The massive number of quests in Starfield may compel some players to try to experience everything it offers before the credits roll, but focusing solely on the main story and rushing to a New Game Plus is the better way to approach the game. The central quest line is more compelling than typical Elder Scrolls or Fallout storylines, and playing through it in sequence avoids distractions that could detract from the game’s main narrative. Exploring the game’s numerous side quests in a New Game Plus, with a more powerful and versatile character, gives players more options to approach those challenges and ensures the main quest carries the momentum it deserves.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for the main questline in Starfield]The freedom Starfield gives players to explore its universe is a trademark of Bethesda’s RPGs, but flying to random planets without a purpose in mind is unlikely to entertain players since Starfield’s random planets make little sense, and there is not much to do on them. The main quest will send players to nearly every inhabited corner of Starfield’s universe, giving them a guided tour of the game’s bespoke worlds that are far more enjoyable. In the course of the main quests, players will organically encounter factions requesting membership, which have their own quest lines, but players should put those off until New Game Plus.
A New Game Plus Character Is Better Suited To Starfield’s Expansive Side Content
Starfield’s primary story involves the explorers of Constellation and their quest to collect and analyze mysterious relics of possibly alien origin. Some of the side quests dabble in other genres, like corporate intrigue or the seedy underbelly of organized crime. The space opera vibe of the main quest delivers the most iconic Starfield experience that likely lines up with most players’ expectations for the game. Like many RPGs, players are free to divert from their primary mission and seek out better gear and other character improvements despite the implicit urgency of the central conflict. However, doing so on the first playthrough harms the overall experience.
The frustrating maps of Starfield can leave players feeling lost, but a quest-based approach sidesteps this problem, as using the quest menu allows for automatic navigation through space as well as letting players skip the scanning stage to land on a planet. Players who focus on the main quest will spend more time enjoying actual RPG content and less time trying to find something to do. This mode of play helps the urgency of the main quest feel real and aligns with players who like roleplay in their video game RPGs. A New Game Plus makes a more open-ended approach easier and less immersion-breaking.
Once players complete the One Giant Leap quest in Starfield, the game’s final mission, they enter a new universe with their skills and experience intact. All of their credits and weapons are removed, but they are granted the Starborn Guardian ship, which boasts excellent jump distance, ample fuel, and plenty of carrying capacity. Players also receive the Starborn Spacesuit Astra, one of the game’s best suits, thanks to its environmental protection and its all-in-one nature, combining a helmet and boost pack into a single item. With this ship and suit, players are free to explore any hazardous terrain and are not limited by jump distance or fuel concerns.
Sticking Exclusively To Starfield’s Main Quests Adds To Immersion & Urgency
A New Game Plus provides a much better way to enter the exploration and side quest phase of Starfield. For story reasons, it will make more sense for players to decline a second run through of the main story and leave the new universe’s Constellation members to their quest for the relics. The hero is now a Starborn, a being with a unique opportunity to see everything the universe has to offer. There is still an element of progression to a New Game Plus, as characters can continue to advance in levels, but beginning with an ideal suit and travel-ready ship makes exploration far more welcoming.
Because Starfield’s New Game Plus is cleverly integrated into its story as part of its universe’s canon, it is more immersive and rewarding than a typical New Game Plus where players are simply bizarrely overpowered with no in-game rationalization. Sticking exclusively to the main missions, initially, helps ensure they provide a balanced challenge, and prevents players from getting distracted by cherry-picking among side quests. Ignoring the quest to unravel the universe’s greatest mystery to pursue a random NPC’s agenda destroys immersion, but for a Starborn who has already seen the Unity at the center of the multiverse, it makes more sense to engage in spacefaring wanderlust.
Starfield Players Should Save Side Quests & Exploration For A Starborn Hero
With skills and levels retained in Starfield’s New Game Plus, and a ship and suit that open the doors to fearless exploration, every side quest can be enjoyed to its fullest. Players will be familiar with the game’s mechanics, not struggling with issues of weight capacity or insufficient jump drives to reach a destination. There is still benefit in electing to repeat the main quest, since the tragic death of a Constellation member can be avoided on the second time around. Whether a player opts for a second run-through of the primary story on the first trip through Starfield’s universe, the main quest should be the only quest.
Sticking exclusively to the main missions may seem counterintuitive to much of Starfield‘s appeal and Bethesda’s RPGs in general. Still, given that Starfield has one of the best central narratives the developer has ever crafted, every player will have a better experience by rushing to their own New Game Plus, letting the primary plot take center stage, and saving the rest of the experience for their Starborn hero.
