Summary

• There is a staggering number of quests in Fallout 4, but a particular set of side quests stand out above the rest.
• The most compelling side quests help flesh out the Fallout universe, adding both hilarious and sincere quirks to the Commonwealth.
• From mob-centric noir storylines to comic book hero capers, a handful of Fallout 4 side quests are must-plays in any given playthrough.

Fallout 4 offers an amazing amount of quests, from the main questline and faction quests to companion and side quests. With so much on offer, it can be all too easy to miss some of the most fun and interesting side quests while exploring the Commonwealth. But which out of the hundreds of side quests are definitely worth the time and effort?

Fallout 4 has hundreds of quests, plus four DLCs that add extra story and questlines to the massive open world game. Completing these quests will provide valuable XP and gear in Fallout 4 as well as flesh out the post-apocalyptic world that the Sole Survivor finds themselves in. Given the influx of new fans to the franchise thanks to the Fallout TV series, those newer to the wasteland will want to keep an eye out for these excellent quests.

10 The Big Dig

Classic Heist Fun With Mobsters

"The Big Dig" is a really fun side quest that starts in the shady settlement of Goodneighbor. To start the quest, the Sole Survivor will have to seek out and speak to the fantastically named Bobby No-Nose, a ghoul mobster who can be found in her hideout down a side alley. Bobbi will want to hire the Sole Survivor for a job but will not be forthcoming with the details at first, simply asking for some mirelurks to be cleared out of her basement.

Completing this will set the rest of the quest in motion and what follows is a fantastic classic heist in the spirit of the film noir theme that runs through Goodneighbor. At the conclusion of the quest, there is a great twist with an inevitable double cross from Bobbi regarding her true target. There are a few ways to finish "The Big Dig" with some great loot along the way on this long side quest.

Those looking to recruit Hancock as a follower will have to complete "The Big Dig" and either talk Bobbi down or betray her when confronted by Fahrenheit. If Fahrenheit is killed, Hancock can still be recruited by completing the follow-up quest to kill Bobbi.

9 Hole In The Wall

Uncover Vault-Tec’s Awful Hidden Experiment

While exploring the Commonwealth, the Sole Survivor may come across another vault almost directly west of Diamond City. Vault 81 is a great source of side quests, but one in particular stands out, as completing it results in an excellent new follower. "Hole in the Wall" will begin after the Sole Survivor has donated some blood to Dr. Forsythe and left the vault. Here, either the short quest "Here Kitty, Kitty" can be completed to trigger the start of the quest, or it will otherwise begin after 24 hours.

The residents of Vault 81 will be distraught as a young boy is very ill after being bitten by a mole rat. The Sole Survivor will be asked to go into what looks like a collapsed area of the vault to find a cure. However, what seems like a straight forward fetch quest will reveal the terrible truth behind Vault-Tec's weird experiments as the Sole Survivor fights through the strange mole rats. At the end, there is a moral choice if the player has been bitten, but regardless, the wonderful Curie will become available as a companion.

8 Curtain Call

Perhaps Super Mutants Just Hate Shakespeare

One of the things Fallout does best is blend humor with the horrors of the apocalypse, and the Fallout 4 side quest "Curtain Call" is a fantastic example of this. While exploring the ruins of Boston, the Sole Survivor will pick up a distress call on their Pip-Boy coming from Trinity Tower. Bizarrely, the call is coming from radio actor Rex Goodman, who is being held prisoner by super mutants on top of the tower.

"Curtain Call" is a pretty standard dungeon crawl up Trinity Towers from a gameplay point of view until Rex is reached at the top. It is here that the Sole Survivor will discover Rex's hilarious reasons for being there in the first place – he was trying to teach the super mutants about Shakespeare and culture. After a fun and nail-biting escape down the outside of the skyscraper, Rex will thank and reward the Sole Survivor for his timely rescue.

Rex is imprisoned alongside a super mutant named Strong who will be available as a follower after his and Rex's rescue. The Melee bobblehead can also be found inside the cage the pair shared.

7 Confidence Man

Help A Young Man With His Self Esteem

While wandering around the Commonwealth, many will choose to listen to Diamond City radio for the many songs it plays. However, while listening, it's impossible not to notice that the radio's host, Travis, lacks confidence and will often become flustered if spoken to. The brilliant side quest "Confidence Man" aims to change that by giving Travis a little help to boost his self-esteem. The quest can be started two ways, by either speaking with Travis then overhearing a conversation about Vadim, or by overhearing Vadim directly talking about Travis.

After speaking with Vadim at the Dugout Inn, he and the Sole Survivor will hatch a plan to help Travis through various stages. What starts off as a silly hijinks type of quest soon turns into a real rescue mission where Travis learns to stand up for himself. The result is a far more confident young man and a much better experience when listening to the radio.

6 Pickman’s Gift

Uncover Someone Dark & Creepy

"Art Appreciation" and "Pickman's Gift" are follow-on side quests that show the darker side of human nature is unfortunately still alive and well in Fallout's post-apocalyptic world. Speaking with Hancock will start the quest "Art Appreciation," where he will send the Sole Survivor to Pickman Gallery on reports of strange goings-on. Finding the holotape "Message to Jack" on a dead raider in the room left of the entrance and returning to Hancock will complete the quest.

