With the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom just a few short weeks away, there is no better time to delve back into Breath of the Wild. But with approximately 50 hours of Side Quests and Activities to complete, things can quickly get overwhelming, as there are over 76 Side Quests alone for you to explore.
So if you're running short on time or want to experience the best stories the game has to offer first, we've compiled a list of some of our favorite, must-play Side Quests and Activities below that we highly recommend checking out during your playthrough.
If you're experiencing Breath of the Wild for the first time or just jumping back into an old save, check out our expansive BotW Wiki Guide, which will help you navigate your journey across Hyrule.
The Priceless Maracas
When following the path south of Kakariko Village, you’ll discover a giant Korok named Hestu, who you learn has lost his priceless instrument, a pair of maracas – which can be found at a henge-like rock foundation nearby. After defeating the Bokoblins guarding the Treasure Chest, return to Hestu, where he'll reveal that the Maracas have no seeds inside, so he'll recruit your help in collecting Korok Seeds – a unique collectible that can be traded to Hetsu in exchange for a very valuable reward, extra inventory slots.
While there are hundreds of Koroks Seeds to be found across Hyrule – 900, to be exact – you’ll need to collect hundreds in order to max out each inventory category. So, if you’re in need of some extra inventory slots or just want to collect em’ all, be sure to check out our Interactive Map and Korok Seed Locations guide for all the details.
Slated for Upgrades
When speaking with Purah at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab in the Hateno Region, you’ll have the chance to start the Slated for Upgrades Side Quest – arguably one of BoTW’s must-complete quests.
In return for delivering materials dropped by Guardians – such as Ancient Screws, Ancient Shafts, and Ancient Cores – Purah will upgrade your Sheikah Sensor, Remote Bomb Rune, and Statis Rune with increased stats and brand-new features.
Hylian Homeowner
Upon reaching Hatano Village, you’ll discover a group of men from Bolson Construction working to demolish an abandoned house just West of Myahm Agana Shrine. When speaking to the men, you’ll unlock the Side Quest, Hylian Homeowner, and upon further convincing, they’ll agree to sell you the home for 3000 Rupees and 30 bundles of wood.
Once purchased, you’ll have a place to call your own, which even comes complete with a free weapon mount that allows you to place any weapon you own on it – including those of the champions.
The features don’t stop there, as you can further upgrade your homestead to add extra weapon mounts, bow mounts, shield mounts, a bed, a flowerbed, trees, and so much more.
The best part, though, is that it unlocks one of the best Side Quests in the game – From The Ground Up.
From the Ground Up
After completing Hylian Homeowner, you'll be able to visit Lake Akkala, where you’ll find Hudson from Bolson Construction has started his very own town – Tarrey Town.
However, in order to populate the town with people, he’ll need your help to find and gather materials needed to construct other buildings and homes.
The more you delve into the Side Quest, the more the town becomes built because of your actions and the more merchants that will open up shop – including Grante, who will resupply one of the most powerful items in BoTW, the Hylian Shield, should you have lost it in battle, for 3,000 Rupees.
The Thunder Helm
Fancy yourself a problem solver? The Thunder Helm Side Quest will have you solving everyone’s problems in Gerudo Town – five to be exact. While that may seem like quite the ask, each of these sub-quests offer fun interactions such as challenging miniboss encounters, hunting down Wildberries, eavesdropping on town folk, and even unlocking exciting rewards such as: