By 2026, it’s safe to say The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has cemented itself as a masterpiece of chaos and creativity. Between impromptu Korok space programs and monster-powered skateboards, Hyrule still overflows with distractions that make the main quest feel like optional DLC. Out of the hundreds of side adventures, a select few are so gloriously bizarre, so utterly unhinged, that they demand to be experienced. Link has a kingdom to save, sure—but first, a fashion feud, a prophetic chicken, and a depressed statue need urgent attention. Here are ten magnificent quests that prove Tears of the Kingdom’s side content is where the real magic lives.

16. Infiltrating the Yiga Clan

The Yiga Clan has always been the comic relief of Hyrule’s villain ecosystem, and this quest lets Link cosplay as his own sworn enemies. To waltz into their hideout, our hero must first rescue three tailors scattered across their branch locations—because even a death cult needs a decent wardrobe. Getting the full Yiga armor set isn’t just practical; it’s the ultimate undercover operation. Once Link struts inside, the real fun begins: watching clan members gripe about their terrible working conditions, badmouth Master Kohga, and completely fail to recognize the legendary swordsman wielding a banana-shaped weapon. The reactions from regular Hylians are equally priceless—shopkeepers and stable hands all recoil at the sight of Link in that skin-tight red suit. Who knew espionage could be this fashionable?

15. Uma’s Garden

After Link becomes the most overqualified substitute teacher Hyrule has ever seen, a grateful Hateno resident, Uma, gifts him a garden plot. This isn’t just a decorative patch of dirt—it’s a fully automated farming empire. Every few in-game days, produce ripens without Link lifting a finger, making Uma’s Garden the ultimate anti-grind life hack. Need tomatoes for that spicy elixir? Wheat for recipes? Rice because you forgot to pick some while bombing grass? Uma’s got you. The quest is a serene break from battling gloom-corrupted monstrosities, and watching crops literally sprout overnight feels like earning XP for being a nice person. In a game overflowing with world-ending stakes, this tiny slice of pastoral bliss stands out as genuinely wholesome.

14. Messages From An Ancient Era

Lookout Landing houses one of the nerdiest NPCs this side of a Hyrulean library: Wortsworth, a stone tablet obsessive whose enthusiasm for Zonai hieroglyphics is almost as loud as his fashion sense. Finding all twelve fallen tablets is a scavenger hunt that spans the kingdom, but the payoff isn’t just the 100 Rupees per picture—it’s the flood of juicy lore. Link gets to unravel secrets about King Rauru, Queen Sonia, and a certain time-displaced princess, all filtered through Wortsworth’s wonderfully over-the-top commentaries. The man can make a warning about ancient cataclysms sound like a bedtime story. The final reward is a Zonai Survey Team paraglider fabric, which turns Link’s glider into a flying museum piece. For lore-hungry travelers, this quest is an absolute feast.

13. A Call From The Depths

If a disembodied voice demands you find its missing eyes, the only sensible reaction is polite cooperation—and maybe some deep breathing. This quest begins innocently enough at the Temple of Time on the Great Plateau, where a Goddess Statue starts speaking in a decidedly un-goddess-like tone. After draining a suspicious puddle, Link meets a small Bargainer Statue that promptly begs for help. The real challenge is ferrying four massive stone eyeballs through the Depths without losing them to gloom pools, enemies, or your own clumsy Ultrahand fumbles. The atmosphere is pure creepypasta, but the prize—a Heart Container or Stamina Vessel—is the kind of reward Link usually gets from a Shrine. It’s the best kind of horror-lite: terrifying in the moment, hilarious in hindsight.

12. The Great Fairy Quests

Great Fairies in Tears of the Kingdom are essentially reclusive pop divas who refuse to leave their dressing rooms until a live band shows up. Herding the scattered musicians of the Stable Trotters is an exercise in patience: one is stuck in a tree, another is lost in a sandstorm, and all of them wail dramatically every time Link drives his wagon like a maniac. The reward isn’t just upgraded armor—it’s the glorious, ever-swelling rendition of Epona’s Song that builds with each rescued member. Unlocking each Great Fairy becomes a celebration, complete with over-the-top animations that suggest these massive beings are the true stars of the show. Link might be the hero, but the Stable Trotters are the headliners.

