Though adventure RPG games with much larger maps have surfaced in recent years, Skyrim continues to be a sprawling game with a lot to see and do, especially with a few mods thrown in to expand the game's content. On its own, however, Skyrim is loaded with hidden nooks, crannies, and secrets just waiting to be explored, but many gamers still haven't stumbled upon everything in the game.
Thankfully, there are always reasons to replay Skyrim in the modern age, especially with the announcement of the Anniversary Edition. For those gamers ready to step into the frozen tundras of Skyrim once more, they should seek out all of those hard-to-find spots, simply for the sake of being a completionist.
Updated on Nov 11th, 2021 by Derek Draven: Skyrim is gearing up for another re-release, and that's a great opportunity for gamers to venture back in. The base game is loaded with a ton of locations and secrets to uncover, and it's time to take a look at a larger and more expanded collection of the best. These locations offer fun easter eggs, interesting quests, and even some powerful abilities to unlock. For many gamers, finding the secretive nooks in the game is a matter of bragging rights, and a sense of accomplishment. Regardless, most Skyrim gamers who think they've seen it all might actually be mistaken.
The Frozen Mammoth
This little easter egg can be found north of Alftand, and to the west of Saarthal in Skyrim's upper snowy regions. There, players can find a giant mammoth frozen inside of a glacier. Upon closer inspection, the mammoth appears to have been pierced with multiple Dwarven spears and arrows.
Players can climb the side of the glacier and jump on the mammoth's back in order to gain access to a two-handed weapon, which is stuck there in the frozen flesh. It's an interesting find that many players still waltz right by, without noticing.
Castle Karstaag Ruins
Ironically, many players still miss out on the Castle Karstaag Ruins, which is a shame given what's there. The ruins can be found in the northwestern portion of Solstheim, where Rieklings wait inside to attack the player.
The ruins are the site of the "Summoning Karstaag" quest, where players must do battle with the ancient frost giant. It's one of the hardest fights in the entire game, and the reward is the ability to summon him in battle a total of three times over the course of the game.
The Red Wave
The Red Wave is a ship that sits docked in Solitude's harbor, right in front of the East Empire Company's supply warehouse. The ship is home to three separate quests - "The Dainty Sload," "Contract: Kill Safia," and "Hired Muscle." It's surrounded by guards who will not attack the player, but warn them to stay away.
Getting access to the interior of the Red Wave allows players to find Sabine's Footlocker, which contains a beverage called Balmora Blue. It's an illegal drug from Morrowind that cripples the player's stamina regen by 30% for a total of 30 seconds. It's more of a collector's item, as opposed to something useful.
Hamvir's Rest
This old Nordic ruin can be found in a mountain range between Whiterun and Hjaalmarch, just northwest of Dustman's Cairn. It's the site of a rare encounter with the elusive Headless Horseman, a spectral figure on a horse who tends to spawn randomly between the hours of 10PM and 4AM.
In addition, Hamvir's Rest is a great spot to grab Nightshade, which is in plentiful supply there. Other items include a Master level chest and a lot of random loot strewn about, which is a decent reason to explore.
The Poultry Reanimator
Venturing south of Geirmund's Hall in The Rift leads to a rocky hill where a necromancer is practicing magic. Oddly enough, he's trying to resurrect dead chickens, which doesn't say much for his magical prowess. He can be found at a skeletal altar surrounded by deceased poultry, which is both comical, and macabre at the same time.
Players can sneak up on him if they wish to observe his shenanigans, or else they can kill him and investigate the surrounding area. A basket in front of the altar usually contains several ingredients, and sometimes even a soul gem. He also has a Conjuration skill book on his person, which is reason to loot his corpse.
Yisra's Beachside Combustion
This depressing story can be found in northern Skyrim, on the shoreline south of Yngvild. The charred ground and bodily remains hint at a dragon attack, but further investigation suggests something much more odd. Beside the body lies a flame cloak spell tome, suggesting the spell may have backfired, resulting in an explosion. The body itself contains an item named Yisra's Necklace.
Speaking to Phinis Gestor at the College of Winterhold will reveal that Yisra, a mage student looking to practice fire spells, has gone missing. This is all left over from a quest that was cut from the game, in which the player would have had to find missing College Apprentices and report back to Gestor. The dialogue and crime scene remain in the game, making for a tragic set of events more akin to a horror story, than a fantasy adventure.
Kagrenzel
Kagrenzel is way off the beaten path, and resembles other Dwemer Ruins scattered throughout Skyrim, but this one is unique. East of Ansilvund lies a steep path through a canyon. Inside is a large room with a floating light. Players who activate it will be trapped in a cage that rises from the ground. Sirens will ring out, and after a few seconds the booby-trapped floor will activate, plunging the player into a deep cave system.
At the bottom is an underground pool and a pathway leading back up to the surface. It's a lengthy trek, with Falmer standing in the way. There is no large quest to be had, but the atmosphere of the area is quite different from other cave systems, giving it a unique feel.
Skywalker's Demise
This Easter egg is well-known, but easy to miss. Located in Bleakcoast Cave just southeast of Winterhold is a dead adventurer whose skeleton is hanging from the icy ceiling, with a glowing sword lying below. This is a direct reference to Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back where Luke Skywalker is attacked by a Wampa and brought back to its cave on Hoth.
Luke's legs are partially frozen into the cave ceiling, so he uses the force to grab his lightsaber from the snow. While Skywalker did manage to cut himself down and escape, this fellow wasn't nearly so lucky.
The Iceberg Explorer
In the ice caps north of the Tower Stone is a unique Easter egg. On top of an iceberg lies a skeleton, a treasure chest, and a tattered flag. The skeleton's hand is still clutching the flag pole. The book beside it is a Heavy Armor skill book titled "The Knights of The Nine", which tells the story of a group of treasure hunters. It summarizes the Knights' quest to recover the relics of Pelinal Whitesnake, a legendary warrior and king.
The location of the book suggests that the skeleton might be Sir Amiel Lannus, the founder of the Knights, and the only member whose relics and fate remain lost to history. The body could also be an explorer who was following in the Knights' footsteps, but the former explanation is much better. This unmarked spot is an interesting find, especially for those heavy into Elder Scrolls lore.
Arcwind Point
Nestled in the western mountains of the Rift is Arcwind Point, an outdoor Nordic tomb sprinkled with high-level enemies including undead Draugrs, a Dragon Priest, and a Dragon. For players at level 78 or higher, it will always be the rare Legendary Dragon, which makes for an incredibly tough fight.
Once the enemies are dealt with, players can find a treasure chest, a word wall for the Drain Vitality dragon shout, and a skill book for Restoration. Plentiful loot and gold can be found on the enemies as well. First-time Skyrim gamers should ease into the game, rather than making a beeline for this particular spot.
