Etymology

From side (“incidental; indirect”, adjective) +‎ quest (noun)Category:English endocentric compounds#SIDEQUESTCategory:English compound terms#SIDEQUEST.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsaɪdkwɛst/Category:English 2-syllable words#SIDEQUESTCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#SIDEQUEST

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#SIDEQUEST
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈsaɪdˌkwɛst/Category:English 2-syllable words#SIDEQUESTCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#SIDEQUEST

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#SIDEQUEST
• Hyphenation: side‧quest

Noun

sidequest (plural sidequests)Category:English lemmas#SIDEQUESTCategory:English nouns#SIDEQUESTCategory:English countable nouns#SIDEQUESTCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#SIDEQUESTCategory:Pages with entries#SIDEQUESTCategory:Pages with 1 entry#SIDEQUEST

1. (fictionCategory:en:Fiction#SIDEQUEST, historyCategory:en:History#SIDEQUEST) In fictional or historical writings about chivalric romances: a quest embarked upon by a knight or other person which is not the main quest.
2. (video gamesCategory:en:Video games#SIDEQUEST) A quest given to a player which has no direct bearing on the outcome of the main campaign or story of a video game, but often provides additional rewards.

   Synonym: side mission

   Completion of a sidequest often results in the acquisition of money or items that are otherwise unavailable, or unlocks another sidequest.Category:English terms with usage examples#SIDEQUEST

   • 2003, Bryan Stratton, Stephen Stratton, The Legend of Zelda®: The Wind Waker, Prima Games, →ISBN, page 19:

     The following items are either the objects of a quest or vital components of an optional sidequest.

     Category:English terms with quotations#SIDEQUEST

   • 2022, Adam Moreno, Purpose-Driven Learning: Unlocking and Empowering Our Students’ Innate Passion for Learning‎, Taylor & Francis, →ISBN:

     Two tasks I want to discuss are mentioned several times within this chapter: sidequests and adventure paths. These tasks are unique because they offer students a challenge beyond the required work within Michael's classroom. Sidequests are projects that students complete to deepen their understanding of the content.

     Category:English terms with quotations#SIDEQUEST

   • 2024 October 31, Stephanie Amante-Ritter, “The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel” (1:29 from the start), in Star Trek: Lower Decks‎, season 5, episode 3, spoken by Jack Ransom (Jerry O'Connell):

     “Ooh, this is gonna be awesome. As soon as we clean up those nanites I'm gonna...” “Sorry, Mr. Boimler, but you and I have a little side quest we need to take care of.” “Ew. don't wink. Winking's gross.” “Not when I pair it with my signature smirk.” “Worse.”

     Category:English terms with quotations#SIDEQUEST

   1. (by extension, Internet slangCategory:English internet slang#SIDEQUEST) A real-world action or task which a person does in addition to or instead of a main action or task.

      Coordinate term: side hustle

      That celebrity keeps completing random sidequests like hosting award shows.Category:English terms with usage examples#SIDEQUEST

      • 2024 June 11, @Fille_de_Lune, “What are some of your favourite examples of idols doing side quests?”, in Reddit‎:

        ATEEZ had a whole sidequest phase during lockdown, as each of them dedicated their time and did videos on some specific thing that they felt like doing

        Category:English terms with quotations#SIDEQUEST

Further reading

• quest on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• quest (video games) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• “side quest, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, December 2025.
• “side quest”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.