Sidequest

Inspiration

Starting college can feel overwhelming, with countless ideas, goals, and responsibilities competing for attention. We wanted to turn that mental clutter into something motivating: a productive form of escapism where users can explore and build their own world.

What it does

Sidequest transforms broad goals into actionable “sidequests” within a medieval fantasy world. Users can generate personalized quests, discover resources tailored to specific tasks, bookmark them in their Toolkit, and earn XP and rewards as they progress. Rather than simply tracking goals, Sidequest helps users figure out what to do and how to start.

How we built it

We used ChatGPT to refine our product design and generate detailed development prompts, then used Grok to build the website. We iteratively tested, identified issues, and refined the product through successive prompts.

Challenges we ran into

Our main challenge was balancing functionality with simplicity. We continuously evaluated which features added value while streamlining navigation and reducing visual clutter.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We went beyond simple habit tracking by integrating quest generation and reward systems. The intuitive interface makes productivity feel exploratory and playful.

What we learned

We learned to prioritize the core user journey (UX) and iterate incrementally. Small motivational details such as XP, rewards, personalization, and streaks can significantly improve engagement. We also learned the importance of reducing friction through clear cues and a streamlined interface.

What's next for Sidequest

We plan to introduce avatar customization and expanded homebase upgrades. Moving to a mobile app will allow for progress widgets and streak notifications. Advanced AI integration and enhanced graphics will make the experience even richer for generating tasks and resources.