Even though the game is technically set in Hyrule (albeit before the Kingdom was formally established), Skyward Sword has one of the most unique overworlds in the series. Taking cues from The Wind Waker’s Great Sea, Skyward Sword’s main overworld is the Sky – a sea of clouds where floating Islands lurk above the Surface.
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While most of Skyward Sword actually takes place on the Surface, the Sky plays a big role when it comes to the game’s side content. Alongside Skyloft, there are several islands tied to side quests that you’ll want to visit while playing Skyward Sword. The Sky’s floating islands offer extra Heart Pieces, Gratitude Crystals, and even mini-games to break away from the plot.
Skyloft
Skyloft serves as the central hub for Skyward Sword. The island is not only Link’s homeland, but where you’ll be spending most of your time when not exploring the Surface. Skyloft has the most side quests in the game, a Bazaar where you can buy new items along with customizing your equipment, and home to the final dungeon.
You can swap Skyloft between day and night by sleeping in Link’s bed, offering every character something of a dynamic schedule ala Majora’s Mask. You’ll need to return to Skyloft after virtually every major story beat, so make sure to take advantage of the setting. NPCs always have something to say, the Bazaar is constantly opening up, and there are a bunch of different side quests to complete.
Pumpkin Landing
Pumpkin Landing is one of the only other islands in Skyward Sword where NPCs actually live. After destroying a chandelier for a Heart Piece in the Lumpy Pumpkin (the only establishment on Pumpkin Landing), you’ll gain access to several different side quests that’ll have you coming back to Pumpkin Landing often.
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It’s worth pointing out that Pumpkin Landing is home to one of the hardest side quests in the game, forcing Link to play the Goddess Harp with even more precision than Fi’s songs. As a setting, Pumpkin Landing’s unique aesthetic makes it a fun area to visit and being able to swap the time of day to night allows you to catch Starry Fireflies somewhere that isn’t Skyloft.
Beedle’s Island
Although Beedles conducts most of his business through an Airship he flies over Skyloft during the day, you can actually find and visit Beedle’s Island while exploring the Sky. Along with being home to a few Goddess Cubes, you can actually sleep in Beedle’s bed to swap to night. Since Beedle isn’t home during the daytime, this is the only way to speak with him on his island.
Beedle’s Island unlocks a side quest once you get closer to the end of the story where you’ll be formally introduced to Bug Rock in order to find his lost Horned Colossus Beetle. Besides that, there’s not much to do on Beedle’s Island other than appreciate his few nighttime talks.
Bamboo Island
Bamboo Island is a very simple island that’s home to a single mini-game. The Clean Cut challenge costs a measly 10 Rupees to play, but offers you a series of rewards depending how many times you can cut a single bamboo plant with your sword. You can win the following rewards depending on your cuts:
- 15-19 Cuts: 30 Rupees
- 20-27 Cuts: Evil Crystal, Monster Horn
- 28+ Cuts: Blue Bird Feather, Golden Skull, Goddess Plume
The final two tiers will give you a random reward depending on what’s available, but all five materials are relatively rare so it pays off no matter what you get. It’s also worth noting that completing Clean Cut on Bamboo Island is actually easier in the HD remake than it was in the Wii original.
Fun Fun Island
Like Bamboo Island, Fun Fun Island is home to a single mini-game. Unlike Bamboo Island, you actually need to unlock said mini-game. Speak to Dodoh once you reach Fun Fun Island and agree to find his wheel down in the Lanayru Desert by using Scrapper. Once you’ve returned the wheel, Dodoh will let you play High Dive.
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You’ll be launched into the air via a cannon and need to control Link as he free falls. Your goal is to dive through rings that multiply Link’s total score before landing. Keep in mind you can lose all your Rupees depending on where you land, so there’s a fair bit of strategy involved. You can win the following rewards depending on which color you land on:
- Gray: -10 Rupees
- Brown: 0 Rupees
- Green: +1 Rupee
- Blue: +5 Rupees
- Red: +20 Rupees
- Red/Blue: +50 Rupees
- Red/Blue With 10x Multiplier: Piece of Heart
Once Dodoh’s High Dive is mastered, Fun Fun Island stands out as one of the best places to farm quick Rupees in Skyward Sword.
Thunderhead
The Thunderhead is not technically its own island, but a stormcloud that hides two Sky Islands within it. Its biggest claim to fame is featuring the only boss fight in Skyward Sword that includes your Loftwing. You’ll end up visiting the Isle of Songs as part of the actual story and it doesn’t serve much purpose beyond moving the plot along, but Bug Rock has a unique mini-game. By speaking to Stritch there after defeating Bilocyte, you can play Bug Heaven.
By paying 20 or 50 Rupees, you’ll be set free to catch as many bugs as you can on Bug Rock. You have to pay an entrance fee, but this is an even faster way of racking up Rupees than Dodoh’s High Dive. Bugs don’t resell for all that much individually, but a bunch of bugs in one batch will fetch you a nice payday. Beyond that, Thunderhead’s a narrative setting with little to do.
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