Side Quests Before Final Mission? A Gamer’s Guide

Should you finish every side quest before the final mission? The short answer is no—you don’t have to, but you often should, depending on the game and your goals. This article explains the trade-offs, how to decide quest by quest, and what you risk by skipping or rushing ahead.

Why the Question Matters

Open-world RPGs and action-adventure games are built around choice. The final mission usually represents a point of no return, and players worry about locking themselves out of content. Some games literally warn you with a pop-up: “You are about to enter the final area. Make sure you have saved.� Others quietly end the story or cut off unfinished quests.

The fear is real: missing a unique reward, a character arc, or a world-changing choice. But the opposite fear—spending 20 hours on fetch quests when you just want to see the ending—is also real. Understanding how your specific game handles post-game content is the key.

How Games Treat the Final Mission

There are three broad design patterns:

• Hard cutoff: The game ends after the credits, and you must reload a pre-final save to do anything else. Classic examples include many linear RPGs and older titles.
• Post-game world: The game lets you continue playing after the finale, often with new content unlocked. Many modern open-world games (e.g., Horizon Zero Dawn, Cyberpunk 2077 after patches) allow free-roam after the ending.
• New Game Plus: You can replay with your gear and levels, but side quests reset. Some quests may be missable if you didn’t do them before the final boss.

Check your game’s wiki or manual if you’re unsure. But as a general rule, if the game doesn’t explicitly say “you can continue after the ending,� assume you cannot.

What You Gain by Finishing Side Quests

Side quests are not just filler. They often provide:

• Unique rewards: Weapons, armor, spells, or upgrades that make the final fight easier.
• Character development: Companion backstories, romance options, or moral choices that affect the ending.
• World-building: Lore that explains why the villain is evil or why the world is in chaos.
• Optional bosses: Some of the hardest and most memorable fights are hidden in side content.

For example, in The Witcher 3, several side quests directly influence which ending you get. Skipping them can lock you out of the “good� ending. In Mass Effect 2, not upgrading your ship and completing loyalty missions can lead to party members dying in the final mission.

When Skipping Is the Right Call

Not all side quests are worth your time. Here are signs you can safely ignore one:

• It’s a generic fetch quest: “Collect 10 bear peltsâ€� with no story attached.
• You’re overleveled: The reward won’t help you, and the challenge is gone.
• It doesn’t fit your character: If you’re playing a ruthless mercenary, helping a farmer find his lost sheep might feel out of character.
• You’re not having fun: Games are meant to be enjoyable. If a quest feels like work, drop it.

Also, if you’re playing on a time budget, prioritize main story quests and only do side quests that interest you or offer unique rewards. You can always watch cutscenes online later.

How to Decide Quest by Quest

Before the final mission, do a quick audit:

1. List your active quests and sort them by difficulty and reward.
2. Mark any that involve main characters or have a “critical� icon (many games flag these).
3. Check if the quest is missable—some are only available before a certain story beat.
4. Estimate time: Each quest typically takes 15–60 minutes. Multiply by the number of quests to see if you have that much patience.
5. Decide based on your goal: If you want the “best� ending, do the critical ones. If you just want to finish the story, skip the rest.

A useful rule of thumb: do any side quest that offers a unique upgrade or a story beat you care about. Skip the rest.

Common Misconceptions

“Side quests disappear after the final mission.� Not always. Many games let you continue playing after the credits. But some don’t. The only way to know is to check the game’s specific behavior—or save before the final mission and test it.

“You must do all side quests to get the true ending.� Rarely true. Most games only require a handful of specific quests. Doing all of them is overkill.

“Skipping side quests makes the final boss too hard.� Usually not, unless you’re severely underleveled. Most games scale difficulty or offer lower difficulty settings. If you’re struggling, you can always go back and grind a few levels.

Costs and Benefits: A Quick Comparison

Costs of doing everything: Time, potential burnout, and the risk of being overleveled (which can make the final boss trivial and unsatisfying).

Benefits of doing everything: Completionist satisfaction, richer story, and the best gear.

Costs of skipping everything: Missing out on story depth, unique items, and possibly a worse ending.

Benefits of skipping: Faster pacing, less grind, and a more focused narrative.

There’s no universal right answer. It depends on what you value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do side quests after the final mission? It depends on the game. Some let you continue in a post-game world; others force a reload. Check your game’s wiki or save before the final mission to test.

Will I miss the best ending if I skip side quests? Possibly. Some games tie endings to specific side quests (e.g., The Witcher 3). Look up a spoiler-free guide if you care.

What happens if I’m underleveled for the final boss? Most games allow you to leave and grind, or lower the difficulty. If you’re stuck, do a few side quests to level up and get better gear.

Are there any side quests that are not worth doing? Yes—generic fetch quests with no story or unique rewards. You can usually identify them by their lack of voice acting or named characters.

Should I do all side quests in New Game Plus? Not necessarily. In NG+, you usually keep your levels and gear, so rewards are less important. Focus on quests that offer unique story beats or achievements.

Does doing side quests make the final mission too easy? It can, if you overlevel. If you want a challenge, skip some or play on a higher difficulty.

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