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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsNeither order is right for every open-world game. Follow the main quest when you want story momentum, access to new systems, or help learning how the game works. Explore when you are curious, want to prepare for a challenge, or need a change of pace. In games built for flexible progression, switching between the two is often the most useful approach.
What changes when you choose one path over the other?
| What you care about | Follow the main quest sooner | Explore sooner |
|---|---|---|
| Story and context | Moves the plot forward and may introduce the world or mechanics in sequence. | Leaves more room to discover places and details before the next story beat. |
| Unlocks and access | May reach story-gated abilities, systems, or areas sooner; check the specific game. | May uncover optional equipment, tools, or alternate routes first. |
| Difficulty | Keeps you focused on the current challenge. | Can provide preparation or a different activity if the current challenge is frustrating. |
| Direction | Usually gives you a clearer immediate objective. | Gives you more control over your agenda, though you may need to rely less on markers. |
| Pacing | Fits a desire for forward plot movement. | Fits a preference for setting your own goals and pace. |
These are useful trade-offs, not guaranteed results. Unlocks, encounter scaling, side activities, and the cost of leaving an objective vary by game.
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When should you follow the main quest first?
You want the story to keep moving
If you are invested in the plot or want the next story beat, stay with the main objective for a while. Bethesda describes The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim as supporting both pursuing the main quest and stepping away to explore, with players building their story at their own pace (Bethesda’s Skyrim introduction).
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A short stretch of main-quest progress can be efficient if the game introduces important mechanics or gates a feature behind a story objective. Check the quest journal, in-game menus, or official guidance for the prerequisite rather than assuming every open-world game unlocks abilities the same way. One player’s concern about following the “main quest arrow” to avoid missing abilities illustrates the question, but does not establish how common that concern is (player discussion).
#1 Best Overall
You want clearer direction
When a large world feels overwhelming, a main objective can give you a concrete next step. You do not have to commit to quest-first play indefinitely: use it until you reach a natural pause, then decide whether you want to continue or roam.
When is it better to explore first?
You are curious about the world
If a landmark, cave, settlement, or side activity interests you, it is reasonable to follow that curiosity—provided the game lets you return to the main objective without an unwanted cost. Bethesda’s description of Skyrim explicitly treats quest pursuit and wandering away as compatible choices, not competing rules (Bethesda’s Skyrim introduction).
Rank #2
You want to prepare for a difficult challenge
Exploration can be practical preparation. Bandai Namco’s official Elden Ring guidance describes finding upgrades, equipment, consumables, and other ways to address a challenge elsewhere in the world (Elden Ring overview). If you are stuck, look for an alternate route or a lower-pressure activity, then return when you feel ready.
You prefer to set your own pace
Freedom to choose an order does not mean every route is equally accessible. Bandai Namco says players can tackle challenges in their preferred order, while noting that progressing between major areas still calls for sufficient skill or build proficiency (Elden Ring overview). The game’s structure—not the phrase “open world” alone—determines how far you can roam or what you can do next.
Rank #3
What if you get stuck or feel lost?
At a difficult point, change activities if the game allows it
Repeatedly forcing the same attempt is not the only way forward. Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki said he wanted newcomers to feel unpressured and approach the game at their own pace; he also described returning to a challenge later after reaching an impasse (PlayStation Blog interview with Hidetaka Miyazaki). Look for upgrades, an alternate route, or side content that suits your current mood, then come back when you choose.
Use navigation aids selectively
If you are losing track of what matters, keep the quest list handy and separate main objectives from side quests when the interface offers that option. Microsoft’s accessibility guidance gives examples such as optional waypoints and objective trackers, which can help players balance direction with freedom (Microsoft Gaming Accessibility Guidelines).
Rank #4
- Includes the Hearts of Stone and Blood & Wine expansions, 16 DLC's which offer a massive 50 hours of additional storytelling as well as new features and new areas that expand the explorable world by over a third!
- Affords access to all additional content released so far, including weapons, armor, side quests, game modes and new GWENT cards!
- Features all technical and visual updates as well as a new user interface completely redesigned on the basis of feedback from members of the Witcher Community.
A practical way to balance questing and exploration
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Start with the objective that best fits what you want now: story progress, a new system, a nearby point of interest, or a change from a difficult encounter.
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Pause at a natural milestone, such as a new story beat, system, or challenge. Check whether continuing the quest matters to your goals.
Best Value
Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2)- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
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Explore nearby places while they interest you. If the game offers a quest list or objective tracker, use it as a reminder rather than an obligation.
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Return to the main objective when its story, an apparent prerequisite, or your own curiosity makes it the best next step.
This is a flexible recommendation, not a tested formula. A qualitative study of player experiences describes people switching activities to avoid boredom, frustration, or an unwanted pace; it does not establish that one order works best for most players (qualitative player-experience study).
Quick Recap
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