The Elder Scrolls games have never been shy when it comes to the sinister and macabre. In fact, this series gives the player many chances to perform horrendous, yet satisfying, acts of terror against the citizens of Tamriel; all for one's own benefit and little else.
The fifth main series game in the franchise, The Elder Scroll 5: Skyrim, continues with the liberal application of unknown intrigues that both fascinate gamers as well as induce fear in their hearts. When traveling across the northernmost province of the continent, the Dragonborn can encounter some truly creepy areas.
Updated on January 7, 2023, by Anastasia Maillot: Skyrim is not a horror game, but Bethesda definitely had a bit of fun and creative freedom when designing some of the open-world RPG's famous dungeons, caves, villages, ruins, and other landmarks. In true medieval fantasy style, some places inspire heroism and others are bound to give players the creeps due to twisted enemies, unsettling atmosphere, or simply because of the lore behind the place itself. Given how many locations there are in Skyrim, it was high time this list of Skyrim's creepiest locations was updated with a few more shiver-inducing places for brave Dragonborns to venture into.
14 The Midden
Beneath the College of Winterhold, a dank dungeon lays abandoned. Known only as The Midden, players will be sent here during one of the College's main quest lines, but there are also other strange discoveries to be made here for those who dare to venture deeper.
There's definitely a strange, creepy vibe to this place. Why is it abandoned? Why does it sit filled with enemies, right underneath a College full of capable mages? And then there's the discovery of a weird, black gauntlet that emanates bizarre energy. This place truly needs to be experienced firsthand by players for the eeriness to sink in, and it's quite a sudden difference compared to the somewhat safe and peaceful College that lives above it.
13 Glenmoril Coven
During the Companions quest line, the Dragonborn will be tasked with slaying the Glenmoril witches found at the Glenmoril Coven. These witches are actually hagravens that roam the Glenmoril Coven cave, and hagravens are infamously weird and creepy among Skyrim fans. They're also fairly tough enemies with powerful magical abilities.
Entering the Glenmoril Coven is entering a simple cave, but it's swarming with these creepy hagravens, which is what makes it unsettling. Moreover, players need to follow narrow cave paths to reach the witches in their respective chambers, which almost turns it into a stealth mission.
12 Blackreach
Blackreach is considered one of the most beautiful locations in Skyrim, but it does also have an eerie and creepy feel to it. A large cave covered with underground mist, swarming with dangerous enemies like the Falmer and Dwemer automaton, it's definitely not a location even the toughest of Dragonborns would want to get lost in.
The labyrinthine nature of this location, the low light, and the mysterious aura make it both unsettling and appealing. The road to actually get to Blackreach is also riddled with frights in the form of the deformed and blind Falmer that lurk in the caves and Dwemer structures in Blackreach's vicinity.
11 Yngvild
An infamous dungeon among Skyrim fans, Yngvild is the headquarters for the twisted necromancer Arondil. While the dungeon itself is the typical, somewhat eerie Skyrim dungeon, what makes it even more frightening is the location's background and lore.
Knowing that Arondil has been kidnapping women, killing them, and then resurrecting them for his own amusement is guaranteed to send shivers down anyone's spine. That said, it makes getting through Yngvild and defeating Arondil all the more satisfying.
10 Witchmist Grove
Finding a shack in the woods is not that uncommon in Skyrim, though the one in Withmist Grove within the hold of Eastmarch stands out from other such structures. The first thing that the Dragonborn will notice is that there is a basic wooden palisade encircling the decrepit hut that is covered with the remains of small creatures.
As ominous as this place is in appearance, in function, it is even more so, as this is the dwelling for hagravens and witches. Some of which the player will encounter if they get too close, for these hostile cabin-dwellers don't take kindly to trespassers.
9 Halls Of The Dead
As essentially an indoor cemetery, there's no way such places would not be at least a bit creepy. The Dragonborn has explored far too many ancient Nord ruins to expect draugrs and skeletons not to leap out at them.
This can make looking around the halls of the dead nerve-racking for lower-level players who need to seek these internment areas during specific quests. It doesn't make things any better when some are expansive and extend deep underground while being filled with unexplained fog.
