diff --git a/apps/api/src/data/zones.ts b/apps/api/src/data/zones.ts
index 1d0c745..0beadf3 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/data/zones.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/data/zones.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_ZONES: Zone[] = [
     emoji: "🌿",
     status: "unlocked",
     unlockBossId: null,
+    unlockQuestId: null,
   },
   {
     id: "shattered_ruins",
@@ -17,16 +18,8 @@ export const DEFAULT_ZONES: Zone[] = [
       "The remnants of a civilisation long lost to war and dragonfire. Crumbling towers and cursed lakes hide treasures — and an elder dragon who claims these lands as his own.",
     emoji: "🏛️",
     status: "locked",
-    unlockBossId: "lich_queen",
-  },
-  {
-    id: "shadow_marshes",
-    name: "The Shadow Marshes",
-    description:
-      "A vast, fog-choked wetland where the sun never fully rises. Dark magic seeps from the earth itself, and things far older than the kingdom lurk beneath the murky waters.",
-    emoji: "🌑",
-    status: "locked",
-    unlockBossId: "troll_king",
+    unlockBossId: "forest_giant",
+    unlockQuestId: "ancient_ruins",
   },
   {
     id: "frozen_peaks",
@@ -36,6 +29,17 @@ export const DEFAULT_ZONES: Zone[] = [
     emoji: "❄️",
     status: "locked",
     unlockBossId: "elder_dragon",
+    unlockQuestId: "dragon_lair",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "shadow_marshes",
+    name: "The Shadow Marshes",
+    description:
+      "A vast, fog-choked wetland where the sun never fully rises. Dark magic seeps from the earth itself, and things far older than the kingdom lurk beneath the murky waters.",
+    emoji: "🌑",
+    status: "locked",
+    unlockBossId: "void_titan",
+    unlockQuestId: "storm_citadel",
   },
   {
     id: "volcanic_depths",
@@ -44,7 +48,8 @@ export const DEFAULT_ZONES: Zone[] = [
       "A chain of active volcanoes whose caverns plunge deep into the earth's molten heart. Legendary forges burn here, tended by fire elementals who serve no master — yet.",
     emoji: "🌋",
     status: "locked",
-    unlockBossId: "bone_colossus",
+    unlockBossId: "mud_kraken",
+    unlockQuestId: "plague_ruins",
   },
   {
     id: "astral_void",
@@ -53,6 +58,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_ZONES: Zone[] = [
       "Beyond the veil of the mortal world lies a realm of pure possibility and absolute terror. Stars are born and die here in moments, and the beings that call this place home have never known mortality.",
     emoji: "🌌",
     status: "locked",
-    unlockBossId: "void_titan",
+    unlockBossId: "phoenix_lord",
+    unlockQuestId: "the_forge",
   },
 ];
diff --git a/apps/api/src/routes/boss.ts b/apps/api/src/routes/boss.ts
index c85b985..e7c9105 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/routes/boss.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/routes/boss.ts
@@ -155,15 +155,21 @@ bossRouter.post("/challenge", async (context) => {
       if (nextBossInState) nextBossInState.status = "available";
     }
 
