History Main / CartographySidequest

* ''VideoGame/WildARMs3'' had one for uncovering the entire map. Getting [[GlobalAirship Lombardia]] makes it easier to complete.

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'', Reilly, a mercenary leader, will ask you to map out the Capital Wasteland in exchange for 30 caps for each spot after you save her squad. The unmarked quest, ''Geomapping with Reilly'', can be made easier by using the "Explorer" perk, which reveals every location but doesn't ''discover'' them, or by using the Fallout Wiki and major landmarks to find your way without wasting a perk slot.

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series' backstory has an in-universe example in Topal the Pilot. Topal was an [[OurElvesAreBetter Aldmeri]] BoldExplorer and [[WarriorPoet poet]], and the to discover and explore Tamriel during the Merethic Era, encountering primitive versions of the [[CatFolk Khajiit]] and [[LizardFolk Argonians]], as well as a now extinct race of [[BirdPeople bird people]]. Aldmeri leadership tasked Topal, a skilled cartographer, to explore and document Tamriel's inland regions, which were [[HereThereBeDragons very mysterious]] to them at the time. The details of his trip were compiled in the epic ''Father of the Niben'', but [[TheGreatestStoryNeverTold many of the details were lost]] over time.

[[folder:Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game]]

* The ''{{Borderlands}}'' series.

* In ''[[ToejamAndEarl ToeJam & Earl]]'', each square on the map screen that you uncover adds a point to your score, and increasing your score is the main method of [[RPGElements increasing your ranking]]. Squares that are made semi-visible by picking up telephones don't count; you have to actually visit the square. Fortunately, just visiting the very corner of the square makes the whole thing appear, so you can often get credit for a square that's mostly empty space if there's a tiny outcropping of land poking from an adjacent square.

* ''ResonanceOfFate'' has a hex grid system for an overworld map, with hexes being used to unlock them which are dropped by enemies in combat. Players can see the whole map and can unlock a direct path to each necessary destination, but certain hexes off the beaten path can be unlocked which contain items. Unlocking all hexes on a given level will let energy stations constructed on that level give the player access to the home base, bypassing the cumbersome and time-wasting [[ScrappyMechanic core lift elevators]]. And unlocking all the hexes in the game gives each character a [[AndYourRewardIsClothes bonus costume]].

* You get experience for each part of the map visited in an area in ''{{Waxworks}}''. This is the ''only'' way to level up in the London area. The same applies to ''[[VideoGame/{{Elvira}} Elvira 2: Jaws of Cerberus]]''.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', the map of the Great Sea has to be drawn gradually by feeding the Fishman in each insular square (there is a total of 49). To make up for the long time needed for this and the amount of Bait required, each Fishman provides useful information on how to complete other sidequests, and in some cases important clues regarding the main quest's objectives (i.e. the location of a Triforce Chart, or how to access a dungeon).

* You get experience for each part of the map visited in an area in ''{{Waxworks}}''. This is the ''only'' way to level up in the London area.
** Same applies to ''[[VideoGame/{{Elvira}} Elvira 2: Jaws of Cerberus]]''.
* In the marine exploration ''VideoGame/EndlessOcean'' games, certain items and events will only appear/occur when certain percentages of the map have been uncovered.
** Played even straighter in the sequel. Oceana starts a cartography business, and each map is completed as you travel to every part of the area, getting you a ton of money.

* ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey's'' entire stated plot purpose is to map the dungeons. There are also sidequests that involve reporting places to look for resources.
* ''VideoGame/{{Wild ARMs 3}}'' had one for uncovering the entire map. Getting [[GlobalAirship Lombardia]] makes it easier to complete.
* ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'''s "Discoveries"; it's the age of exploration and you can earn money by reporting all of the interesting things you find while travelling the world. Counts as cartography because you have to go *everywhere* to find all the discoveries, and because some of the discoveries involve adding whole new locations to the map (Lands of Ice, Yafutoma, The World Is Round).
** There's also another guy looking for them; the longer you take, the more he finds, and the more rewards you lose out on because he got 'em. At a certain point in the game, if you've found enough of them, he'll join your crew (which gives stat bonuses) and you won't have to worry about anyone else beating you to them.

* This is pretty much the whole point of the UsefulNotes/DSiWare dungeon crawler ''Picdun''. The layouts of each floor create little pixel images when they're completely mapped out, and a floor isn't considered "complete" until you've explored every space on it.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' added the Sightseeing Log in patch 2.28. The idea is to view the SceneryPorn that is in the game, but was poorly implemented. It only gives cryptic clues as to the locations of the scenery (it at least tells you them by zone), and you don't get credit for simply arriving at said location. You have to be in just the right spot, with the right weather, and the right time of day, and use a specific emote (such as /look). However, the clues to the time/weather/emote required are cryptic at best and sometimes misleading[[note]]For example, one entry refers to looking out over a large stone statue. Sounds like you should use the "lookout" emote, right? Nope, you're supposed to use "pray"[[/note]], and the only visual indication you are in the correct spot to use the emote is an easily-missed entry in the chat log. Also, the times the weather can change are often right before the start of the time a log entry can be completed. So, even if you know what scenery the clues are referring to it's very difficult to get credit for visiting it, making it very much a GuideDangIt. All for a [[BraggingRightsReward minion]]. Time will tell if SE decides to revamp this further.

