Summary

  • JRPG side quests offer a break from intense storylines, allowing players to enjoy humor and lighthearted moments.
  • From rescuing cats to collecting stamps or engaging in rock rituals, these quests add fun and levity to epic adventures.
  • Memorable characters, witty dialogue, and ridiculous scenarios make these side quests worth exploring for a good laugh.

When we hear the word side quest, most of us imagine busywork done for the sake of experience, completionism or obtaining special items. Occasionally, however, they're just a source of some much-needed levity. JRPGs are known for their grandiose and at times heartrending storylines, which is why it's a relief when developers allow us to step back from the melodrama and enjoy a good belly laugh or two.

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From recapturing a runaway cat to seeking out ingredients for the perfect instant ramen, here are some JRPG side quests that taught us that even in the most epic of adventures, there's always room for a giggle.

9 Tales Of Vesperia's Cat Kerfuffle

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition

JRPG Action RPG Adventure Released January 11, 2019 Developer(s) Namco Tales Studio Platform(s) Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Powered by Expand Collapse

Rescuing a cat is the archetypal heroic deed, and Tales of Vesperia's group takes time out from saving the environment to do just that. Our heroes find a distressed old lady whose cat is stuck on a roof, and Rita attempts to get it down by meowing at it. Estelle tries meowing, only to be told she's doing it wrong.

Eventually, the party uses a pincer tactic to corner the cat and return it to its rightful owner. Estelle congratulates Rita on her selflessness, who retorts she was only doing it for fun. Karol asks them why they were meowing, and receives a sharp tap on the head.

8 NieR: Automata's Stamp Escapade

NieR: Automata

Action RPG Released March 7, 2017 Developer(s) Platinum Games Platform(s) PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch Powered by Expand Collapse

Collecting stamps as a hobby has fallen out of fashion, but that doesn't stop Nier: Automata's amusement park receptionist from getting you to do exactly that. Early in the game, you're given a stamp card with ten stamps to collect. You're told that the prize for doing so isn't just free, it's deluxe.

Cue a myriad of bizarre interactions with the park machines, including possibly the most profane production of Romeo and Juliet, to obtain your stamps. Surprisingly, the reward for this side quest is actually decent, and the receptionist gives you some food for thought to go with it.

7 Chrono Cross's Rejected Song Offer

Chrono Cross

JRPG Released August 15, 2000 Developer(s) Square Platform(s) PS1, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One Powered by Expand Collapse

Chrono Cross has 45 recruitable characters, which means many side quests end in a new party member. One of the more memorable ones is the visual-kei-inspired bard Nikki, who can be found early in the game.

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After failing to get the monsters to listen to his knockoff Sweet Child O' Mine rendition, Nikki runs off into a cave where you can get him to join your party. Before that, however, he offers to sing for you. All three dialogue choices you're given are a different way of saying no.

6 EarthBound's Ode to Orange Kid

Earthbound

RPG Released June 5, 1995 Developer(s) HAL Laboratory, Ape Inc. Platform(s) SNES, Nintendo Game Boy Advance Powered by Expand Collapse

The second town in EarthBound is home to the flagrant show-off Orange Kid, whose reputation is built on being 'groovy.' When you meet him, he acts embarrassed about his local celebrity, before asking you for money to develop his Super Orange Machine - meant to spread peace and goodwill on earth.

So what does the Super Orange Machine do? Nothing, really. It sings a song of praise for Orange Kid, that you never get to hear as it promptly breaks down. Two hundred dollars well spent.

5 Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth's Rock Ritual

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

RPG Released January 26, 2024 Developer(s) Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Platform(s) PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC Powered by Expand Collapse

The Like a Dragon series is so chock-full of hilarious side quests that it's hard to pick just one, but Infinite Wealth's Rock and Roll is definitely a contender. While you're on Aloha Beach, you'll find a rock star and his crew trying to conjure up a storm for his music video. Unfortunately, each day by the seaside is more idyllic than the last.

In true series fashion, the quest ends with you dressing in ridiculous attire to play a minigame and help them out with a little rain dance. Surprisingly, it actually works!

4 Shadow Hearts Covenant's Man Festival

Shadow Hearts: Covenant

JRPG Released September 27, 2004 Platform(s) PlayStation 2 Developer Nautilus Powered by Expand Collapse

Setting aside its tragic main story, Shadow Hearts Covenant is rife with comic relief, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the capital city of Nihonbashi. The party's bruiser, Joachim, faces his former mentor, the Great Gama, in a wrestling tournament like no other.

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Hilariously, while the tournament ostensibly features a hundred fights, the game itself chooses to skip most of them after the 26th. When a character breaks the fourth wall to question this, she's told to stop nitpicking. We get the message, Shadow Hearts.

3 Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7's Mystery Client

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion

Action RPG Released December 13, 2022 Developer(s) Square Enix, Tose Platform(s) Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One Powered by Expand Collapse

As a prequel, Crisis Core features a lot of callbacks to Final Fantasy 7, and some characters reappear. One of them, Yuffie Kisaragi, appears in an early mission as a young but enthusiastic Wutai clan member.

Protagonist Zack Fair lets her think she beat him so she'll stay out of harm's way, but eventually he starts receiving anonymous text messages from a mysterious 'Treasure Princess' looking for a partner to find rare items. Lo and behold, the client is none other than Yuffie herself, and she's just as spirited as you remember.

2 Valkyria Chronicles 4's Band of Misfits

Valkyria Chronicles 4

Strategy RPG Developer(s) Sega Publisher(s) Sega Platform(s) PS4, Switch, PC, Xbox One Powered by Expand Collapse

Valkyria Chronicles 4 features a host of memorable side characters - few more so than Simon. Despite his hardcore punk image, he's a sweetheart who's intimidated by women. When he's teamed up with fellow shocktroopers Emmy and Viola for a side quest, he morphs into a proper gentleman.

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Hearing Simon exchange his usual crass dialogue for a more refined cadence is one of the funniest parts of Valkyria Chronicles 4. It's worth playing the game with the English dub for these scenes alone. Heartwarmingly, the quest ends with Simon coming out of his shell to be a better squadmate.

1 Final Fantasy 15's Noodle Incident

Final Fantasy 15

Action RPG Released November 9, 2016 Developer(s) Square Enix Platform(s) PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia Powered by Expand Collapse

Video game development doesn't come cheap, especially for one as vast as Final Fantasy 15. Instead of aiming for subtlety with its product placement, Square Enix decided to take refuge in audacity. When you're about to leave Lestallum, Gladiolus starts waxing poetic about Cup Noodles and asks what ingredient you think would go best with them - meat, eggs or shrimp.

Regardless of your answer, you'll end up defeating an oversized monster for your ingredient - only for the boys to decide that Cup Noodles are perfect no matter what you combine them with. This scene actually had two takes for the voice acting: one serious, one ironic. You can guess which one made it into the game.

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