With an incredible storyline, jaw-dropping new abilities, and a host of unique questlines, Tears of the Kingdom is one of the best games of 2023! Although we yearn to see Link defeat the dreaded Demon King, the many side quests in Hyrule enhance the gaming experience like nothing else. They give Link more opportunities than ever to talk with the people, solve their problems, and get some of the best loot in the game!
After playing through hundreds of hours of the game myself, I’ve picked out the top 10 best side quests in Tears of the Kingdom!
10. The Mayoral Election
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - The Mayoral Election Gameplay Walkthrough
The first time you step into Hateno Village, you’ll see quite a few changes from Breath of the Wild. Mushroom decor runs wild through the town, all because an up and coming designer wants to challenge Mayor Reede in an upcoming election!
“The Mayoral Election” questline starts with a number of smaller quests to get you up to date on the current Hateno community:
- Team Cece or Team Reede?
- A Letter to Koyin
- A New Signature Food
- Reede’s Secret
- Cece’s Secret
These quests are found as you talk to people around town. They’ll tell you who they’d vote for and why, leading to some fun interactions with the characters you meet!
Finishing “The Mayoral Election” questline will open up Cece’s clothing shop so you can finally buy some familiar and fun outfits from Breath of the Wild. Cece will also give you a unique mushroom hat that is sure to catch the attention and jealousy of everyone you meet.
9. Mattison’s Independence
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Mattison's Independence Gameplay Walkthrough
With our good friend Addison running around promoting the business, Hudson Construction has found a much larger presence in Tears of the Kingdom. Not only had Hudson been wildly successful, but he and his wife Rhondson also had a daughter named Mattison!
This sweet couple needs some help with their daughter before sending her off to Gerudo Town, and Link is just the guy for the job.
This quest has fun interactions with the people of Tarrey Town, some sweet development and cutscenes with the family, and also opens up quite a bit for you to do in Tarrey Town later on. With Hudson free, Link can finally get his own house, and you can also unlock a new storyline with our good friend Kilton from Breath of the Wild.
8. The Mysterious Eighth
"The Mysterious Eighth" Side Quest Walkthrough - Zelda Tears of The Kingdom
Entering Gerudo Town for the first time has its own set of challenges, but as you look around, you’re sure to run into Rotana as she looks for ancient stone slabs known as stelae. Helping Rotana find the four stelae will complete “The Heroine’s Secret” quest and open up the continuation of the quest, “The Mysterious Eighth”.
This quest is a great way to explore different areas of Gerudo Town and the surrounding desert since you’ll need to search for the heroine’s orbs and bring them back to Rotana. Two of the orbs are tied to these side quests:
- Lost in the Dunes
- Dalia’s Game
Gathering these orbs and bringing them to Rotana is a great way to think of creative solutions and utilize builds you’ve learned throughout the game.
In the end, this questline will teach you some fun lore about the Gerudo people and the secret eighth heroine, as well as open up a stash of loot like none other!
7. The Hunt for Bubbul Gems!
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - The Hunt for Bubbul Gems Gameplay Walkthrough
Kilton’s brother Koltin has a dream of one day becoming a satori: a magnificent horse-like creature known as The Lord of the Mountain. He’s sure that the only way to do this is by eating enough bubbul gems that are dropped from bubbulfrogs, and he needs Link to help him collect them.
When you first find this band of brothers, Kilton tells you he’s heading off to Tarrey Town while his brother now runs the bubbul gem shop, selling monster parts and outfits in exchange for bubbul gems. One of these outfits is a brand new three piece set with some unique rupee padding properties!
All in all, this quest leads to some fun interactions with these monster loving brothers, and since bubbulfrogs are found in caves, it also provides a good incentive for exploring all the new caves around Hyrule.
6. The Shrine Explorer
The Shrine Explorer Side Quest Guide in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
The premise for this quest is simple, but it will be quite some time before you can start it. After finishing all 152 shrines in the game, you will be told to go back to the Temple of Time for a special reward.
If you’re like me, you saw screenshots of this reward long before knowing how to get it for yourself, but it’s well worth the effort.
The Ancient Hero’s Aspect armor is a unique, three-pieces-in-one, clothing item that completely transforms Link into an ancient Zonai hero. The armor can be upgraded to 84 defense and has a buff for the Master Sword when worn. Between the cool design, high defense, and lore associated with it, this armor set is certainly one of the best in the game.
