10 Video Game Side Quests That Impact The Main Story In A Major Way
4. The Magical Ribbon - Witcher 3
The side quests in Witcher III blend so easily with the main story that it's easy to forget they're not actually a part of it. This said, the choices you make inside quests rarely matter for Geralt's primary objectives. That is, unless you're playing the Blood and Wine DLC.
The DLC's finale requires the player to decide if they should let the vampire Detlaff confront Syanna about her using him to take revenge on her sister. If the player lets the two see each other, Detlaff will always try to kill Syanna and cause Geralt to get thrown in jail.
However, there is a way to make Syanna survive the encounter with Detlaff. It's just a matter of taking a small detour while Geralt goes looking for her in her magical, fairytale prison.
Inside the fairytale world, Geralt can come across a little girl who holds Syanna's ribbon. Syanna will comment on how the ribbon has sentimental value to her, at which point the player may try to get it for her by buying it off the little girl or playing a round of Gwent for it.
It might seem like a simple act of kindness; however, when Syanna meets Detlaff with the ribbon, the item will actually allow her to teleport back to the fairytale world before Detlaff can kill her.
Don't let anyone ever tell you that playing Gwent is a waste of time!