Quite a few people wondered just how Bethesda was going to pull off questing when it comes to a game that was entirely lacking NPCs, much less pull off a decent game at all. And rightfully so, given that one of the hallmarks of the Fallout franchise is deep, thoughtful NPC interactions that are rich in lore and storytelling. Seems like a pretty risky departure from one of their flagship games' major strengths, doesn't it?
Well, firstly, there are some NPCs. Granted, they're robots for the most part, but that does still count. And quite a few of them are packing so much in the personality department that they'd may as well be human. Secondarily, Fallout 76 leans heavily on environmental storytelling to keep the plots chugging along. To supplement that, there's holotapes, written notes, and terminal entries galore. Anyone who isn't a fan of reading may not get deep into the lore. In any case, players do indeed get a familiar questing system, and there's absolutely no shortage of them.
For those having trouble finding things to do with their time in Appalachia, why not try a hand at finding some of the quests outlined here from the apocalyptic ruins of West Virginia? The following includes rewarding and entertaining adventures for players to undertake if they're feeling up for them. Do keep in mind, there are some minor spoilers present.
UPDATED: July 21, 2021 by Russ Boswell: Fallout 76 may have been a bit rocky during its launch but it's still seeing a fairly healthy playerbase, with new vault dwellers joining the fray every day. It remains to be seen what will become of Bethesda's first foray into the "MMO" space, but for now there is a lot to enjoy with the slowly evolving world of Fallout 76. New and veteran players alike will benefit from finding some of the best Fallout 76 hidden quests, gathering up unique rewards, and encountering some of the stranger entities within the game. To help get a better grip on some of Fallout 76's hidden quests, the following guide has been updated. These Fallout 76 side quests are a must-experience for fans and offer up some of the best moments found within the Appalachian adventure.
25 Cold Case
For anyone who is missing the iconic Nick Valentine, taking on this investigation is sure to kindle some nostalgia for times past. Players will come across Miss Annie, a Miss Nanny model robot, at Wavy Willard's water park.
Put on a detective hat, because there are still plenty of clues to operate on. Players will sleuth their way from point to point as they unravel the mystery behind what's definitely more than a simple caper, and snag some pretty sweet loot once it's all solved. That includes a legendary 10mm submachine gun, by the by.
24 Mistaken Identity
Even after the nuclear apocalypse, Camden Park's robotic operators are still keeping the fun and games rolling as best they can. They do need a little help though, and players just happen to pass for one of their most recent hires.
So grab a uniform, clock in, and get to work! Gamers will be tasked with calibrating the attractions, which is mostly a breeze. Well, until it comes to the eating contest. Downing moldy hotdogs can be a challenge even after having to survive off of canned dog food for the past month or two.
23 Back To Basic
Players are a little late to be helping out with the war effort, but hey, the army's got a decent benefits package. Adventurers will also need to do this one anyway if they're wanting to join up with the Brotherhood of Steel later. Players should head down to Camp McClintock, just a short jog southeast from Flatwoods, and strap on their boots for basic training.
Apart from being integral to some further endeavors, questers can score a nice sum of caps for completing all of the training objectives. To get it all done, players need to go through an obstacle course, and demonstrate their marksmanship skills. Oh, and anyone completing the task gets to fight a horde of robots for combat training, so that's always a good time.
22 The Messenger
This event-based romp isn't in a static location, it has a tendency to jump around the map, so players should make sure to keep their eyes peeled as they're roving the wasteland for an opportunity to guide this message-bearing Mr. Handy to his decades-late appointment. Hey, it's better late than never, right?
Upon encountering the disabled Mr. Handy, he'll politely request that players engage in some light repairs to get him on his feet. Afterward, he'll conscript the quest-taker as a bodyguard to keep him safe as he delivers his message. They're usually pretty funny, easily worth a chuckle or two. Not to mention caps, experience, and an assortment of random, useful items.
21 Into The Mystery
Anyone who was a fan of the Silver Shroud will definitely want to get in on this set of faction quests. Those unfamiliar with his femme fatale counterpart, the Mistress of Mystery, will be after locating a body at Tygart Water Treatment plant, picking up a special veil, and listening to a damaged holotape.
