After providing players with over a decade of entertainment, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim contains a vast array of questlines, story arcs, and things to explore. While following the main quest and slaying Alduin is a rite of passage in the game, there's always more to do.
With so many side quests sprinkled throughout the game, Reddit's favorites can provide players new and old with a new goal for their most recent playthrough. What quests to Redditors single out as the best of the best?
Blood on the Ice
Amidst a realm of fantasy and magic, Skyrim, one of the best Elder Scrolls games, still managed to include a murder mystery with the "Blood on the Ice" side quest.
While the investigation through the snowy Nordic city of Windhelm is often disrupted by bugs and glitches, Reddit user treadore enjoys it nonetheless and makes sure to save before starting. When the quest is successful, the player character tracks down a serial killer right to the final decision; choose wrong and the killer strikes again.
The Book of Love
While much of the game is focused on fighting, killing, and looting, "The Book of Love" side quest offers players a chance to travel, reunite lovers, and spread some goodwill. As Reddit user -mz- says, "no dungeon diving and no fighting. Just solving other people's love problems."
Aside from being an opportunity to do good in a peaceful way, the quest also grants the player a strong passive magic resistance, proving that good deeds still get good rewards.
The Cursed Tribe
Some quests are so satisfying to complete because, at the end of them, a hated character gets what they deserve. LetMeOmixam on Reddit says "The Cursed Tribe" is one such quest, and that "Yamarz is such a hateable character and the ending is pure satisfaction."
While rescuing an Orc stronghold (one of Skyrim's many hidden areas) from a Daedric curse is a satisfying accomplishment, as is the Daedric artifact reward at the end of the quest, the emotional satisfaction Bethesda evoked in the player is heightened significantly by karmic retribution.
Frostflow Abyss
Skyrim is full of silly side quests chock full of references and jokes, but the "Frostflow Abyss" quest, which most Skyrim players never discover, is a far darker story.
A heartbreaking saga of a family trying to establish themselves, Reddit user viderfenrisbane found the sound effects from the quest to be the good kind of creepy. The journey is an interesting combination of creepy and sad, making it a somber affair that rewards the player nobly honoring a dead man's wish.
The Heart of Dibella
Elder Scrolls contains a plentiful pantheon of gods and Daedric beings, and as such, some quests tend to deal with the in-world religions of Skyrim.
In the "Heart of Dibella" side quest, the player aids a temple in finding a new Sybil, while also touching on the story of a father and daughter. The quest has a moving tale with compelling characters, and gives the player an interesting boon which Redditor NoAstronomer summed up as a "permanent +10% melee damage to the opposite sex buff."
Lost to the Ages
Some quests amount to simply delving into dungeons, killing monsters, looting, and turning in the quest.
"The Lost to the Ages" side quest breaks the mold, offering an array of interesting locations as well as a compelling character, Katria, as the player helps her finish her quest; many players, like Redditor DrippyWaffler, formed an emotional attachment to the spectral NPC, even if they don't use her bow. The quest also offers a choice of rewards, with the Aetherial Crown being among the strongest items in the game.
Kyne's Sacred Trials
One of the markers of a good quest is its locations, but some only introduce the player to one or two new places, otherwise remaining in the same area and not taking the player on an exploration.
According to Reddit user backfatfatback, the quest "takes you all over Skyrim and it's a wonderful reason to explore if you haven't unlocked nearby locations or don't fast travel." At the end of the quest, the player is given an amulet that increases damage resistance and bow damage, plus the benefits of exploration.
Lights Out!
Some characters seem to be designed just to make players say "I hate that guy." For Redditor TheOneAboveGod, that character is Jaree-Ra from the side quest "Lights Out!" in which the Argonian is not all that he seems to be.
The side quest shows the player that some characters will lie and betray them when they choose the route of crime; after tasking the player to cause a shipwreck, Jaree-Ra and his sister Deeja, along with their Blackblood Marauders, are determined to keep the loot to themselves.
A Night to Remember
A close reflection of a real-life scenario, when the player sits down to drink with an NPC named Sam they don't expect to be starting a Daedric quest. After a surprise blackout, the player character is left to follow an increasingly bizarre trail of clues and events, including Hagraven Moira saying one of Skyrim's funniest quotes, to figure out what happened.
At the end of the trail, the player encounters Sanguine, the Daedric Prince of Debauchery. While many of the night's questions are answered in the quest, Redditor laridaes still wants to know exactly what went on that night.
Ill Met by Moonlight
Werewolves. A classic part of the fantasy genre, featured prominently in video games, movies, and more. The "Ill Met by Moonlight" side quest is one of Skyrim's main explorations of lycanthropy.
The side quest is related to Hircine, and the end of the quest gives the player one of two items related to the Daedric Prince of the Hunt. Don’t rush into the quest though; Reddit user theirishasian points out that before doing the quest, the player can access one of Skyrim's many secrets.