Starting this list off with a fact to make everyone feel old, Skyrim's tenth anniversary is fast approaching. Unsurprisingly to anyone who has played Bethesda's iconic RPG, there are thousands of players who bought the game on release and still find tons of things to do in the open-world adventure today.
Along with the more wholesome tasks of decorating a house, interacting with the local market traders, and crafting armor, much of Skyrim is spent completing quests that require players to use the business end of their sword. Most of these quests have justifiable reasons for the player to commit such deeds and will make them feel good after righting the wrongs. Some of the quests, however, are just dark enough to unpleasantly linger in the player's mind even after they exit the game.
10 Unfathomable Depths
From-Deepest-Fathoms, an oddly named Argonian, will be wandering around the docks in Riven looking distressed. Upon speaking to her, she will give players the Lexicon, beginning the quest.
The task is to take the Lexicon to Avanchnzel, though this is unsurprisingly easier said than done. Along the way, the Dragonborn will encounter the ghosts of four thieves who set out to steal to the Lexicon and learn the fatal consequences of their quest.
9 Ill Met By Moonlight
Ill Met By Moonlight wastes little time in dampening the player's mood; before the quest even begins, rumors will be circulating Falkreath that a young girl was brutally killed. Moreover, it's possible to see the girl's funeral taking place and talk to her parents.
Upon speaking to the Nord accused of the crime, Sinding, the player will essentially be forced into completing the quest as they are equipped with the Cursed Ring of Hircine which can't be removed. The ring will turn them into a werewolf at random and will stay equipped until the quest ends, which consists of making decisions of who to kill and who to spare, is completed.
8 Waking Nightmare
We've all been there — waking up in the middle of the night, glad to be back in reality after a nightmare. Sadly for the people of Dawnstar, they've begun having nightmares every night.
Waking Nightmare is a quest to prevent the Freddy Krueger-like Vaermina the Dreamweaver by destroying the Skull of Corruption. In typical Skyrim fashion though, destroying the skull isn't the only option, as players can choose to kill the assisting priest Erandur and keep the skull for themselves.
7 Boethiah's Calling
Boethiah's Calling begins when players read the book Boethiah's Proving. They are then provided with the suitably named Blade of Sacrifice and given the grim task of choosing a follower to kill.
If sacrificing a friend who was willing to climb a mountain just to hang out with you wasn't dark enough, then you're in luck. The Daedric Prince, who is in charge of this whole mess, will command the Dragonborn and cultists to fight to the death to crown a new champion.
6 Innocence Lost
Another quest that starts with rumors of a dark deed, Innocence Lost begins with the murmurings that a young boy is trying to summon an organization known as the Dark Brotherhood.
Upon speaking to the child, he will believe that the Dragonborn is the assassin that he has been requesting, and tasks him with killing Grelod the Kind; the headmistress of the Riften orphanage who mistreats the inhabiting children.
5 With Friends Like These
Once the aforementioned Innocence Lost is complete, the player will be given a note with the words "we know." Things will get serious fast when they next take a nap.
The player will awaken in a shack with four people, three of whom are tied up with hoods covering their faces. The fourth is Astrid of the Dark Brotherhood, who will task the player with killing one of the three prisoners.
4 Frostflow Abyss
A quest that requires players to investigate multiple murders that took place within an isolated lighthouse was never likely to be a bundle of laughs.
Players will need to hone their inner Sherlock Holmes, as they search the lighthouse for clues and uncover the sad story of how a family's dream came to a bloody end.
3 The Taste Of Death
As the name suggests, The Taste of Death sees the unfortunate Dragonborn getting caught up with a group of cannibals, and again having to lead a poor soul to their death.
The unfortunate victim this time is a priest named Brother Verulus, whose only crime was closing the Hall of the Dead to prevent the cannibals from breaking in and eating the bodies. Suffice to say, The Taste of Death isn't a quest to play with the family around.
2 The House of Horrors
If this list is anything to go by, Bethesda seems to enjoy their players doing two things: killing priests and luring unsuspecting people to their deaths.
When exploring an abandoned house in Markarth, the Dragonborn will be commanded by Molag Bal to kill Vigilant Tyranus who is helping them explore the house. Once this is done, Molag Bal will instruct them to lure a priest named Logrolf the Willful back to the house for him to be killed. At least you get a sweet mace out of it.
1 Death Incarnate
The final quest on this list sees the Dark Brotherhood make a grand return.
Death Incarnate comes at the end of the Dark Brotherhood questline, as the player tries to defend the brotherhood from Commander Maro and his men. After a night spent hiding in the Night Mother's sarcophagus, the Dragonborn will discover that Astrid betrayed the Dark Brotherhood. Astrid will be grotesquely burnt having performed the Black Sacrament on herself and will ask that the player finishes her off.
A couple of hours playing Animal Crossing may be required to help put Astrid's fate out of your mind.