What is side quest?

Sure, the term "side quest" typically refers to optional tasks or missions in video games that players can choose to complete outside of the main storyline. These quests often provide additional context to the game's world, offer character development, and can reward the player with items, experience points, or other bonuses. Here's some more detailed information about side quests:

1. Variety and Exploration: Side quests can range from simple tasks, like collecting items, to more elaborate storylines that involve multiple steps and decisions. They often encourage players to explore game environments more thoroughly, which can lead to discovering hidden areas or secrets.

2. Character and World Building: These quests often provide deeper insight into the game's story or characters. They might offer backstory for secondary characters, flesh out the game's lore, or provide alternative perspectives on the central plot.

3. Rewards: Completing side quests can yield valuable rewards, such as rare equipment, unique abilities, or increased reputation with in-game factions. These rewards can make the main quest easier or provide new options for gameplay.

4. Replayability: Side quests can increase replayability by offering different choices and outcomes, thus encouraging players to replay the game to experience all available content.

5. Pacing and Engagement: They also allow players to adjust the gameplay's pacing. Players can take a break from intense main storyline missions by engaging in side quests, which can be more casual or fun in nature.

6. Diversity: Side quests can cover a wide range of themes and styles, from comedic and lighthearted quests to those that are darker or more serious in tone. This diversity adds richness to the gaming experience.

7. Non-linear Progression: Unlike main quests, which often have a set order, side quests might be non-linear, allowing players to tackle them in any order or even bypass them entirely, depending on their interests and playstyle.

Overall, side quests enrich a game by providing additional content, challenge, and depth, making them an essential component of many role-playing games and open-world adventures.