Understanding Additional Quests
In Cyberpunk 2077, “additional quests” encompass a broad range of activities beyond the main story missions. These quests, often referred to as Side Jobs, Gigs, or NCPD Scanner Hustles, significantly expand V’s narrative, provide valuable rewards, and deepen the player’s immersion in Night City. While main quests are essential for progressing the game’s core story, additional quests are entirely optional. However, engaging with them offers numerous benefits, including unique dialogue options, opportunities to build relationships with characters, and access to rare loot or schematics. Skipping these additional quests means missing out on a substantial amount of content developed for the game.
The total number of Side Quests (Side Jobs), excluding Gigs and NCPD Scanner Hustles, is approximately 80. This number can vary slightly depending on how certain very short quests or questlines (like the Epistrophy series) are counted. These Side Jobs often feature rich content and are integral to understanding the broader story of Cyberpunk 2077.
How to Unlock Additional Quests
Additional quests in Cyberpunk 2077 become available through several methods as you navigate Night City:
- Story Progression: Many Side Jobs are unlocked by advancing through the main questline or even by completing other Side Quests. You will frequently receive a call or a message detailing a new quest opportunity.
- Map Discovery: Available Side Jobs are clearly marked on your in-game map. Unlabeled Side Job icons can also appear, which, when approached, will initiate a new quest.
- World Exploration: Simply exploring Night City can trigger new missions. Encountering certain characters or interacting with specific elements in the environment can lead to the initiation of an additional quest. Unlike some other RPGs, Cyberpunk 2077 does not feature traditional notice boards for picking up quests; instead, tasks are often received directly from characters or via SMS.
- Dialogue Cues: Pay attention to conversations with NPCs, as they may drop hints about hidden events or missions that can be pursued.
- Returning to Areas: Some missions only become available after certain points in the main story have been reached, making it worthwhile to revisit previously explored areas.
It’s important to note that quests are not always linear. You might find different routes to an objective, choose between stealth or direct combat, and your choices can impact the story and your relationships with characters, potentially even leading to quest failure.
Types of Additional Quests
Cyberpunk 2077 features several categories of additional quests, each offering a distinct experience:
- Side Quests (Side Jobs): These are the most substantial additional quests, often featuring detailed storylines and character development. Examples include quests from prominent characters like Judy Alvarez, Panam Palmer, River Ward, and Delamain. These can range from exploring the world (e.g., “Burning Desire,” “Human Nature”) to character-specific arcs that can lead to romantic relationships (e.g., “Pyramid Song” for Judy, “Queen of the Highway” for Panam). The “Beat on the Brat” series and “The Beast In Me” car races are also categorized as Side Jobs.
- Cyberpsycho Sightings: These involve tracking down and neutralizing powerful mini-bosses known as Cyberpsychos. Examples include “Lt. Mower,” “Six Feet Under,” and “Demons of War.” These encounters often have a story behind the Cyberpsycho’s breakdown.
- Gigs: These are smaller, contract-based missions given by Fixers across Night City. Gigs fall into various categories such as “Gun for Hire,” “Search & Recover,” “Thievery,” “Agent,” and “Saboteur.” They are spread across different districts like Watson, Westbrook, Pacifica, Badlands, Santo Domingo, Heywood, and City Center.
- NCPD Scanner Hustles: These are typically combat-focused encounters or crime scenes marked by the NCPD scanner. They are available across all districts and involve dealing with criminal activities.
Hidden Side Missions
Beyond the clearly marked quests, Night City harbors numerous hidden side missions, Easter eggs, and rare loot locations that many players might overlook. Discovering these often requires a keen eye and thorough exploration:
- Dialogue Cues: NPCs can provide subtle hints about hidden events.
- Exploration: Many secret encounters are found by venturing off the main paths, into alleyways, or onto rooftops.
- Scanner Use: Regularly using your scanner can reveal rare loot or secret panels that might unlock missions or valuable items.
- Interaction: Attempting to interact with seemingly mundane objects like doors, crates, or terminals can sometimes trigger a hidden mission.
One example of a hidden side mission is “Gig: The Hidden Informant” in Watson, Kabuki District. This mission is triggered by speaking to a specific, seemingly generic NPC near a market stall. It is recommended to complete this during the day, as the NPC might disappear at night. Rewards for such missions can include rare crafting materials and unique cyberware schematics.
FAQ
How many Side Quests are there in Cyberpunk 2077? Excluding Gigs and NCPD Scanner Hustles, there are approximately 80 Side Quests in Cyberpunk 2077.
Can I fail an additional quest? Yes, it is possible to fail a section or an entire quest in Cyberpunk 2077. This can have consequences for the story and your relationships with characters.
Do additional quests always have one specific way to be completed? No, missions can often be completed in a variety of ways. You might find different routes to an objective, choose to engage in stealth, or opt for an all-out firefight.
Are there notice boards for quests in Cyberpunk 2077? No, Cyberpunk 2077 does not feature notice boards like those found in games such as The Witcher. Quests are typically acquired from characters, via SMS, or by discovering them through exploration.
Is it necessary to complete all additional quests to finish the game? No, additional quests are optional and not required to finish the main story. However, completing them offers a significant amount of content, narrative depth, and rewards that would otherwise be missed.