Side Quest ending explained: The crew plays the game one last time

The Apple TV+ show Side Quest is an expansion of Mythic Quest and showcases the lives of players, employees, and fans impacted by the video game. Each episode of the show is standalone, and hence, the finale doesn't wrap up a continuous storyline but provides a thematic conclusion on how real-world emotions and the gaming world are intertwined.

The finale showcases the crew—consisting of Devon, Kelly, Rory, Seth, and Sorisona—playing and celebrating their gaming ritual for one last time when they realize that their personal lives are changing and that they should move on from this ritual as well. Therefore, in Side Quest, certain character arcs conclude while still leaving room for potential exploration.

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What happened in the Side Quest finale? Ending explained

Side Quest complements the original series, which wrapped up alongside it. The Episode 4 finale, titled The Last Raid, focuses on the crew playing the game after four years and realizing how both the game world and their personal lives have evolved over time. This metaphorically draws a parallel between the two, while the crew celebrates an annual event, Raid-iversary, as their adventurous ritual.

Kelly maintains her game persona by speaking in a British accent and refusing to let anyone call her by her real name. Rory and Seth are a couple, while Freddie is the loud and unfiltered one of the group. Devon and Ben are brothers.

Inside the game, Ben enters the dangerous Cyclops' Den while the crew battles alongside him. Devon clears the next level when the game glitches. Seth resorts to Reddit to check if anyone else is encountering a similar problem. Eventually, the gang arrives at Raven's Ridge, where Devon reveals that he missed the application deadline for his dream college and, therefore, has been sitting at home with his brother for a long time, offering a glimpse into his personal struggles.

The crew then reaches the Castle of Evernight, where Devon comes up with a game plan: Kelly and Seth should engage the enemies first while Ben and Freddie deliver the final blow. He emphasizes not gathering in the same location and instead maintaining controlled movement. They hope to avoid further glitches that have ruined their battles. Meanwhile, Rory and Seth reveal that they broke up after their last raid, adding to the emotional tension within the group. They realize that the game has kept them together, even as their lives have changed significantly.

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The crew gets ready for the final challenge in Side Quest

Devon teaches Ben how to use weapons correctly and attack, and they head to the final challenge at Gorgon's Lair. Devon stresses that they should stick to their earlier strategy and avoid potential glitches. Meanwhile, Rory, Sorisona, and Freddie discover that Seth is dating Kristen Davis, a girl they used to mock with weird nicknames.

Ben refuses to listen to his older brother and is forcefully thrown out of the game. Freddie leaves the group for other commitments, and the tension escalates as their personal lives start interfering with their focus on the game. Devon, already frustrated with his brother, gets into a conflict with the group.

The group realizes that it is time to move on from the game they have played for years. Devon's heart grows heavy, as the game has provided him with a sense of stability in his life. However, for the last time, the group logs off from the game, and Kelly embraces her real identity in Side Quest.