It turns out she had a lot more in common with her character than many would think possible. Apparently, she operated a secret sisterhood of femme fatale secret agents in the real world, and their base of operations is intact enough for players to get in. Head to Riverside Manor and search around to uncover their secret basement bunker and begin tackling their tasks. It's supposed to be a girls' only club apparently, but there isn't exactly anyone around to verify guests.
20 An Organic Solution
There's a cluster of Free States bunkers towards the northeast portion of the map, among which is one belonging to Ella Ames. That'd be the one that players are looking for. Enter and begin to sift through her terminal to obtain the proper quest.
Once all set, get ready to do some science! Apparently, players are going to be gathering the chemicals necessary to mix up a RadShield. Be mindful that hunting down the bone meal component will likely result in needing to fight a Deathclaw, so players should armor up and be on their guard.
19 Thrill Of The Grill
Ah, the smell of searing meat, an ice-cold Nuka-Cola, and the constant looming threat of nuclear irradiation. Who doesn't love a classic wasteland barbecue? Nevermind that the families that are supposed to be in attendance are long gone. It certainly doesn't bother the chef at Hemlock Holes.
Simply approach the Mr. Handy with the chef's hat to be given some tasks - he's going to want fresh, if completely irradiated, meat and vegetables for the cookout. Players also have the opportunity to collect some optional ingredients, if they're feeling a little extra.
18 Earth Mover
Most players have probably seen Mount Blair. It's kind of hard to miss. It's that towering, monolithic rig dominating the southern portion of the map. And this quest takes adventurers right onto that thing. After scaling a way up, players should locate the workshop and claim it.
Afterward, they'll be directed to a control room that will teach how to operate the big machine, "Rockhound." Players will need to need to find or craft some ignition cores to get it started, and then defend them from the baddies that its awful racket is bound to attract until the timer's up in order to claim a reward.
17 Grafton Day
Everybody loves a good parade, especially when it involves a gigantic, scary fake monster supposedly restrained by robots being coaxed down the street for onlookers to marvel over. I mean, the Grafton monster is fake, right? Right? Wrong. And unfortunately, his robot handlers seem to be on the fritz.
This one can be a little rough and heavy on the ammo expenditures at lower levels, since the Grafton monster can take an absolute beating. But another quest done, as well as the usual spread of randomized quest rewards, caps and a pile of experience is always totally worth the effort.
16 Clowning Around
For those yet encountered a wendigo, they're spindly, tough, remarkably scary little freaks that are sure to haunt a player's nightmares for weeks to come. To complete the package, they're also incredibly agile. But do you know what's scarier than a wendigo?
A clown, apparently. And players can be that clown. Just drop by Freddy Fear's House of Scares towards the northeastern portion of the map to pick up a clown costume to be given the job of hunting down a wendigo while wearing it. Now that's sure to be a battle for the ages.
15 Bunker Buster
For anyone who is chasing after the secrets to launching a nuke, or just a really big fan of the Enclave, this one's an absolute must. Firstly, players need to make their way to the Abandoned Waste Dump, towards the eastern edge of the map. Those brave enough should be prepared, as they're going to face down a few Deathclaws inside.
Once they're dealt with, search for a body with a holotape that will give further instructions concerning entering the actual bunker. Players will need to do some spy work what with all the bypassing laser grids, password cracking, and whatnot, but they'll unravel the intrigue surrounding Senator Blackwell and get themselves into the Whitespring Bunker by the end of it.
14 Bureau Of Tourism
Grafton's computerized mayor is looking to get the town back into shape for tourist season, because... well, no one's really sure. Maybe irradiated ghouls tend to be really picky when vacation time rolls around. Just tune into the WGRF radio station in the Grafton area to get his precise location.
Once players are face to face, or face to terminal with this AI, they'll be assigned several tasks, such as cleaning up the Clarksburg Shooting Range, getting the water working at Wavy Willard's Water Park, and fixing the token dispenser at Prickett's Fort.