11. The Mayoral Election

Hateno Village has become ground zero for the most passive-aggressive political campaign in Hyrule’s history. Fashion designer Cece has draped every building in mushroom chic, while Mayor Reede clutches his traditional values like Link clutches a badly damaged Royal Broadsword. The questline weaves through family drama, economic anxiety, and the eternal question: should a village prioritize style or substance? Link, ever the diplomat, plays both sides until the rivals realize they’re basically the same person with different hats. The resolution is surprisingly tender, the Cece Hat reward is gloriously ugly, and the entire arc proves that even in a fantasy epic, local politics are always bananas.

10. Teach Me A Lesson

Nothing humbles the Hero of Time like having to prove to a roomful of skeptical children that the Calamity actually happened. Symin, the exhausted teacher, needs undeniable photographic evidence that the mural in Paya’s Hall depicts real events—so Link becomes the world’s most powerful errand boy. The irony is delicious: the legendary swordsman who has personally fought Ganon multiple times is standing right there, yet the kids remain unconvinced until a blurry photo appears. The quest taps into that universal truth: children are the toughest audience imaginable, and nothing short of documentary footage will sway them. For his trouble, Link receives a humble bag of Hylian Rice, which is honestly more than he gets from half the actual legend-hunting missions.

9. The Hunt for Bubbul Gems!

Monster enthusiast Kilton has returned, but the true star is his brother Koltin, a man who has decided that the ultimate life goal is to transform into the mythical Satori. And he’s going to do it by eating Bubbul Gems. Not cooking them, not crafting with them—just straight-up consuming glowing globs of Bubbulfrog essence. Link, ever the enabler, hunts down these creatures across Hyrule’s caves, each time receiving a piece of the Mystic armor set that makes Link look like a neon forest spirit. Koltin’s unwavering belief in his dream is oddly inspiring, even as his sibling eyes him with concern. This is the kind of absurd commitment that makes Zelda side quests immortal.

8. Gloom-Borne Illness

Gloom in Tears of the Kingdom is terrifying—unless you’ve got a pot of Sunny Veggie Porridge. When Link stumbles into Kakariko Village, the clothing shop’s prices have skyrocketed because old Nanna fell ill after touching Gloom. Her granddaughters Claree and Lasli are frantic, and the cure turns out to be a recipe so simple it’s borderline ridiculous: sun-infused vegetables, cooked into a porridge. Link whips up this miracle meal, and Nanna bounces back like she’s just had a fairy tonic. The real heart of the quest, though, is Claree’s promise to support Lasli’s fashion dreams, hinting that someday their shop will overflow with her designs. It’s a tiny, tender narrative tucked into a world of chaos—and a reminder that a well-cooked breakfast can solve almost anything.

7. The All-Clucking Cucco

South Akkala Stable is home to a talking cucco that claims prophetic powers. If that sentence doesn’t already have you reaching for your Switch, nothing will. The “All-Clucking Cucco” demands Link complete two ridiculous trials under a strict time limit: scale the stable and deliver three logs. After Link obediently plays along, the cucco drops all pretense—literally ripping off its feathery disguise to reveal a Yiga Footsoldier who then mocks him mercilessly. The sheer dedication it takes for a Yiga operative to impersonate a chicken, peck at the ground, and deliver faux prophecies just to inconvenience a single hero is a level of petty villainy that deserves an award. The quest is a masterclass in comedic timing and proves the Yiga will try absolutely anything to get under Link’s skin.

In the sprawling, endlessly inventive world of Tears of the Kingdom, these ten side quests shine by leaning into the absurd, the heartfelt, and the surprisingly human. They remind players that saving the world is important—but sometimes you just need to help a girl chase her fashion dreams or watch a grown man eat a gemstone. Hyrule will be just fine. Probably.