However, if the rest of the gallery is explored, then the true nature of what is happening is revealed. The gallery is the home of a serial killer who can be found in the tunnels under the building fighting off raiders. If Pickman is allowed to go free, then he will show his appreciation for being allowed to continue his "art" by gifting the Sole Survivor with a unique combat knife named Pickman's Blade.

5 Here There Be Monsters

Brilliant Pre-War Lore In This Hidden Area

After hearing rumors of a sea monster from Donny Kowalski on the docks behind the Shamrock Taphouse, the Sole Survivor can dive into the waters to see if it's true, beginning the quest "Here There Be Monsters." A short swim will reveal that there isn't, in fact, a sea monster, but instead the periscope of a submarine which can be boarded. On board, the Sole Survivor will learn that this is the Yangtze, a Chinese nuclear sub that has been stuck in Boston Harbor since the Great War 200 years ago.

The submarine's commander, Captain Zao, will ask for aid in repairing the vessel, which will lead to a trip to the Saugus Ironworks. While the mechanics of "Here There Be Dragons" is fairly straight forward, the lore and world implications are fantastic. Speaking with Zao offers a look not only into the past but at the other side of the conflict that literally ended the world, making it a must for all Fallout lore fans.

4 Last Voyage of the U.S.S. Constitution

Over The Top Robot Fun

Another brilliant quest that offers a glimpse into the past is the strange "Last Voyage of the U.S.S. Constitution," which sees the Sole Survivor helping the unusual crew of the former tourist attraction. The quest begins once the Sole Survivor is close enough to the ship to be approached by its sentry and will be invited to speak to the captain, Ironsides. The Constitution herself is easy to spot, as it's pretty hard to miss the massive ship sitting on top of a building directly east of Bunker Hill.

The crew, who are all robots, want to get the ship moving again and will ask for help in finding the various parts they need. After repairs are complete, either the robots or nearby scavengers can be sided with, but honestly, the outcome is secondary to the real fun of this side quest. "Last Voyage of the U.S.S. Constitution" has some of the best, wonderfully over-the-top writing and voice acting in Fallout 4, so it's little wonder it's one of the most loved quests in the game.

Siding with Ironsides and the crew is the better option, as it gives more rewards and the bonus of getting to watch the ship take off and fly, before it crashes into another building.

3 The Lost Patrol

A Sad Tale Of A Brotherhood Team

From humorous quests to more somber ones, “The Lost Patrol” is a side quest where the Sole Survivor must piece together what happened to a missing Brotherhood of Steel patrol. This quest can be given by either Paladin Danse or Captain Kellis; alternatively, it is possible to pick up one of the distress beacons while exploring to begin the quest. Following a series of distress beacons, the quest leads the Sole Survivor along a bread crumb trail to find each member of the missing patrol.

As each member of the patrol is found, the story of what happened to them begins to unfold with each tragic holotape. Once all three holotapes have been recovered, the patrol's leader, Paladin Brandis, can be located, and he can be told about the fate of his team. "The Lost Patrol" is one of the sadder quests in Fallout 4 that touches on feeling abandoned by those in power and has tons of great Brotherhood lore.

If the Sole Survivor is a member of the Brotherhood of Steel, Brandis can be convinced to return to the faction.

2 The Silver Shroud

Camp Comic Book Fun Being A Superhero

"The Silver Shroud" is a firm favorite with Fallout 4 players, and it's easy to see why. While listening to the radio close to Goodneighbor, old episodes of a pre-war radio series, The Silver Shroud, can be heard and will eventually direct the Sole Survivor to the Memory Den. Here, one of the best NPCs in Fallout 4 can be met, Kent Connolly, who will ask the Sole Survivor to go get the Silver Shroud costume. Once found and modified by Kent, the costume can be worn, allowing the Sole Survivor to become the Silver Shroud and protect the innocent.

At first, the quest is wonderfully campy as Kent issues missions and bad guys to find, with options for the Sole Survivor to "speak as Shroud" in conversation. However, the over-the-top comic book fun soon gives way to a real rescue mission as Kent gets snatched by mobsters. Saving Kent can be hard but well worth it for one of the best early game armor sets and tons of comic book-themed fun.

1 The Secret Of Cabot House

A Strange Mind-Bending, 400-Year-Old Story

"The Secret of Cabot House" is one of Fallout 4's side quests that needs to be experienced to fully appreciate. Drawing heavy inspiration from Lovecraft in a similar vein to the Dunwich mysteries of Fallout 3, this Fallout 4 quest starts deceptively simply before throwing ideas and concepts at the Sole Survivor that shake their idea of reality. This quest is the final in the chain surrounding Cabot House and requires the first two to be completed beforehand.

While the gameplay itself is straightforward, as the Sole Survivor must fight their way through Parsons State Insane Asylum, it is the environmental storytelling and lore that really shines here. The conclusion is a stand-off between father and son with perhaps the fate of the world hanging in the balance, all thanks to a strange artifact. Each ending gives great rewards as well as heavy consequences, making it more of a moral roleplay choice than a gameplay one, resulting in a must-play Fallout 4 side quest.