Dragon Age: Inquisition, like most Bioware RPGs, is a genuinely massive game. The main quest in and of itself is huge enough, but there are also countless side quests, a few DLCs, and tremendously large in-game maps across Thedas that can be overwhelming for any player. However, for those that are looking to streamline their experience, there are a few side quests that just shouldn’t be missed.
Whether these side quests are important enough to change the game, they bring a new character into the fold, or they merely provide a glimpse of a further lore, these are the ten side quests that everyone should inarguably do in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
10 Chateau D'Onterre Lets Players Explore Orlesian Design More
The side quest Chateau D'Onterre is unique to the Dragon Age series for one specific reason: players can get a really good look at Orlais for the first time. While the nation of Orlais has come up in the past history of Dragon Age, this game was the first to allow players to actually travel to this wealthy and powerful nation.
This particular side quest is in a mansion in Orlais, a spooky house with a secret and many puzzles to solve. Bringing along the Inquisitor’s own ghost provides even more fun in this place, where players can view magnificent landscapes, architecture, and art that define the Orlesian style.
9 The Heart Of The Still Ruins & A Stranger Rift In The Ruins Feature Time Magic
Dragon Age: Inquisition is a game that plays around a bit with time magic. While this is not always within the Inquisitor’s control, the side quest The Heart of the Still Ruins— and the quest that follows it, A Stranger Rift in the Ruins— allow a little more play with time magic in the game itself.
While in the Western Approach, the Inquisitor can explore a palace that has been frozen in time. The side quest sees the Inquisitor restarting time and fighting to stop a rift that has been stuck against the natural flow of time and space.
8 Lost Souls Leads To A Memorable Attack On Skyhold
While the side quest Lost Souls, in and of itself, is not the best side quest in the game, it does lead to one of the game’s best bits. In completing Lost Souls, the Inquisitor kills the Hand of Korth, an Avvar leader. After doing so, the Hand of Korth’s father, Chief Movran the Under, has to respond in accordance with Avvar culture.
This means that Chief Movran is caught launching goats at the walls of Skyhold as a response to his son’s demise — and the Inquisitor must punish him for this seemingly-absurd crime in Sit in Judgment of Chief Movran.
7 Mama’s Ring Reminds Players Of The Cost Of The Battle
There are so many quests and huge stories and world-ending battles in Dragon Age: Inquisition that it’s easy to forget the very real cost for people on the ground in Thedas. They can become faceless casualties when there are so many people, but the Inquisitor was once one of them— and it was only chance that separated them.
Mama’s Ring reminds players of just that. In this quest, the Inquisitor retrieves an heirloom for an old woman named Granny Mae, who was forced from her home. The side quest Mama’s Ring reminds players how important it is to stay close to people in Thedas.
6 Revelations Shines Light On Blackwall’s Character
There are a few absolutely compelling companions in Dragon Age: Inquisition, and few of them have so shocking a twist as Blackwall does. While the player is introduced to this character as Blackwall, it is revealed in the side quest Revelations that this is not “Blackwall’s” true name.
His real name is Thom Rainier, and he has been lying since even before he joined the Inquisition. Upon finding this out, the Inquisitor can choose what is done with him. It is this choice that will determine Rainier’s— or Blackwall’s— ultimate fate in the game series.
5 Guilty Pleasures Humanizes The Companions A Little More
Cassandra Pentaghast has appeared before in the Dragon Age franchise, but she is more prominent in Dragon Age: Inquisition than ever before. She can come off as somewhat unapproachable, but there are little moments that serve to humanize her. This game is great at developing its characters, and Cassandra is no exception.
The side quest Guilty Pleasures exposes Cassandra’s love for Varric’s books, and how badly she wants to read the next book. The Inquisitor has to get that book from Varric, but that information is revealed in the process to him. It’s a heart-warming little side quest for the Inquisitor and their companions.
4 Demands Of The Qun Has Important Repercussions Later On
One of the most jarring side quests in Dragon Age: Inquisition is undoubtedly Demands of the Qun. Depending on the Inquisitor’s choices during this side quest, the Bull’s Chargers could possibly be completely killed, leaving only the Iron Bull as a survivor.
If this is the case, or if the player skips this side quest, the Iron Bill will turn on the Inquisitor in the game’s DLC Trespasser. In this case, the Inquisitor is forced to kill the Iron Bull. However, if the Bull’s Chargers are saved during Demands of the Qun, he won’t betray the party during Trespasser. The Iron Bull’s life quite literally hinges on this side quest.
3 Well, S*** Provides Insight Into Varric And The Red Lyrium Crisis
The appropriately-named side quest Well, S*** is named such because it involves Varric Tethras and a huge revelation that he is deeply upset to discover. This side quest begins because Varric has been informed by Bianca Davri that someone leaked the location of the red lyrium mine in Valammar.
Corypheus got all his red lyrium from this mine, so it's a pretty major leak. Upon completing this side quest, the Inquisitor uncovers that Bianca is the one who leaked that location, much to the horror of Varric.
2 The Forgotten Boy Adds A Great Character To The Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition was popular for many reasons upon release, but one of the biggest reasons was how great the characters are. However, there are actually a couple of side quests that are required in order to get some of those incredible companions.
The side quest The Forgotten Boy is a special one; it really isn’t a quest so much as it is a cutscene that the Inquisitor makes a decision at the end of, but it is, in fact, still a side quest in the game. It is this side quest that allows the Inquisitor to add Cole to the Inquisition if they so choose. If they don’t, he is gone, never to return.
1 The Imperial Enchanter Brings Madame Vivienne De Fer To The Party
Another valuable recruitment side quest is The Imperial Enchanter. This side quest sees Madame Vivienne de Fer inviting the Inquisitor to a salon at Duke Bastien de Ghislain’s château.
As Vivienne is the First Enchanter of Montsimmard, she is an intimidating figure, but she takes the Inquisitor aside after the main parts of this side quest for a one-on-one conversation. It is here that Vivienne offers her services, and the Inquisitor can recruit her to the Inquisition— or deny her.