Many mini-games and Side Quests reward you with Pieces of Heart or permanent improvements. Start as soon as you have the right equipment: the first STAR course with the Clawshot, the second with the Double Clawshots and the snowboard race with the Snowpeak Ruins.
Separate a one-time reward run from additional records. In the marble slalom you need the first eight routes for the frog bait; all 64 variants are an additional challenge. The location pages for Pieces of Heart and equipment upgrades show you which reward is still missing.
Game version: The route and screenshots follow the GameCube version. The normal mode of Twilight Princess HD has the same orientation; on Wii and in HD Hero Mode, left/right and east/west are swapped. HD deviations are at the affected step.
STAR game in Castle Town
You can find the STAR game in a tent in Castle Town. In the first challenge, Link uses the Clawshot to move through a course of grids and collect all the glowing balls within the time limit. The first successful completion improves the arrow quiver from 30 to 60 arrows.
After City in the Sky and receiving the double hook, Link receives a letter from Purlo. Now a second, significantly more difficult challenge is available. If you also master this course, the quiver will be opened one last time 100 arrows enlarged. Both passages are therefore mandatory on our site all equipment upgrades.
Chicken flight at Lake Hylia
Above Lake Hylia, Falbi plays an unusual flying game. Take a chicken and jump off the high platform with it. By steering carefully, you can glide to the multi-story island platform in the middle of the lake. There are several Treasure Chests on the different levels.
The main reward is one of the 45 Pieces of Heart. In Twilight Princess HD, this is also where the chicken stamp is located. At night you can also collect one of the Poe Souls on the platform or a ledge below the flight station during another flight.
Fruit Balloon Flight as Wolf Link
After receiving the Master Sword, you can start another flying game as Wolf-Link on the Lake Hylia. Use the hawk grass and talk to the bird. You then fly through the river on a Kargarok and collect different colored fruits.
For the Piece of Heart you have to achieve at least 10,000 points. Long combinations of the same valuable fruit variety are crucial. If you collect every fruit at random, you’ll keep breaking the multipliers and it’ll be much harder to reach the required number of points.
Rapids on the upper reaches of the Zora River
The boat mini-game at the upper reaches of the Zora River has two permanent rewards. On the first pass you clear the rocks from the river using bomb arrows. Link can then keep the bomb bag he used and thus has his second bag.
In a later round the points will count. If you reach at least 25 points, all bomb bags will be upgraded to a larger version and their capacity will be doubled. This second round should therefore not be forgotten.
Hena’s fishing pond
Hena’s Fishing Pond is practically its own little side adventure. Here you can fish from the bank with Link’s normal fishing rod or from the canoe with various artificial baits. In addition to several fish species and size records, there is a Empty Bottle, a Piece of Heart, the frog bait and the forbidden sinking bait.
Our detailed Fishing in Twilight Princess page explains the two fishing methods, all regular fish species, the Hyrule Goby, all baits and the conditions for each reward.
Rollgoal
Inside Hena’s hut is the small marble slalom game. By carefully tilting the playing surface, you have to guide a ball over narrow paths to the target. Each attempt costs some Rupees. After you have completed the first eight routes up to Level 1-8, you will receive the frog bait for bait fishing.
The game also has numerous more difficult variants. If you want a maximalist complete game, you can complete all 64 routes up to 8-8. However, receiving the frog bait is sufficient for all permanent play rewards.
Snowboard race at the ice summit
After completing the Snowpeak Ruins you can return to the Snowpeak again. First, challenge Yeto to a snowboard race. After a victory, his wife Yeta will be a much stronger opponent.
For defeating Yeta, Link receives a Piece of Heart. To beat their time, you should use the narrow shortcut on the elevated side path and lose as little speed as possible through collisions.
Goat herding in Ordon
After Epona returns, you can visit the goat pasture again in Ordon. This time Fado challenges you to drive all 20 goats into the stable in less than three minutes. If you complete the task, Link will receive another Piece of Heart.
Ride in wide arcs behind the herd and try to move several animals towards the stable at the same time. You can then drive back individual goats that escape.
Cats in the Hidden Village
After restoring Ilia’s memories, it’s worth another visit to the Hidden Village. Transform into Wolf-Link and talk to the leader of the chickens. You then have to talk to all 20 cats of the village.
Talk to all 20 cats and then return to the chicken boss. He tells you the reward in front of Impaz’s house; pick up the Piece of Heart there before you leave the village. During the search, do not enter Impaz’s house or howl at the Howling Stone, as this will interrupt the current cat round.
Malo Mart and Goron Spring Water
Malo Mart Expansion is one of the game’s more extensive side quest chains. First, you donate to repair the bridge between Kakariko and Castle Town. Then transport hot Goron spring water to an exhausted Goron at the bridge. This significantly reduces the next donation amount.
After completing the financing, Malo opens his branch in Castle Town. There Link can buy the Magic Armor for 598 Rupees. Twilight Princess HD also offers the Malo Mart Stamp for 50 Rupees. The spring water side quest also brings one of the 45 Pieces of Heart.
Golden Bugs, Poe Souls and Cave of Ordeals
Of course, the biggest optional tasks include the 24 Golden Bugs for Agitha and the 60 Poe Souls for Jovani. Both quest lines have their own complete guides and reward Link with, among other things, wallet upgrades, a fourth bottle and – in Twilight Princess HD – the ghost lamp and a stamp.
The largest combat side quest is the Cave of Ordeals with its 50 levels. There are three Poe Souls there and five stamps in Twilight Princess HD. As a final reward, the Great Fairy unlocks the Great Fairy’s Tears at the Light Spirit Springs.
Twilight Princess HD owners can also complete the Cave of Shadows. The 40 levels can only be played as Wolf Link and ultimately lead to the Bottomless Wallet with a capacity of 9,999 Rupees.