8 The Ratway
If the abundant rats and desiccated corpses don't hint at the nature of this subterranean passage, the low-hanging mist and filthy water will. This sewer is initially the only way to find the Thieves Guild in Riften, therefore all wishing to line their pockets with gold in the most efficient manner will need to traverse this man-made stone bog of stench.
The dim lighting, dank atmosphere, and tight corners that promise ambushes make this an area few wish to spend much time in.
7 The Warrens
This unsuspecting doorway can be passed multiple times without even being noticed as the player goes about their business in Markarth, yet that is one of the reasons that make the Warrens so unpleasant. This is the insultingly unfurnished underground dwelling where the sick and poor are shoved into and then mostly forgotten about.
Within, there are infirmed and destitute civilians among moth-eaten bedrolls, dirt, and stone. There are even a few skeletons lying about that hint at the lack of cleanliness and care for these unfortunate souls.
6 Abandoned House
Yet another sinister location in Markarth that can be unassuming, this empty home is revealed to be a place of Daedra worship by a Vigilant of Stendarr that the Dragonborn can encounter near its entrance. Within, the player will find hints of the macabre dealings with a Daedric Prince.
If one travels deep enough, one will encounter a simple, yet brutal, shrine to Molag Bal, the lord of domination and enslavement. The player will also be able to start a dark quest here in the name of this Prince of woe.
5 Hroggar's House
Broken and burnt, Hroggar's house in Morthal is no longer suitable for the living, but still so for the dead. The building, under suspicious circumstances, caught fire and resulted in the deaths of Hroggar's wife and daughter. The latter of which can be found still within the gutted home, though now in spectral form.
By speaking with the restless spirit of the undead child Helgi, the Dragonborn can uncover hateful deeds that lead to the murder of two innocent people at the hands of a coven of vampires that are slowly sinking their fangs into Morthal.
4 Most Of Falkreath
Falkreath is most well known for its huge graveyard where many Nords request to be buried after they die. This town's economy is based on its lumber exports but gets far more travelers due to its more macabre services. This has led to the various structures being named after this fascination with the dead.
The inn is known as the Dead Man's Drink, the alchemy shop is called Grave Concoctions, and the logging yard is referred to as Deadwood Lumber Mill. This, in combination with the almost permanent mist partially shrouding the area, makes Falkreath one of the spookiest places to visit.
3 Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary Entrances
There is no better entrance suitable for the Dark Brotherhood sanctuaries than the Black Doors. The insides of these settlements house murderers and vampires, though before one joins the quest that introduces them to this assassination guild, it is possible to stumble across these ominous doorways while organically exploring Skyrim's wilds. Without explanation, these are some of the creepiest occurrences to be found in the game.
The sinister imagery accompanied by a raspy, cryptic voice sends shivers down the spines of even the most hardened warriors. Furthermore, even after joining and completing all quests for this cult of killers, it is never explained how these Black Doors work, how they speak, or even how they were built in the first place.
2 Sacellum Of Boethiah
Burnt and impaled bodies accompanied by the giant statue of a Daedra are never good signs to see if one is wishing for a low-stress hike about snowcapped mountains. This shrine to the Boethiath, the Daedric Prince of deceit and treachery, can be found on a peak east of Windhelm.
Draped in eternal night, this location will always be basking in twilight when the Dragonborn comes here, regardless of the time of day. Appropriate, considering that this is a place where the player can abandon all mercy in favor of loot gifted by Boethiah themself by sacrificing a follower.
1 The Aretino Residence
Probably one of the last things the player expects upon entering the Aretino Residence in Windhelm is a child performing a ritual while surrounded by bones, flesh, and lit candles. Aventus Aretino is conducting the Black Sacrament in order to call upon an assassin from the Dark Brotherhood and hire them to murder the cruel owner of an orphanage. All of this is incredibly chilling, though what is even more alarming is that it is never explained who the bones and flesh belonged to prior to Aventus' ritual.
Through dialogue with the boy, it can be revealed that he became an orphan after his mother grew ill in the winter and passed away, which may hint that young Aretino is using his mother's remains as components for the Black Sacrament. A deed that was done in favor of Sithis and one that is arguably the creepiest incident in the entire game.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.