This is an obvious statement, but there is a lot to do and see in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Players can easily beat it in a dozen hours if they know what they are doing and are skilled at action games. That’s not the record right now, but it is a good average estimate for those that want to skip extra content.
It would be weird to not fully ingest everything The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has to offer though. It has been six long years since Breath of the Wild and it might be another six more before another full Zelda game is released. So, best to enjoy everything in TOTK. For example, here are some notable side quests to tackle as soon as possible.
Updated on August 15, 2023 by Renri Seong: Since the teaser trailer, Tears of the Kingdom has been a highly-anticipated game for fans of the Legend of Zelda franchise. As a sequel, there are mechanics that the game has improved on from Breath of the Wild, and one of those are side quests. It's debatable whether the side quests in Tears of the Kingdom are "more meaningful" than the ones in Breath of the Wild, but regardless, some are worth prioritizing over others. In fact, several quests will give out armor as a reward. The following list has been updated to include seven more side quests/adventures that Tears of the Kingdom players should not miss out on in their playthroughs.
15 Bring Peace To Hyrule Field
Players can access the Bring Peace To Hyrule Field quest once they finish Purah’s request ending with her giving Link the Paraglider in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Hoz, the captain who was searching for Zelda at the castle, returns to Lookout Landing briefly. Once business with Purah has finished, NPCs will tell Link that they saw Hoz leave again and then take some men directly south of town to fight some monsters.
Players can catch up with Hoz and his little brigade to then begin this quest. After defeating the monster’s lair with the storming troops, Hoz will reward players with a hundred Rupees. It’s a cool quest that leads to an epic battle followed by some easy money.
14 Who Goes There
Who Goes There is another quest that can begin in Lookout Landing. It is undetermined when this quest can begin, but after returning to the shelter below the town a few times, a new entryway will greet players. Jerrin, the sweeper in the underground hideout, confesses to Link that she accidentally broke the wall while sweeping.
Investigating this new cave will lead players to a statue that they will recognize if they played Breath of the Wild. Discovering this statue will begin another quest, A Deal With The Statue, which then ends with players being allowed to swap stamina and heart upgrades around in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
13 Hestu's Concerns
Another returning quest line and character in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is Hestu. Hestu was the giant Korok in the first game that expanded the weapon, bow, and shield inventories for Link in exchange for Korok Seeds.
Mechanically, he works the same way in the sequel except that after the first encounter, Hestu makes a residency in Lookout Landing, so players can easily access this inventory upgrading ability. Players can find this first location on the hill leading up to Lindor’s Brow Skyview Tower. It is located Northwest of Lookout Landing.
12 Serenade To A Great Fairy
Besides inventory and stat upgrades, players can boost the effectiveness of clothing and armor too. It works the same way in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom as it did in the first game via the Great Fairies. There are four to discover in the game and each one is tied to a quest of wandering minstrels.
Players have to locate missing band members in the troop and somehow repair their carriage to get them to see the Great Fairy in that region too. To get things rolling, head Northeast of Lookout Landing to the Woodland Stable to start part one of this quest, Serenade To A Great Fairy.
11 The Incomplete Stable
The Incomplete Stable can be found in Lookout Landing, and it is an easy side quest to miss. Players who got into the last game know that there are established stables all over Hyrule. The same is true in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom with stables built across the kingdom. So, it may come as a surprise that Lookout Landing has one too since it isn’t a stand-alone stable, unlike the rest in the game.
Players can find Karson, a worker for Hudson Construction, by one of the gates. He will ask for help fixing the stable. All players have to do is replace a board on the roof, and then they can capture a horse in that region.
10 Team Cece Or Team Reede
Team Cece or Team Reede is an elaborate quest in Hateno Village. It begins with players trying to help a local designer, Cece, win the next mayoral election. From there, multiple mini-side quests will erupt including one where players have to chase squirrels for 
acorns and another involving giving people mushrooms for hats.
The result will allow players to buy clothing and armor from Cece. Her best piece of armor in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the Royal Guard Uniform which has a starting plus four to defense.
9 Gloom-Borne Illness
Gloom-Borne Illness is a quest in a neighboring village, Kakariko Village, and it will inevitably lead players to another armor-buying opportunity. Lasli is afraid that her Nanna will pass due to Gloom. Players need to gather Hylian Rice, Fresh Milk, and Sundelionsc to make Sunny Veggie Porridge and heal Nanna.
This recipe will heal players for three normal hearts and then three lost hearts due to Gloom. It’s a good recipe to have while exploring the depths below Hyrule. Also, completing the quest will give players access to the Stealth and Radiant armor sets in the game.
8 The Hunt For Bubbul Gems
Players are probably going to find glowing giant frogs in caverns as they explore Hyrule. Defeating them will reward players with Bubbul Gems which are important for this quest. Players can begin The Hunt For Bubbul Gems by the Woodland Stable which is located northwest of Lookout Landing.
Behind the stable, there is a pond wherein players will meet two of the strangest characters in the game: Kilton and Koltin. They will take Bubbul Gems from the player and reward them with various monster masks. They are like this game’s version of the Happy Mask Salesman from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, but they are a little more horrific looking.
7 Camera Work in The Depths
The Purah Pad may have a handy map and Character Profiles at its disposal when Link first obtains it on the Sky Islands. "Camera Work in The Depths" is one of the first side quests that players can get after obtaining the Paraglider from Purah and activating the first Skyview Tower. It's also how players can unlock the Camera. Since there are countless scenarios that require photos in Tears of the Kingdom, it's best to complete this side quest immediately.
Speaking to Josha and Robbie after getting the paraglider will unlock "Camera Work in The Depths." Players will then need to enter the Hyrule Field Chasm, which is south of Lookout Landing. This also serves as a "tutorial" for The Depths. Navigate through the abyss, and activate the first Lightroot. Players can find Robbie by reading the clues he's left behind at the campfires set up in The Depths. Once Link finds him, he'll obtain the Camera and the Hyrule Compendium, then he'll need to take a picture of the nearby statue. It's best to return to Lookout Landing and show Josha the picture to formally complete the quest.
6 Potential Princess Sightings!
Returning fans may have noticed a certain character missing from Tears of the Kingdom. While Kass unfortunately doesn't make his return in the base game, he's mentioned by Penn, a new Rito character, at the end of the "Potential Princess Sightings!" Side adventure. This is a series of quests that investigate rumors around Hyrule about Princess Zelda.
"Potential Princess Sightings!" Has no deadline, and since it will literally take Link to several places in Hyrule, it's easier to complete when players have Activated more Skyview Towers and Shrines of Light. Despite this, players can pick it up on their way to Rito VIllage at the Lucky Clover Gazette. The gazette's headquarters is in the stable right before the broken bridge leading into Rito Village. Simply go inside and speak to Traysi and Penn to unlock the side adventure. If Link manages to complete all the "Potential Princess Sightings!" side adventures, he'll get the complete Froggy Armor Set. This armor will give Link "slip resistance," which makes it easier for him to climb up slippery surfaces (ex, ice) or while it's raining. If players manage to get the Froggy Armor Set's Set Bonus, then Link won't slip at all while climbing. It's a very worthwhile reward for an arguably long side adventure.