5. Infiltrating the Yiga Clan
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Infiltrating the Yiga Clan Gameplay Walkthrough
Sneaking around the Yiga Clan base is probably one of the most frustrating events in Breath of the Wild, but in Tears of the Kingdom, getting around there is much easier, as long as you have the right gear.
The Yiga Clan has quite a few bases scattered around the map, but if you try to enter their main base, you’ll be met with a closed door. However, as you demolish three of the other bases during this quest, you’ll acquire all three pieces of the Yiga armor and gain access to all of the Yiga Clan’s secrets.
This questline is a great way to explore more of Hyrule, and also has lots of funny moments along the way. You’ll rescue some of the most fashionable people in Hyrule, see Yiga inventors making their new devices, and have a go at the Yiga Clan exam that rewards you with the Earthquake Technique and the Thunder Helm.
4. Misko’s Treasure of Awakening I, II, & III
How to Get Of Awakening Set NO AMIIBO - Tears of the Kingdom
Misko’s treasures are found all around Hyrule, with fashionable friends often guiding you to their locations. If you happen to come across the Goronbi River Cave in Eldin, make sure you search thoroughly to find the riddle that will start you on this fun and unique quest chain.
Many of Misko’s treasures have riddles associated with them, but the Awakening questline has some of my favorite riddles. This quest is going to be much easier if you have the entire map of the surface, and have also explored a fair bit of it, since many of the riddles are based on place names.
With each new armor piece, you’ll get another riddle until you have the entire set. But unless you plan to be sneaky, the riddles will lead you to places with a Fire Gleeok and a Thunder Gleeok. However, the unique and bobblehead-like set is well worth the effort and a lot of fun too!
3. For Our Princess!
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - For Our Princess Gameplay Walkthrough (Side Adventure)
Working with the Lucky Clover Gazette leads to a lot of wacky adventures, but “For Our Princess!” is definitely one of the best.
When you arrive in Foothill Stable in Eldin, you’ll see several Zonai Survey Team members wearing nothing but their underpants. If you decide to join the team in just your underwear, there’s a lot of fun and unique dialogue that adds to the hilarity of this quest. After asking around, you’ll soon find out that these men are convinced Princess Zelda told them to explore in this way, and it’s up to you to show them how it’s done.
Like many quests and shrines in Tears of the Kingdom, you will be required to enter an area with no equipment and fight with whatever you can find. By proving yourself, you’ll find the real reason behind this strange request, and have some interesting interactions along the way.
2. Master Kohga of the Yiga Clan
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Master Kohga of the Yiga Clan Gameplay Walkthrough
Despite Master Kohga’s futile attempts to best Link, we can commend him on one thing: his creativity. As you explore the depths, head to the area underneath the Great Plateau as soon as you can. Here, you’ll find Master Kohga and hear of his tragic fall into the depths from the last time you defeated him in Breath of the Wild.
This first encounter with Master Kohga is a blast, giving you a chance to fight in a new way, and against new devices. It will also help you fill one of your abilities: Autobuild. After defeating him, again, Master Kohga will run, allowing you to find him at several other spots in the depths and have many more fun and unique battles along the way.
These battles are a great chance to practice building and maneuvering in a fight, giving you plenty of chances to use your abilities in battle. There are also plenty of hilarious interactions with Master Kohga and his subordinates, making this an incredibly worthwhile questline.
1. A New Champion’s Tunic
A New Champion's Tunic Zelda Tears of The Kingdom
The Champion’s Tunic, or in this case, the Champion’s Leathers, is probably the most iconic piece of clothing in the game. Not only that, but it’s also got the best possible defense stat in the game!
In Breath of the Wild, acquiring the Champion’s Tunic is a part of the main questline if you choose to recover Link’s memories, but in Tears of the Kingdom, the Champion’s Leathers are more of an easter egg item than anything.
Tucked away in Hateno Village, you’ll find Link’s house from the previous game, except it seems that Link handed the house over to Zelda after the events of the Calamity. Visiting this house while exploring Hateno Village will give you lots of interesting lore about Zelda, Link, and what they’ve been doing in between the two games.
Zelda even had a secret well built behind her house that contains the clue to start this quest and find where she hid the Champion’s Leathers. Though hidden, this quest is definitely worth the extra effort, and will also give you a chance to explore Hyrule Castle!
Final Thoughts
If you haven’t had a chance, go try these quests out for yourself and experience the fun, challenging, and unique aspects of each one! Tears of the Kingdom is full of amazing quests, even beyond this list, so get out there and get exploring!