-    // Unlock any zone whose unlock condition is this boss, and activate its first boss
+    // Unlock any zone whose unlock conditions are now both satisfied
+    // (final boss defeated AND final quest completed)
     for (const zone of (state.zones ?? [])) {
-      if (zone.unlockBossId === body.bossId) {
-        zone.status = "unlocked";
-        const newZoneBosses = state.bosses.filter((b) => b.zoneId === zone.id);
-        const firstNewBoss = newZoneBosses[0];
-        if (firstNewBoss && firstNewBoss.prestigeRequirement <= state.prestige.count) {
-          firstNewBoss.status = "available";
-        }
+      if (zone.status === "unlocked") continue;
+      if (zone.unlockBossId !== body.bossId) continue;
+      // Boss condition just became satisfied — check the quest condition too
+      const questSatisfied =
+        zone.unlockQuestId == null ||
+        state.quests.some((q) => q.id === zone.unlockQuestId && q.status === "completed");
+      if (!questSatisfied) continue;
+      zone.status = "unlocked";
+      const newZoneBosses = state.bosses.filter((b) => b.zoneId === zone.id);
+      const firstNewBoss = newZoneBosses[0];
+      if (firstNewBoss && firstNewBoss.prestigeRequirement <= state.prestige.count) {
+        firstNewBoss.status = "available";
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/api/src/routes/game.ts b/apps/api/src/routes/game.ts
index 7d0282e..257e261 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/routes/game.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/routes/game.ts
@@ -98,6 +98,14 @@ gameRouter.get("/load", async (context) => {
       quest.rewards = structuredClone(defaults.rewards);
       needsBackfill = true;
     }
+    // Revert "available" quests back to "locked" if their zone is still locked
+    if (quest.status === "available") {
+      const zone = state.zones.find((z) => z.id === quest.zoneId);
+      if (zone?.status === "locked") {
+        quest.status = "locked";
+        needsBackfill = true;
+      }
+    }
     // Retroactively apply adventurer unlocks from already-completed quests
     if (quest.status === "completed") {
       for (const reward of quest.rewards) {
@@ -135,14 +143,23 @@ gameRouter.get("/load", async (context) => {
     }
   }
 
+  const zoneUnlockConditionsMet = (zone: { unlockBossId: string | null; unlockQuestId: string | null }): boolean => {
+    const bossOk =
+      zone.unlockBossId == null ||
+      state.bosses.some((b) => b.id === zone.unlockBossId && b.status === "defeated");
+    const questOk =
+      zone.unlockQuestId == null ||
+      state.quests.some((q) => q.id === zone.unlockQuestId && q.status === "completed");
+    return bossOk && questOk;
+  };
+
   // Backfill zones
   if (!Array.isArray(state.zones) || state.zones.length === 0) {
     state.zones = structuredClone(DEFAULT_ZONES);
-    // Infer unlock state from defeated bosses
+    // Infer unlock state from current boss + quest completion
     for (const zone of state.zones) {
-      if (zone.unlockBossId != null) {
-        const unlockBoss = state.bosses.find((b) => b.id === zone.unlockBossId);
-        if (unlockBoss?.status === "defeated") {
+      if (zone.unlockBossId != null || zone.unlockQuestId != null) {
+        if (zoneUnlockConditionsMet(zone)) {
           zone.status = "unlocked";
         }
       }
@@ -153,10 +170,9 @@ gameRouter.get("/load", async (context) => {
     for (const defaultZone of DEFAULT_ZONES) {
       if (!state.zones.some((z) => z.id === defaultZone.id)) {
         const newZone = structuredClone(defaultZone);
-        // Infer unlock state from defeated bosses
-        if (newZone.unlockBossId != null) {
-          const unlockBoss = state.bosses.find((b) => b.id === newZone.unlockBossId);
-          if (unlockBoss?.status === "defeated") {
+        // Infer unlock state from current boss + quest completion
+        if (newZone.unlockBossId != null || newZone.unlockQuestId != null) {
+          if (zoneUnlockConditionsMet(newZone)) {
             newZone.status = "unlocked";
           }
         }
@@ -166,6 +182,37 @@ gameRouter.get("/load", async (context) => {
     }
   }
 
+  // Sync unlockBossId and unlockQuestId from defaults in case zone gate requirements changed
+  for (const zone of state.zones) {
+    const defaultZone = DEFAULT_ZONES.find((z) => z.id === zone.id);
+    if (!defaultZone) continue;
+    if (zone.unlockBossId !== defaultZone.unlockBossId) {
+      zone.unlockBossId = defaultZone.unlockBossId;
+      needsBackfill = true;
+    }
+    if (!("unlockQuestId" in zone) || zone.unlockQuestId !== defaultZone.unlockQuestId) {
+      zone.unlockQuestId = defaultZone.unlockQuestId;
+      needsBackfill = true;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Re-verify zone unlock status against current unlock conditions
+  // (handles cases where gate requirements changed in a data update)
+  for (const zone of state.zones) {
+    if (zone.unlockBossId == null && zone.unlockQuestId == null) continue;
+    if (zone.status === "unlocked" && !zoneUnlockConditionsMet(zone)) {
+      zone.status = "locked";
+      // Revert any "available" bosses in this zone back to "locked"
+      for (const boss of state.bosses) {
+        if (boss.zoneId === zone.id && boss.status === "available") {
+          boss.status = "locked";
+          needsBackfill = true;
+        }
+      }
+      needsBackfill = true;
+    }
+  }
+
   // Backfill zoneId and sync rewards on bosses to match current defaults
   for (const boss of state.bosses) {
     const defaults = DEFAULT_BOSSES.find((d) => d.id === boss.id);
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/game/BossPanel.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/game/BossPanel.tsx
index 0c017b5..d423318 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/game/BossPanel.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/game/BossPanel.tsx
@@ -157,12 +157,20 @@ export const BossPanel = (): React.JSX.Element => {
     for (let i = 0; i < allZoneBosses.length; i++) {
       const boss = allZoneBosses[i];
       if (!boss || boss.status !== "locked") continue;
-      if (i === 0 && zone.unlockBossId) {
-        const gateBoss = state.bosses.find((b) => b.id === zone.unlockBossId);
-        if (gateBoss) {
-          bossUnlockHints.set(boss.id, `⚔️ Defeat: ${gateBoss.name}`);
+      if (i === 0) {
+        const parts: string[] = [];
+        if (zone.unlockBossId) {
+          const gateBoss = state.bosses.find((b) => b.id === zone.unlockBossId);
+          if (gateBoss) parts.push(`⚔️ Defeat: ${gateBoss.name}`);
         }
-      } else if (i > 0) {
+        if (zone.unlockQuestId) {
+          const gateQuest = state.quests.find((q) => q.id === zone.unlockQuestId);
+          if (gateQuest) parts.push(`📜 Complete: ${gateQuest.name}`);
+        }
+        if (parts.length > 0) {
+          bossUnlockHints.set(boss.id, parts.join(" & "));
+        }
+      } else {
         const prevBoss = allZoneBosses[i - 1];
         if (prevBoss) {
           bossUnlockHints.set(boss.id, `⚔️ Defeat: ${prevBoss.name} first`);
diff --git a/apps/web/src/context/GameContext.tsx b/apps/web/src/context/GameContext.tsx
index 492ac9e..4b7155d 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/context/GameContext.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/context/GameContext.tsx
@@ -279,7 +279,14 @@ export const GameProvider = ({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }): React
           const nextZoneBossId = zoneBosses[zoneIdx + 1]?.id;
 
           // Find newly unlocked zones and their first bosses
-          const newlyUnlockedZones = (prev.zones ?? []).filter((z) => z.unlockBossId === bossId && z.status === "locked");
+          // A zone unlocks when BOTH the gate boss is defeated AND the gate quest is completed
+          const newlyUnlockedZones = (prev.zones ?? []).filter((z) => {
+            if (z.status !== "locked" || z.unlockBossId !== bossId) return false;
+            const questOk =
+              z.unlockQuestId == null ||
+              prev.quests.some((q) => q.id === z.unlockQuestId && q.status === "completed");
+            return questOk;
+          });
           const newZoneFirstBossIds = newlyUnlockedZones.map((z) => {
             const firstBoss = prev.bosses.find((b) => b.zoneId === z.id);
             return firstBoss?.id;
@@ -297,9 +304,13 @@ export const GameProvider = ({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }): React
               }
               return b;
             }),
-            zones: (prev.zones ?? []).map((z) =>
-              z.unlockBossId === bossId ? { ...z, status: "unlocked" as const } : z,
-            ),
+            zones: (prev.zones ?? []).map((z) => {
+              if (z.status !== "locked" || z.unlockBossId !== bossId) return z;
+              const questOk =
+                z.unlockQuestId == null ||
+                prev.quests.some((q) => q.id === z.unlockQuestId && q.status === "completed");
+              return questOk ? { ...z, status: "unlocked" as const } : z;
+            }),
             resources: result.rewards
               ? {
                   ...prev.resources,
diff --git a/apps/web/src/engine/tick.ts b/apps/web/src/engine/tick.ts
index 3ba619b..0a6ecbb 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/engine/tick.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/engine/tick.ts
@@ -136,18 +136,57 @@ export const applyTick = (state: GameState, deltaSeconds: number): GameState =>
     return { ...quest, status: "completed" as const };
   });
 
-  // Unlock quests whose prerequisites are now all completed
+  // Unlock quests whose prerequisites are now all completed and whose zone is unlocked
   const completedIds = new Set(
     updatedQuests.filter((q) => q.status === "completed").map((q) => q.id),
   );
   const fullyUpdatedQuests = updatedQuests.map((quest) => {
     if (quest.status !== "locked") return quest;
+    const zone = state.zones.find((z) => z.id === quest.zoneId);
+    if (zone?.status === "locked") return quest;
     if (quest.prerequisiteIds.every((id) => completedIds.has(id))) {
       return { ...quest, status: "available" as const };
     }
     return quest;
   });
 
+  // Unlock zones whose both conditions are now satisfied after quest completion:
+  // (1) the gate boss has been defeated, (2) the gate quest is now completed
+  const updatedZones = state.zones.map((zone) => {
+    if (zone.status === "unlocked") return zone;
+    const bossOk =
+      zone.unlockBossId == null ||
+      state.bosses.some((b) => b.id === zone.unlockBossId && b.status === "defeated");
+    const questOk =
+      zone.unlockQuestId == null || completedIds.has(zone.unlockQuestId);
+    if (bossOk && questOk) {
+      return { ...zone, status: "unlocked" as const };
+    }
+    return zone;
+  });
+
+  // Activate the first boss in any zone that just became unlocked this tick
+  const newlyUnlockedZoneIds = new Set(
+    updatedZones
+      .filter((z) => {
+        const wasLocked = state.zones.find((oz) => oz.id === z.id)?.status === "locked";
+        return z.status === "unlocked" && wasLocked;
+      })
+      .map((z) => z.id),
+  );
+  let updatedBosses = state.bosses;
+  if (newlyUnlockedZoneIds.size > 0) {
+    updatedBosses = state.bosses.map((boss) => {
+      if (!newlyUnlockedZoneIds.has(boss.zoneId ?? "")) return boss;
+      const zoneBosses = state.bosses.filter((b) => b.zoneId === boss.zoneId);
+      const firstBoss = zoneBosses[0];
+      if (firstBoss?.id === boss.id && boss.status === "locked") {
+        return { ...boss, status: "available" as const };
+      }
+      return boss;
+    });
+  }
+
   const newGold = state.resources.gold + goldGained + questGold;
   const newEssence = state.resources.essence + essenceGained + questEssence;
   const newTotalGoldEarned = state.player.totalGoldEarned + goldGained + questGold;
@@ -168,6 +207,8 @@ export const applyTick = (state: GameState, deltaSeconds: number): GameState =>
     upgrades: updatedUpgrades,
     adventurers: updatedAdventurers,
     equipment: updatedEquipment,
+    bosses: updatedBosses,
+    zones: updatedZones,
     lastTickAt: now,
   };
 
diff --git a/packages/types/src/interfaces/Zone.ts b/packages/types/src/interfaces/Zone.ts
index f93b5d2..789b467 100644
--- a/packages/types/src/interfaces/Zone.ts
+++ b/packages/types/src/interfaces/Zone.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ export interface Zone {
   description: string;
   emoji: string;
   status: ZoneStatus;
-  /** Boss ID whose defeat unlocks this zone (null for the starter zone) */
+  /** Boss ID whose defeat is required to unlock this zone (null for the starter zone) */
   unlockBossId: string | null;
+  /** Quest ID that must be completed to unlock this zone (null for the starter zone) */
+  unlockQuestId: string | null;
 }