While many games attempt to make compelling quests that keep the player engaged while providing satisfactory gameplay, there are times when the quests are downright chores. These are some of the most tedious quests in games.
Please note that this article may contain minor spoilers, but nothing that would ruin the gameplay experience.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – No Stone Unturned
A notoriously tedious quest, No Stone Unturned starts when the player discovers an unusual gem, which begins the radiant objective to bring it to an appraiser. Upon bringing the gem to the said appraiser, No Stone Unturned begins.
Your instructions are to seek all 24 Stones of Barenziah and bring them to Vex from the Thieves Guild. The issue is that there are no map markers that point you toward the gems, and their locations are definite. There are exactly 24 gems in the game and most of the time, they are in places that are difficult to spot.
To be fair, the rewards for completing the quest are not great either. If you are a completionist, following a guide is a wise move. Or if you’re into modding, there’s a mod that adds map markers that point you in the right direction.
The Witcher 3 – Collect ‘Em All
Another quest featuring collectibles, in this huge quest, you are tasked with playing Gwent with almost every single player in the world and collecting all the Gwent cards. While Gwent is a great, addictive mini-game that every player must try at least once, keeping track of collected cards can be tricky. This will make you play with the same opponent multiple times. Keeping track of your cards and opponents’ names will prove extremely useful.
Grand Theft Auto V – Exercising the Truth
A hidden side mission associated with the Epsilon cult, this is a side quest I absolutely hate. After purchasing certain things from this rather capitalistic cult, a stage arrives where you must wear the Epsilon robes and walk five miles in the desert.
This is a huge waste of time, and you’ll easily spend about an hour with it. No words can describe just how obnoxiously absurd this quest is, just like the cult itself.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – Supply Lines
Luckily an optional mission, this frustrating part of the game is a nightmare for completionists. You are tasked with destroying opposing deliverers of supplies. Controlling this plane would make the most patient gamers rage quit. Bad controls aside, your plane will take considerable damage from crashes and enemy gunfire.
Topping it all off, there’s limited fuel. It’s nigh impossible to finish this mission on the first try. Unless you are a completionist, it’s best to just ignore this mission altogether.
Mafia – The Race
An infamous example of frustrating video game quests, the big race from the original Mafia from 2002 is completely out of place and difficult. This is a race with multiple laps. You’re controlling a race car that’s extremely fast but has bad controls.
Winning first place is mandatory for the success of the mission. It’s easier said than done. The road is slippery at times and your car would take significant damage with each crash. It’s best to simply restart the mission once you crash or lose control. In the remake from 2020, they improved this mission in every aspect and now it’s actually fun.
