Finding every piece of content in a dense RPG can be a daunting task, especially when the game doesn’t hold your hand. In Aether & Iron, side missions are not marked on your map with flashing icons.
These optional stories are hidden gems, unlocked only through specific combinations of story progress, location revisits, and active party members. If you simply rush the main narrative, you will miss them entirely. There are 7 total side missions in the game's current state—4 found in the White Street hub area, and 3 in the later Dreamland zone. This guide explains how to unlock each one in a natural, spoiler-light order, detailing what each quest is about so you can experience every layer of the game’s world.
The Nature of Hidden Quests in Aether & Iron
Unlike many modern RPGs, Aether & Iron expects players to be observant and curious. Quest triggers are environmental and character-dependent. A doorway that was previously locked might now be open after a major story beat; an NPC you passed a dozen times might finally have something new to say; a party member like Luca might comment on a location, initiating a hidden scene. This design philosophy rewards thorough exploration and makes the world feel more reactive and alive. The key to uncovering these stories is a simple but critical habit: after every significant plot development, you should backtrack to previous major areas and experiment with different party compositions.
General Tips for Unlocking Side Missions
Before diving into the individual quests, keep these core principles in mind. They are the foundation for finding not just the 7 missions listed here, but any future content added to the game.
- Revisit Old Areas: Always return to previous hubs like White Street after key events, especially the massacre and after recruiting new characters. The world state evolves.
- Rotate Your Party: Never get stuck using the same three characters. Some quests, like "Souls Scratched in Iron," are impossible unless a specific character is present in your active party.
- Talk to Everyone (Again): NPCs have new dialogue as the story advances. A casual conversation can be a quest trigger.
- Embrace Random Encounters: Some quests do not start by talking to an NPC. They begin as surprise encounters when you move through specific zones. If something unexpected happens, you’re likely on a side quest.
White Street Side Missions (4 Quests)
The first major hub area, White Street, is where you will spend the early chapters of the game. Four side missions are hidden here, with most becoming available after you recruit the character Cress. These quests often deal with the immediate aftermath of the district's central conflict, offering more personal stories amidst the larger chaos.
Boy on the Run
How to Unlock: After experiencing the major massacre event in White Street's story, immediately return to the parade ground area. Look for a distressed woman standing in the street; she will not appear before this trigger.
Quest Overview: This is one of the earliest side quests you can find and sets the tone for the game's hidden storytelling. You assist a mother searching for her son, who has foolishly gotten involved with the soldiers occupying the area. It's a straightforward mission that highlights the human cost of the district’s turmoil and is an excellent introduction to the game’s environmental trigger system. Missing it is easy if you proceed linearly without revisiting the parade ground.
Ghost in the Rigging
How to Unlock: This quest begins automatically as part of the narrative shortly after Cress joins your party. You do not need to find an NPC; the game will present it to you.
Quest Overview: Centered on an abandoned and supposedly haunted airship, this mission leans more into mystery and investigation than outright horror. With Cress involved, you'll explore the derelict vessel to uncover the truth behind the rumors. The quest is rich in atmospheric storytelling and provides deeper lore about the world's technology and past events, serving as a great character moment for Cress.
Good to the Last Drop
How to Unlock: Travel to the Raiment District within White Street. Find and speak to a character named Fence to receive this task.
Quest Overview: A shorter, flavor-focused mission that immerses you in the shady underground economy of White Street. Fence tasks you with delivering a package of contraband to a local restaurant. While simple in execution, the quest adds significant world-building, introducing you to the networks of illicit trade that operate in the city’s shadows and the moral grey areas your characters must navigate.
Life on the Edge
How to Unlock: After Cress is in your party, spend time moving around the various airship dock and platform areas in White Street. This quest triggers as a random encounter when entering a specific zone.
Quest Overview: This mission is a sudden, action-packed interruption. In a surprise turn of events, your character is disarmed and must fight to recover their weapon. It's more combat-focused and tense than the other, more deliberate White Street quests, emphasizing improvisation and skill. Because it lacks a traditional NPC prompt, many players stumble into it unexpectedly, making it a memorable highlight.
Dreamland Side Missions (3 Quests)
As you progress into the later-game Dreamland zone, the side missions become more complex and tied to stricter conditions. These three quests are some of the easiest to miss in the entire game, as they require very specific sequences of story completion and party management. They offer some of the game’s most unique gameplay and deepest character insights.
Bread and Circuses
How to Unlock: First, you must complete a specific main story duty: patrolling the Downtown Exchange with your party member Sophie. This quest is often informally called Her Heart Has Two Beats. Only after finishing that task should you travel to the Hippodrome in Dreamland.
Quest Overview: “Bread and Circuses” is a standout, gameplay-heavy diversion. You are thrust into a chaotic, high-stakes death race against other competitors. It's a thrilling set-piece that tests your combat and tactical skills in a dynamic arena environment, offering a stark and exciting change of pace from the game’s usual exploration and story-driven missions.
Wolf at the Gate
How to Unlock: Gain access to the Coney Island area within Dreamland. Once there, seek out the character Nellie in her laboratory to begin the quest.
Quest Overview: This mission starts as a lighthearted excursion but rapidly descends into comedic chaos. It focuses heavily on character interaction and humor, showcasing the personalities of your party members as a simple plan spirals wildly out of control. It’s a welcome comedic relief episode that builds camaraderie among the cast without the weight of the main plot’s heavier stakes.
Souls Scratched in Iron
How to Unlock: This is the most easily missable quest in the game due to its strict party requirement. Luca must be in your active party of three. With Luca present, thoroughly explore the lower sections of the Dreamland map to trigger a hidden encounter.
Quest Overview: A profound, narrative-heavy mission that serves as a dedicated character chapter for Luca. The quest delves into his personal history, connecting to themes of worker unrest, industrial strife, and personal legacy. It provides critical backstory and emotional depth for Luca, making it essential for players invested in the game’s characters and world-building. Missing this quest means missing a key piece of the story.
Comprehensive Missable Quest Checklist
To ensure you lock in every opportunity, follow this progression-based checklist. It integrates the side quests into the natural flow of the main story without rushing ahead.
- Early White Street (Post-Massacre): Return to the Parade Ground. Complete Boy on the Run.
- After Recruiting Cress: Complete the automatically triggered Ghost in the Rigging. Then, frequent airship docks to trigger Life on the Edge. Also, visit the Raiment District for Good to the Last Drop.
- In Dreamland (Post-Patrol): After completing the "Her Heart Has Two Beats" patrol with Sophie, go to the Hippodrome for Bread and Circuses.
- After Unlocking Coney Island: Visit Nellie's lab to start Wolf at the Gate.
- Before Finishing Dreamland: Ensure Luca is in your party and scour the lower Dreamland map to find Souls Scratched in Iron.
Ultimately, the side missions in Aether & Iron are not optional filler; they are integral chapters that flesh out the world, deepen your connection to your party members, and reward a meticulous playstyle. The game's design intentionally hides these stories to promote a sense of discovery and to make the world feel larger than your singular path through it. By making a habit of revisiting locations with different party members, you transform your playthrough from a linear story into a rich, exploratory experience where every alleyway and old conversation holds the potential for a new adventure. Remember, rushing forward is the surest way to miss the nuanced stories that make this world so compelling.