13 Getting The Drop
The now mostly automated United States government is still doing its best to provide disaster relief following the catastrophe. Players can find Supply Drop Requisition holotapes on ghouls and scorched as random bits of loot, and be given an objective to call it in.
There are several relay towers scattered across the map, all adventurers need to do is locate one, clear it out, and find the terminal inside. Once the holotape is inserted, a Cargo Vertibot will be dispatched to a nearby location to drop the package, sending up a smoke signal for players to locate. Food, medical supplies, it's all there!
12 Lost & Found
The mole men of Appalachia certainly... well, look like mole men. And the painful rasping emitted from their respirators is certain to send a chill or two up players' spines. Adventurers should make sure to check the bodies whenever they take them on though, as there's a chance they'll find a miner's key.
Anyone lucky enough to snag one will be directed to a nearby location to dig up some long-lost treasure, via an automatic questlog. Being observant certainly has a way of paying off in Appalachia.
11 Unruly Ghoulies
Whitespring is a pretty upscale place, so players can imagine their dismay concerning the clientele growing rather ghoulish. Thankfully, that's where players and their collection of guns come into play.
Head on over to the golf club and begin dispensing polite suggestions that they behave like the upper-class citizens they are in the form of bullets. Or lasers. Or even a sledgehammer, it really doesn't matter. Once players have downed ten of the particularly unruly golfers, they'll collect a nice reward in the form of caps and experience.
10 Feed The People
A good can of stew can be hard to come by in Appalachia these days, so questers should do their part and head for Mama Dolce's Food Processing whenever this timed event pops up on the map. There, they'll need to gather up the ingredients from inside the factory and dump them into the food processor. But once the machines start up, that's when the real fun begins.
They're pretty noisy, and will attract all sorts of creatures from the surrounding area while they're trying to kick out those delicious cans of lovely soy protein in gravy. Those that stand their ground and beat back the horde will claim a standard spread of randomized quest rewards.
9 Monkey Business
For anyone who's ever wanted to hunt down a monkey at the fair, well, here's a chance. And even those not interested in monkey hunting are probably down to score a decent sum of caps, some experience, and a few cheap laughs. Mosey into the Tyler County fair to be notified that one Mr. Jangles has found himself in a predicament.
Search high, low, and everywhere in between. Mostly low, actually, as what players are looking for is literally a stuffed Jangles the Moon Monkey. Competent seekers can scoop him up to claim a reward, and then inevitably scrap him for leather.
8 Miner Miracles
Anyone interested in revolutionizing the mining industry as we know it? Well, probably not. But many players are probably interested in an awesome looking set of power armor that they can wear by level twenty-five, right?
Just interact with any of the promotional materials for the Excavator Power Armor, which are plastered almost anywhere in the southern reaches of the map. This will cause players to be directed to the Garrahan Mining Headquarters, and from there they just need to follow directions. Those that do will wind up with plans to build their very own suit of Excavator Power Armor, in addition to a few more rewards.
7 Big Game Hunt
Those that happen to be near the Black Bear Lodge should take a trip down to the basement and have a little chat with the Huntmaster. He's got a thing or two for players to... alright, is everyone ready for this? Hunt. He wants players to hunt some big ol' creatures. Imagine that!
Okay, seriously. Targets tend to be randomized, but players will be given a set of three to track down for him. It could be radstags, Deathclaws, Yao Guai, stingwings, almost anything, really. So would-be hunters should gear up appropriately once they're given the targets. And above all, it's important to be patient. Sometimes the marked critter just feels like hiding since players are actually out looking for it.
6 Story Time
Wandering nearly anywhere in Appalachia, players might encounter a Miss Nanny robot regaling a gathered crowd of mannequins with a bedtime story, because mannequins need to be comforted too. It's a scary world out there. Players should hang around and listen to her rendition of Three Little Pigs, or another classic story depending on their luck, given a few twists by a certain corporate entity.
After being educated on the value of brick houses and buying a Mr. Handy robot to help build it, players collect an easy reward of caps and experience, as well as thorough knowledge concerning the many virtues of owning a Mr. Handy by General Atomics.