Some games, especially open-world ones, offer tons of content unrelated to the main storyline, and sometimes even clearing the side quests isn’t enough to collect all the unique equipment, experience every event, and uncover any hidden storylines. This can prove to be a great source of frustration for completionists.
Still, it can also be an excellent argument for those who wish to revisit their favorite titles, with each playthrough being unique, thanks to the amount of content to uncover. We reveal some of the content you may have previously missed or remind you of some hard-earned achievements and revelations you already managed.
Famous for its giant open world and large number of unique events, Red Dead Redemption 2 usually presents something new with each playthrough, whether it’s a set of missions that are easily missable due to their location, legendary animals that became inaccessible after the main story, or legendary fish that are region-specific, you can usually discover something new if you are meticulous enough.
Furthermore, unique interactions in camp with various gang members can easily be missed if you don’t pay much attention to these details. For those who decide to speedrun the main storyline, unique guns and gear such as Otis Miller’s Revolver, Granger’s Revolver, and Rare Shotgun will surely miss out. This only serves as a testament to Rockstar’s dedication to creating an immersible and incredibly in depth world.
With 26 endings, including five main ones (labeled as A, B, C, D, E) and 21 that present slight variations of the primary endings, NieR: Automata makes multiple playthroughs mandatory for anyone wanting to explore everything. Each playthrough builds on the previous one, revealing more about the story with each completion.
Additionally, there are 39 weapons, with each being upgradeable to level 4, and many are only obtainable through specific questlines. Furthermore, 60 side quests tied to particular characters, routes, and chapters can easily be missed and thus deprive you of extra lore.
Being one of the most renowned open-world games, Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, pushed the series to another level regarding discoverable items, locations, and characters. Fortunately, as more than a decade has passed since its initial release, the extensive content in Skyrim has been mapped, meaning you can find out exactly how much you still have to explore.
Enemies in Skyrim don’t usually carry torches. If you see a character during the night without one, chances are it’s an enemy, and you should prepare for battle.
The Thieves Guild, Dark Brotherhood, College of Winterhold, and Companions questlines all offer considerable content that can be missed, as their storylines aren’t required for the main quest competition. Furthermore, Blackreach, the dwarf kingdom full of mazes, is often left unexplored on initial playthroughs.
Another RPG entry, Chrono Trigger, offers considerable amounts of missable content, including unique weapons, character interactions, side quests, and alternate endings. Thirteen primary endings are available, depending on how you interact with the final boss.
At the same time, side quests that significantly deepen the story, such as Fiona’s Forest, Ozzie’s Fort, and Cyrus’s Ghost, can be disregarded entirely if you are not observant enough. By missing these quests, you will forfeit unique weapons and equipment such as The Rainbow Sword, The Wondershot, and The Black Omen.
As an enhanced release of the original title, Persona 5 Royal offers a significant amount of new content that unsuspecting players may miss. Some confidants, which are a core mechanic of Persona 5 Royal, are time-sensitive, and if you don’t reach the required relationship level by a specific date, you’ll lock yourself out of the Third Semester.
Furthermore, content such as Will Seeds and Mementos requests are easily missed due to location and time constraints. This is compounded by the fact that the game does not signpost the requirements for unlocking the extra content. Many items and activities can remain unreachable as a result, meaning multiple playthroughs are often required.
In its unforgiving manner, Dark Souls 3 permanently locks you out of content and areas where specific actions aren’t taken promptly, with characters such as Siegward of Catarina, Anri of Astora, Patches the Unbreakable, and Yuria of Londor all having hidden interactions. Additionally, if you don’t collect the loot and items dropped by slain bosses before leaving the area, once you come back, they are no longer available.
The sleeping dragon on the mountain in Archdragon Peak is the largest entity in Dark Souls 3.
Untended Graves and Archdragon Peak areas are only accessible to those with a keen eye for detail. Additionally, endings such as the Usurpation of Fire and the End of Fire require specific actions, making you replay Dark Souls 3 multiple times if you are a completionist.
Thanks to its open world, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt offers a significant amount of replayability and hours of exploration for a perfectionist. There are a huge number of side quests and many storylines are frequently left unexplored, since decisions made will lock out other paths.
Additionally, some Gwent cards, unique Witcher sets, and locations such as Hindhold and Elven Ruins are easily missable due to their secluded nature and remote settings. If you choose to ignore these, you may be missing an emotional character arc that deepens Geralt’s journey and unique gears and weapons that will amplify your build and make the playthrough easier.
Final Fantasy 9 is another RPG with a significant amount of hidden content made so on purpose, as its developers wanted to reward those with the most dedication and adventurous spirit. While some items are only obtainable during a specific timeframe (Excalibur II), others are available through side quests (Tin Armor). At the same time, some are found only in particular locations and cannot be retrieved later (Rune Blade).
If you miss out on equipment, specific abilities (Auto-Regen, Thievery, Dragon’s Crest, and Blue Magic for Quina) that greatly enhance your heroes remain unattainable later on. In addition to multiple character storylines, lore, and side quests, you can also completely miss out on some bosses, such as Hades and Ozma, due to their secluded nature.
