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.
A Dog and its Bone
A very short side quest involving the Queen of Cards’ son and her dog inside the city of 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.
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.
Chocobo Forests
Completing the puzzles in the Chocobo Forests and using Chocobos to travel around to each of the other forests around the world.
Tonberry King Guardian Force (GF)
Traveling to the Centra Ruins and defeating Tonberrys until the Tonberry King itself appears to challenge you.
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.
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.
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.
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…
Doomtrain (Guardian Force)
Use the raw ingredients, including the Solomon Ring from Tear’s Point, to create the new Guardian Force, Doomtrain.
Jumbo Cactuar (Guardian Force)
Defeat Jumbo Cactuar on Cactuar Island to pick up a new Guardian Force (GF).
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.
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.
Obel Lake
Tracking down the hidden message stones and the irritating monkey to pick up a few mediocre item rewards and earn a trophy.
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.
Omega Weapon
Defeat the most difficult boss of the game in the Chapel of Ultimecia’s Castle.
