10 Annoying Video Game Mechanics That Need To Die
8. Quest Time Limits
Unless your game sets a precedent for having timed quests, don't suddenly throw one in there. In fact, even if you do set it up unless your game is a linear game, don't include them at all. There is nothing worse than a time limit in an open world game.
People play games to muck around in and do stupid stuff. They don't want to immediately follow the pained and urgent pleas of a dying citizen, they want to pick potatoes and start a family. Then maybe get around to lending them a hand a couple dozen hours down the line.
Prey was a rather recent example. It was quite liberal with its time limits, but it instils a sense of urgency that causes players to abandon what they were doing, sprint through an intricately planned level, avoid all the unique encounters, just so they don't forget.