Side quests in Dying Light: The Beast surface as exclamation marks on your map and above NPCs once you’ve met their conditions. Many are tied to specific story beats or require you to finish an earlier quest in a chain, and a few only appear after securing a safe zone. Below you’ll find every side quest currently available, the clear chains to tackle in order, and the unlocks and rewards that are known in-game.

How side quests appear and unlock

  • Map markers: Side quests show up as an exclamation mark on the map and above the quest giver.
  • Story-gated quests: Several unlock immediately after specific main missions. Examples:
  • Quest-chain gates: Some missions are sequenced. For instance, Good Vibrations only appears after you complete Dead Beats, which itself follows The Cable Guy unlock.
  • Safe zone/level gates: Hunting Yaga requires securing the Abandoned House safe zone and is intended for roughly level 11.
Note: Not every quest displays a level requirement, and several unlock simply by progressing the story or exploring the region where their NPC resides.

Two arcs stand out because they gate multiple missions behind each other. Running them in sequence avoids backtracking and unlock confusion:

  • Killing Streak chain (six parts, Old Town):
    • Killing Streak → Killing Streak: Volume Two → Volume Three → Volume Four → Final Chapter
  • Power restoration mini-arc (Old Town):
    • The Cable Guy (after Power Gambit) → Dead Beats → Good Vibrations

Standalone but story-gated starters worth prioritizing when they appear:

  • Hunting Yaga (after securing the Abandoned House safe zone)

All side quests and known requirements

Quest Chain/Arc Unlock requirement (known) Rewards (known)
What Lurks Beyond the Pines Standalone (Old Town) Complete main quest: The Beast Within William’s Knife; 2× Beginner Manuals; 10,000 Exp
Killing Streak Killing Streak (1/6, Old Town) Complete main quest: First Blood Soldier Boots (Epic Sneakers); 2× Beginner Manuals; 4,000 Exp
Killing Streak: Volume Two Killing Streak (2/6, Old Town) Complete Killing Streak 2× Beginner Manuals; 4,000 Exp
Killing Streak: Volume Three Killing Streak (3/6, Old Town) Complete Volume Two 2× Beginner Manuals; 4,000 Exp
Killing Streak: Volume Four Killing Streak (4/6, Old Town) Complete Volume Three 2× Intermediate Manuals; 4,000 Exp
Killing Streak: Final Chapter Killing Streak (6/6, Old Town) Complete Volume Four Soldier Tactical Vest (Epic Chestpiece); 2× Intermediate Manuals; 4,000 Exp
The Cable Guy Power restoration arc (Old Town) Complete main quest: Power Gambit —
Dead Beats Power restoration arc (Old Town) Unlocks after The Cable Guy; requires Power Gambit complete 2× Beginner Manuals; 5,000 Exp
Good Vibrations Power restoration arc (Old Town) Complete Dead Beats Bruiser Trousers (Epic Joggers); 2× Intermediate Manuals; 5,000 Exp; Spas Decoy (Legendary Throwable)
Hydro-Puzzle Standalone — —
Trouble in Paradise Standalone — —
Precious Cargo Standalone — —
Hunting Yaga Standalone (National Park) Secure the Abandoned House safe zone; intended level ~11 —
Last Wish Standalone — —
Don’t Look Back in Anger Standalone — —
Chain Reaction Standalone — —
For Your Mind Only Standalone — —
Stay Human Standalone — —
A Sign of Hope Standalone — —
The Fast and Fortunate Standalone — —

There are 20 side quests in total. Many of the unnamed requirements above simply hinge on progressing the main story and checking back with NPCs in their regions, especially Old Town, where a large share of early side content is concentrated.

When to expect the big unlock moments

  • After The Beast Within: What Lurks Beyond the Pines becomes available in Old Town.
  • After First Blood: the first Killing Streak mission appears, opening the six-part chain.
  • After Power Gambit: The Cable Guy unlocks; finishing it leads to Dead Beats and then Good Vibrations.
  • After securing Abandoned House (safe zone): Hunting Yaga appears as a higher-level hunt.

If you’re aiming for 100%, keep an eye on your map after these main-quest beats. Most remaining side content populates gradually as you move between regions and clear earlier tasks.