Most Skyrim players are familiar with the Civil War questline, main story, and a plethora of interesting Daedric quests. The variety of quests in Skyrim makes it one of the most replayable RPGs to this day, but there is a surprising amount of quests that often get overlooked by players.
Whether it's due to obscure requirements or not-so-obvious alternate choices, some of Skyrim's best quests are left unexplored by many. For those looking to experience some of Skyrim's most interesting quests, here are ten underrated quests to look out for during any playthrough. This article contains spoilers for Skyrim's Dark Brotherhood questline.
10 The Ghost of Old Hroldan
Few players likely know of this quest due to its requirements. Players must visit the Old Hroldan Inn and purchase a room. Sleep in the room to start "The Ghost of Old Hroldan."
Upon sleeping in a bed, a ghost will appear and confuse the player with someone named Hjalti. The ghost will ask the player to uncover a sword that Hjalti promised him before Hroldan was killed. Head to one of eight random locations the ghost provides, obtain the sword, then return to complete the quest.
Besides its cool quest requirements, "The Ghost of Old Hroldan" has interesting lore implications. Ghosts in Skyrim rarely mistake the Dragonborn as someone else yet this ghost insists that the player is Hjalti. For those not familiar with Elder Scrolls lore, Hjalti is short for Hjalti Early-Beard, Tiber Septim's original name. Assuming this ghost is correct, is the Dragonborn Tiber Septim incarnate?
9 Kyne's Sacred Trials
"Kyne's Sacred Trials" is a hidden quest that can be obtained by speaking to Froki Whetted-Blade in his shack, which can be found southwest of Riften. Froki will give players a task to see if they can pass Kyne's Sacred Trials. Players will need to defeat three unique spirits. There is a spirit wolf, mudcrab, and skeever.
Once all three enemies are defeated, Froki will give the player three more tasks to complete the trial. Players will need to defeat an ethereal sabre cat, mammoth, and bear. Completing this quest grants Kyne's Token, an amulet that causes hostile animals to take more damage while slightly increasing the damage of bows. It's a great role-playing quest in the early-game for archers or any druid-based characters.
8 The Pale Lady
Frostmere Crypt has a unique quest that involves a unique Wispmother and a powerful sword named The Pale Blade. A group of bandits made a hasty escape with the blade, but one of the bandits has made their way back inside. The Dragonborn must enter the cave, retrieve the blade, and then decide whether to put the blade back in its resting place or defeat the owner.
Going with the latter is more interesting, as players get to fight The Pale Lady. This unique Wispmother has a few unique attacks that include cloning herself. It's a great boss battle, the atmosphere is fantastic, and the quest reward is definitely worth the trouble.
7 Lost To The Ages
During the Dawnguard DLC, players might find books that mention an ancient Aetherium forge that can craft unique weapons. This will start the quest "Lost to the Ages." Players will need to search through the Arkngthamz Dwemer ruin to uncover clues about this mystical forge. From there, players must find four fragments to unlock the entrance to the Aetherium forge.
Reaching the forge itself will reveal one of the most jaw-dropping arenas in the game. After an intense boss fight, players will be able to use the forge to craft one of three Aetherium items. Besides the great quest reward, players also get to assist a ghost, Katria, with uncovering the forge while discovering the history of the forge and her adventures. Better yet, this quest also rewards players with Zephyr, one of the best bows in the game.
6 Blood On The Ice
"Blood on the Ice" is Skyrim's version of a murder mystery. Players will find a murdered woman in a graveyard during the night. Thing is, these murders are consistent and have been occurring for weeks. The player must deduce who is the murderer and how to stop them.
While it might not reach the highs of Oblivion's "Whodunit" quest, "Blood on the Ice" does a great job of slowly creating suspense. The backstory of the murderer is also quite interesting and gives some insight as to why necromancy is shunned in most regions of Tamriel.
5 Diplomatic Immunity
"Diplomatic Immunity" is one of the best quests in Skyrim's main questline. Players must infiltrate the Thalmor Embassy during a festive gathering to uncover any relation between the Thalmor and the recently-uncovered dragon threat.
What players may not appreciate is just how many ways this quest can be completed. Various Jarls and NPCs will be attending the gathering that, if in good standing with the player, can offer unique dialogue to distract the guests. Instead of killing all of the Thalmor, players can also blend in by equipping a set of Thalmor Robes and walking past the guards. Altmer characters will have an easier time with this than others. There are so many ways to complete this quest that most players never get to experience, which is a massive shame.
4 The Forsworn Conspiracy
Nearly every Skyrim player knows of the murder that occurs when they enter Markarth for the first time. What players might not know is that this murder quickly spirals into a major conspiracy relating to the Forsworn.
Aptly named "The Forsworn Conspiracy," players must investigate a recent series of murders by talking to various NPCs. The guards will tell the player to drop it, but players that persist will be met with the entire city against them. Guards will throw the player in jail and begin a new quest named "No One Escapes Cidhna Mine." It's an intense series of quests that most players overlook when questing near the city.
3 Frostflow Abyss
Towards the northern region of Skyrim is Frostflow Lighthouse, an abandoned location that seems to have a dark history. Investigating the lighthouse will reveal a family's troubles with some creatures in the basement. Players will need to delve into the lighthouse in the "Frostflow Abyss" quest and fulfill the family's last wish.
Almost all of the storytelling is done through environmental details, making this quest all the more memorable and equally tragic. It also grants a great perk named Sailor's Repose that makes all healing 10% stronger, a great reward for an already incredible side quest.
2 Rise In The East
"Rise in the East" is one of the best quests in all of Skyrim yet its quest requirements are so vague that few players have gotten to experience it.
At the Windhelm Docks, players can find a member of the East Empire Trading Company named Orthus Endario. Orthus will tell the player that a group of pirates have been harassing their ships and must be dealt with. After some initial setup, players will be taken to a unique island only used in this quest named Japhet's Folly.
Players must infiltrate the fort, defeat a mage defending the island, then escape. While the player escapes, they will be met with a dozen Imperial soldiers storming the shore as the East Empire Company's ship rains artillery down on the island. It's all-out chaos that outdoes most Civil War fights. Every Skyrim fan needs to play this quest to experience the carnage for themself.
1 Bound Until Death
Skyrim meets Hitman with the Dark Brotherhood's "Bound Until Death" quest. The objective is simple: assassinate the Emperor's daughter on her wedding day. Nothing is off the table with this quest; the player can assassinate Vittoria Vici in any way they see fit.
Shoot her with an arrow from a nearby rooftop, drop a gargoyle on her head during Vittoria's balcony speech, let the guests kill her by inflicting someone with Frenzy, or use the Bend Will shout on a dragon and command it to kill Vittoria. The only limit with this quest is the player's imagination. No other quest in Skyrim gives the player this much freedom.