* The bicycle tour game in ''{{Wii Fit}}+'' allows you to enter more areas of Wuhu Island every time a new difficulty level is unlocked (by completing the current highest level within a certain maximum distance). After covering every cartographic square on the island (each about twenty or thirty feet across, many of which involve [[ViolationOfCommonSense pedaling straight off of a cliff or into the ocean]] and [[DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist being returned to the last]] CheckPoint), the player unlocks a mountain bike.
* In the ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' series, visiting each and every Synchronization Point and renovating every shop, stable, tunnel, etc. is required for OneHundredPercentCompletion.
** Furthermore, in the more recent titles, there are other ways of revealing the map: in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'', merely moving around the map reveals it, which is useful in areas not covered by viewpoints; in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIVBlackFlag'', conquering naval forts reveals entire regions of the overworld.

** Furthermore, in the more recent titles, there are other ways of revealing the map: in ''AssassinsCreedIII'', merely moving around the map reveals it, which is useful in areas not covered by viewpoints; in ''AssassinsCreedIVBlackFlag'', conquering naval forts reveals entire regions of the overworld.

* The explorable zones of ''GuildWars2'' contain features (including skill challenges, waypoints and points of interest) which can be discovered by the player, and an achievement and title are awarded when the player finds all of these. There is also a separate set of achievements which tracks the discovery of sub-zonal areas in each region.

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'', Reilly, a mercenary leader, will ask you to map out the Capital Wasteland in exchange for caps after you save her squad.

* ''UltimaUnderworld'' awarded experience points for exploring the Abyss.

* This is pretty much the whole point of the DSiWare dungeon crawler ''Picdun''. The layouts of each floor create little pixel images when they're completely mapped out, and a floor isn't considered "complete" until you've explored every space on it.

* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChroniclesX'' expands upon the original's concept by having you plant data probes at designated points in each area. Which is how BLADE maps the terrain of planet Mira in order to gather data on the indigenous wildlife, mine for resources, and determine which areas are safe for the research teams[[note]]BLADE members associated with the Curator and Prospector factions[[/note]] to explore. In return, [[NonCombatEXP you gain EXP]], Miranium (the in-game currency), and SP that can be used to raise your skill level within your chosen field.

* ''VideoGame/{{Xenoblade}}'' rewards the player with an EXP bonus, Tech and Ability points every time you discover an unusual or out of the way location on the world map, which also serve as landmarks you can [[WarpWhistle quickly travel to]].

* In ''Videogame/FarCry'', parts of the map unlock when you destroy the signal jammers of the radio towers in the game world.

* ''ShadowComplex'' nets you experience points for exploring new areas. This can be repeated during subsequent playthroughs.
* YsMemoriesOfCelceta: Actually the main quest is initially to complete the map, although it takes a backseat after certain plot events.

* You get titles for exploring the map in ''GuildWars'' -- there's a series of titles, so you'll get a "reward" for considerably less than every pixel, but they're given for mapping out the entire game rather than one area, so it'll take a while anyways.
* ''RetroMud'' gives bonuses to gaining certain levels if the player explores a certain percent of the world(s).
* ''WorldOfWarcraft'' actually does this for each zone, giving a lesser achievement for each, and then an overall achievement for getting ALL of them, which also grants a title ('The Explorer'). You don't have to cover every inch of the map, though, just visit each named sub-zonal area; there are about 10-30 per zone on average. You also get a tiny bit of experience each time you discover a new sub-area.

* Visiting all 3000 rooms in ''{{Meritous}}'' nets the InfinityPlusOneSword.

* ''VideoGame/{{Final Fantasy XIII-2}}'' awards an [[CosmeticAward achievement]] for getting 100% completion on all of the game's maps. It was made worse with some locations (specifically: New Bodhum and Academia) having different maps in at least one time period, while others (specifically: Bresha Ruins) having parts of them blocked off in each time period they appear in, so you cannot explore them fully until you unlock all time gates leading there. The level automap is supposed to make this easier by showing parts of the map you haven't visited yet but on some maps (New Bodhum again), the [[LastLousyPoint last lousy region]] appears as a tiny dark sliver even on maximum zoom, resulting in a lot of frustration.

* In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'', a Dantalion in Sector Eridanus will reward you for mapping specific floors. He gives you five of every type of [[RareCandy incense]] if you step on every tile in the game (and you get an achievement for it), but between hazard floors, dark areas, and the excruciatingly boring TrialAndErrorGameplay pitfall maze in the NewGamePlus area of Sector Grus, most players conclude that [[ThatOneSidequest it isn't worth it]].

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' added the Sightseeing Log in patch 2.28. The idea is to view the SceneryPorn that is in the game, but was poorly implemented. It only gives cryptic clues as to the locations of the scenery (it at least tells you them by zone), and you don't get credit for simply arriving at said location. You have to be in just the right spot, with the right weather, and the right time of day, and use a specific emote (such as /look). However, there are few or no clues as to the time/weather/emote required, and there is no visual indication you are in the correct spot to use the emote. So, even if you know what scenery the clues are referring to it's very difficult to get credit for visiting it, making it very much a GuideDangIt. All for no reward, not even an achievement. Time will tell if SE decides to revamp this further.