Side Quests

A list of the side quests that can be completed in Final Fantasy VIII. These side quests are generally listed in the order that they can be completed during a regular play through.

Queen of Cards
This is a side quest that can’t be fully completed until much later in the game, but there are a number of steps that should be completed early on in your playthrough. The Queen of Cards can help you obtain a number of rare Triple Triad cards.

The Queen of Cards in Dollet

A Dog and its Bone
A very short side quest involving the Queen of Cards’ son and her dog inside the city of Dollet.

Talking to the dog in Dollet

The Card Club (CC-Group)
There are a number of rare cards you can win from them and you can challenge them to games to retrieve your lost or refined cards.

Challenging Jack from the Card Club Group to a game of Triple Triad

Shumi Village
Traveling to the remote town located north of Trabia Garden to help the local sculptor complete their work and pick up a few small rewards along the way.

The entrance to Shumi village

Chocobo Forests
Completing the puzzles in the Chocobo Forests and using Chocobos to travel around to each of the other forests around the world.

The Choboco Forest Sanctuary, watching the chocobos do their dance

Tonberry King Guardian Force (GF)
Traveling to the Centra Ruins and defeating Tonberrys until the Tonberry King itself appears to challenge you.

The GF naming screen for Tonberry King

Odin (Centra Ruins)
Picking up an optional Guardian Force that doesn’t behave like other GFs. Note that this side quest is optional and many opt to skip it.

Battle against Odin at the Centra Ruins

Phoenix
Picking up an optional Guardian Force that doesn’t behave like other GFs. This Guardian Force is also optional but it is easy to obtain if you’re doing the other side quests.

Using Phoenix Pinion in battle

Combat King 003 (Pigtail Girl)
Have Zell meet up with his secret admirer, known only as pigtail girl, at the Balamb Hotel for a free gift.

Zell meeting with Pigtail Girl at Balamb Hotel

Timber Maniacs
Collecting all of the issues of Timber Maniacs lying around in various places as you play through the game. Unfortunately a few of them are missable…

Outside the entrance to the Timber Maniacs Building

Doomtrain (Guardian Force)
Use the raw ingredients, including the Solomon Ring from Tear’s Point, to create the new Guardian Force, Doomtrain.

Picking up the Solomon Ring at Tear’s Point

Jumbo Cactuar (Guardian Force)
Defeat Jumbo Cactuar on Cactuar Island to pick up a new Guardian Force (GF).

Battle against Jumbo Cactuar

Deep Sea Research Center
Flying out to abandoned research facility to challenge Bahamut, farm Tri-Faces/Curse Spikes, and if you choose to, defeat Ultima Weapon and obtain Eden.

The entrance to the Deep Sea Research Center

UFO & PuPu (Obtaining the PuPu Card)
Finding all of the locations where the UFO gets close to earth to meet PuPu and obtain its Triple Triad card.

Battle against the UFO

Obel Lake
Tracking down the hidden message stones and the irritating monkey to pick up a few mediocre item rewards and earn a trophy.

Throwing a rock at Obel Lake

Island Closest to Hell / Heaven
Level up your characters on these islands full of high-level monsters and pick up some hidden Draw Points while you’re there.

Island Closest to Hell on the World Map

Omega Weapon
Defeat the most difficult boss of the game in the Chapel of Ultimecia’s Castle.

Approaching Omega Weapon in the Chapel