Exploring Necluda Region: Top Side Quests and Adventures in Tears of the Kingdom 2025
As I continue my journey through Hyrule in 2025, I can't help but marvel at how Tears of the Kingdom keeps revealing new layers of adventure. While Echoes of Wisdom has been making waves with its focus on Princess Zelda, I find myself constantly drawn back to Link's expansive world in Tears of the Kingdom. The Necluda region, in particular, has become my second home—a massive playground filled with secrets waiting to be uncovered. Seriously, this place has more content than my grandma's recipe book!

📸 Photographing a Chuchu Quest
Location: Hateno Village
Reward: Chuchu fabric; unlocks custom fabrics
Let me tell you about one of the most beginner-friendly quests I've encountered. The "Photograph a Chuchu" mission is exactly what it sounds like—you just need to snap a picture of those adorable blob-like enemies. What makes this quest stand out is its accessibility; Chuchus are literally everywhere in Hyrule! It's like they're the rats of this fantasy world—ubiquitous but surprisingly useful for getting started. This quest perfectly demonstrates how Tears of the Kingdom caters to both new and veteran players.
🍲 Gloom Born Illness Quest
Location: Kakariko Village
Reward: Energizing Veggie Porridge

Now this one's a game-changer for anyone planning to explore the depths. The "Gloom Born Illness" quest teaches you to prepare recipes that counteract gloom sickness—absolute lifesavers when you're delving into those creepy underground areas. The Energizing Veggie Porridge reward isn't just tasty-looking; it actually refills your Stamina Wheel! Plus, completing this quest gives you permanent discounts at Kakariko's clothing store. Talk about a win-win situation!
Zonaite Waistguard Armor Hunt
Location: Necluda Sky
Reward: Zonaite Waistguard Armor

If you're afraid of heights, maybe skip this one—but you'd be missing out! Finding the Zonaite Waistguard requires some serious sky exploration. You'll need to glide to a floating island that seems determined to stay out of reach. The journey itself is breathtaking (literally and figuratively), and the armor piece significantly boosts Zonai device efficiency. It's like getting a turbo boost for all your mechanical creations!
🦋 Zonai Research Quest
Location: Kakariko Village
Reward: 3 Thunderwing Butterflies
This quest had me feeling like an actual archaeologist! You help Bugut research Zonai slabs scattered around ruins, each containing fascinating historical notes. While the butterfly reward might seem modest, the real treasure is the lore you uncover. It's one of those quests that makes you stop and appreciate the world-building. And the best part? No combat required—perfect for when you just want to soak in the atmosphere.
🚤 Lurelin Village Boat Racing
Location: Lurelin Village
Reward: Batteries and meals

Who doesn't love a good mini-game? The boat racing competition in Lurelin Village has become my go-to stress reliever. After completing the Tarrey Town Race, you unlock multiple courses where you can build custom boats using Zonai devices. It's like Mario Kart meets engineering class! The variety of courses keeps things fresh, and the battery rewards are incredibly useful for longer adventures.
👑 Champion's Tunic Quest
Location: Hateno Village
Reward: Champion's Leather

This quest starts with what feels like invading Zelda's privacy—you read her journal to learn about the Champion's Tunic's location. While it might not be the most powerful armor statistically, it's iconic! Exploring Hyrule Castle to find it gives you that classic Legend of Zelda feeling. It's the perfect balance of exploration and reward, giving you that cover-art look without being overwhelmingly difficult.
🎩 Mayoral Election Adventure
Location: Hateno Village
Reward: Cece hat
This multi-part adventure concludes the ongoing feud between Cece and Reede, and let me tell you—the drama is real! You need to complete four previous side adventures before tackling the election, but the payoff is satisfying. The questline feels like a proper story arc with character development and unexpected twists. Cece rewards you with unique clothing, including items you might have lost or sold earlier. It's like getting your missing socks back from the dryer—but way more exciting!
⚔️ Ruffian-Infested Village
Location: Cliff overlooking Lurelin village
Reward: Unlocks Lurelin village content

Combat enthusiasts, this one's for you! This adventure has Link clearing out pirate-infested Lurelin Village monster by monster. While it can take some time to hunt down all the enemies, the reward is massive—you essentially unlock an entire new area with additional missions. The sense of accomplishment when you've cleared the village is unmatched. It's like being the neighborhood watch, but with more swordfighting and less paperwork.
Lurelin Village Restoration
Location: Lurelin village
Reward: Varies by task
Following the ruffian cleanup, this restoration project is arguably one of the most rewarding experiences in the game. You help rebuild the village piece by piece—removing crates, repairing buildings, and watching the community come back to life. It's time-consuming, yes, but seeing the transformation makes every minute worth it. The variety of tasks keeps things interesting, and the different rewards ensure you're always making progress.
✨ Necluda Sky Shrines
Location: Necluda Sky
Reward: Light of blessing
The sky archipelago shrines represent one of Tears of the Kingdom's most significant improvements over Breath of the Wild. Finding crystals and placing them on pedestals to unlock these shrines feels like proper puzzle-solving. Each of the four shrines in this area grants a Light of Blessing, making them essential for heart container upgrades. Floating among the clouds while solving ancient puzzles? That's the Zelda magic I keep coming back for.
My Personal Necluda Highlights:
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Best for Beginners: Photograph a Chuchu
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Most Useful Reward: Gloom Born Illness recipes
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Most Scenic: Zonaite Waistguard hunt
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Best Story: Mayoral Election arc
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Most Rewarding: Lurelin Restoration
What continues to amaze me in 2025 is how these side adventures don't feel like filler content—they're integral to understanding Hyrule's world and characters. Each quest reveals something new about the land, its people, or Link's journey. The Necluda region specifically demonstrates how Tears of the Kingdom balances scale with detail, offering both epic adventures and intimate moments.
The beauty of this region is that there's always something new to discover, even years after the game's release. Whether you're a completionist or just looking for meaningful distractions, Necluda delivers experiences that enhance the main story rather than distract from it. It's this careful curation that makes Tears of the Kingdom remain relevant and engaging in 2025.
So grab your paraglider, stock up on meals, and dive into Necluda—you won't regret investing time in this rich, vibrant corner of Hyrule. Who knows what secrets we haven't uncovered yet?