Subplots and Side Stories

Due to their interactive nature, video games narratives are the perfect vehicle for subplots and side stories. Unlike in movies and books, where every person experiences the story the same way, video games can be played a multitude of ways. While players who have no interest in subplots can focus entirely on the game’s core narrative—the content mandatory for completion—players who want to experience more of the world can explore optional subplots known as sidequests. Because these sidequests are not required for completion, they are often designed to have no impact on the main storyline. Instead, sidequests are used like literary and cinematic subplots, adding depth to the characters, the world, or the theme. Although these side stories are skippable by their nature, players are typically incentivized to complete them with the promise of powerful tools and equipment that cannot be obtained elsewhere. Some sidequests may even result in new characters joining the party, resulting in additional sidequests and story development.

While sidequests have grown in scope and quality in lockstep with game narratives, not all sidequests are created equal. One of the most common sidequest types, the fetch quest, is also the least complex (and least loved). In fetch quests, players are told to find a given amount of a certain type of object, then return it to the person who requested it. TVTropes describes these as FedEx quests, saying: “[The] people, places, and objects themselves are largely inconsequential — you’re just their mail carrier.”² Although these quests can unlock useful skills and tools, players rarely find them enjoyable, as they don’t add anything to the story. Conversely, sidequests that add dimension to the characters and the setting are better received, as are stories that play with tone. An injection of humor into an otherwise dry gameplay segment can get players excited about a task, just as a descent into horror can bring them to the edge of their seats. Likewise, sharing insightful tidbits about the characters and the world can help them see the story in a new way, which strengthens the overall narrative. The very best sidequests will often do all of these things, adding depth and complexity to the playable world while breaking up the monotony of the current tone.

When searching for satisfying sidequests, one of the first genres to consider is the open-world game. Open-world games are a type of game that takes place in vast settings full of quests that can be completed in any order. While most open-world games have a core narrative that the player must experience to reach the end, most side quests are optional. Some of these quests are also affected by the player’s choices, which can have different outcomes that potentially change the main story. Just as an act of kindness at the end of a side quest may benefit the player down the line, an act of cruelty on the same quest may result in unforeseen hardships. Navigating these choices gives the player a sense of control over the story, thus strengthening the connection to the sidequests they choose.