issues in several named quests, so if the clue-based checks do not help, consult Nintendo’s current update instructions. Those historical fixes do not mean every stalled quest is a current bug.
Rank #4
![The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51PuJ83o9KL._SL160_.jpg)
- Ultrahand: Using the new Ultrahand ability, Link can pick up, move, and rotate almost any object, and can even attach objects together to create bridges, vehicles, and more!
- Fuse: Magically fuse almost any object to Link’s current weapon, shield, or arrow to increase durability, damage, or even add a new effect. Experiment with lots of different combinations to come up with surprising—and sometimes hilarious—results!
- Ascend: Add a new dimension to your exploration with Ascend, which gives Link the ability to pass through solid objects above him. Rise up through ceilings, hillsides, and even certain enemies to create seemingly impossible shortcuts.
- Recall: Use Recall to make objects in motion move backward through time, letting Link ride fallen boulders skyward, recover thrown weapons, or send projectiles back where they came from.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find side quests in Tears of the Kingdom?
Talk to townspeople, villagers, and peaceful characters as you explore, and look for an exclamation point in a character’s speech bubble. Explore unfamiliar areas and revisit places after story progress, since quests may be discovered along different routes.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →How do I know if an NPC has a quest?
Play Nintendo’s guide says an exclamation point in the speech bubble marks a character with a quest. Speak with the character to hear the request and add the objective to your Adventure Log.
Where do I see my active quests in TotK?
Press the Minus button and navigate to the Adventure Log. It lists quests you have started and finished. Select an active quest to read its objective and any hints or reminders; many entries also mark a destination on the map and minimap.
How do I finish a side quest?
Read the quest’s Adventure Log entry, go to the named person or place, and investigate the area. Talk to nearby characters and try relevant abilities, items, or Zonai devices, especially if you have acquired something new. If you cannot make progress, check for a prerequisite or consult a walkthrough for the exact quest title.
How do I find the side quest I’m missing?
There is no single marker described for every unstarted quest. Revisit settlements and other locations, talk to characters you have not spoken with, look for the speech-bubble cue, and explore unfamiliar places. If you know the title of the missing task, use that exact name to check a quest-specific guide.
Are Side Quests and Side Adventures the same thing?
No. They are separate categories. Side Quests are generally smaller local tasks, while Side Adventures are usually longer and more story-linked. Side Adventures can also unlock other optional content. Shrine Quests are a third category.
Do I have to finish optional quests to complete the main story?
The cited guidance does not say that every optional quest is required for the main story. Some optional chains do depend on earlier steps or unlock other optional activities, so check the Adventure Log and follow prerequisites when a task stalls.
What should I do if a quest seems bugged?
Re-read its objective, return to the named NPC or place, inspect the area, and try relevant abilities or items. Check whether a prerequisite or story milestone comes first. Nintendo has documented fixes for progression issues in several named quests, so if the clue-based checks do not help, consult Nintendo’s current update instructions. Those historical fixes do not mean every stalled quest is a current bug.
The Bottom Line
To discover optional quests, talk to peaceful characters, watch for the exclamation-point speech bubble, and explore places you have not visited. To finish one, press Minus for the Adventure Log, follow its hint and map marker, and investigate the named person or area with relevant abilities and items. Check prerequisites before assuming a task is broken, and use the exact quest title when you need a walkthrough. Side Quests, Side Adventures, and Shrine Quests are different categories, and the 139 Side Quest and 60 Side Adventure counts come from Nintendo Life guides published in 2023, not official Nintendo completion totals.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
