History YMMV / TheElderScrollsVSkyrim

** With ''Dawnguard'', vampires will randomly attack people on the streets in cities at night (unless you're playing with mods or on the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch). You'll also encounter a "mysterious traveler" who is actually a roaming vampire who will attack people at night. You can stop them from killing someone, but you have to ''spot'' them first. Better keep those detection spells handy...

** While the Xbox and PC versions were relatively stable for a Bethesda game, the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 version of ''Skyrim'' was plagued with massive slow-downs on release, almost to the point of being unplayable. This was especially frustrating for gamers who utilized larger saving files, since they had to wait months for Bethesda to finally release a patch.

** North of Riften you can find a bandit camp which includes a wolf imprisoned in a cage. Naturally, it is hostile, so the player's best course of action is to kill it while it's caged so it can't fight back. Come 2013, try telling this to a ''Series/GameOfThrones'' fan; especially if you're using a crossbow, you've just re-enacted [[spoiler:Grey Wind's murder at the Red Wedding]].

** One of the alchemy ingredients in the game are "Large Antlers" which can be found on deer and elk and which restore stamina in potions. In 2013, NFL superstar Ray Lewis was the subject of a bizarre rumor accusing him of using a performance enhancing snake oil made from ground-up deer antlers to give him energy to rehab from an injury.
** ''Dragonborn'' adds the ability to enchant weapons with Chaos damage. Yes, ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' fans, that means you can finally make your own [[Memes/DarkSouls Bass Cannon]] with a Skyforged Greatsword (the closest thing ''Skyrim'' has to a Zweihander). Throw on some dwarven armor and a dragon priest mask, and you now have a very convincing Giantdad-lookalike.
** Upon completion of the Dark Brotherhood questline, guards may occasionally greet you with "Psst! I know who you are! [[spoiler:Hail Sithis!]]" Following the release of a [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier certain film]] in which there is a similar reveal and meme, this can quickly become gut-bustingly hilarious.
** There's a hotel in Turkey named Azura Deluxe. And yes, [[https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206754398791790&set=gm.942671832449304&type=3&theater they have a statue similar to TES Azura's]]. [[https://m.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/373196/azura_irl/ According to information gleaned from this reddit]], the building was finished in 2015, and it is Allen Azura's Delux. The current theory is that either the designer or the person who commissioned it were TES fans.
** In ''Dawnguard'', the mission in which you meet and possibly recruit Serana is named "Awakening." [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Which other game with that title]] prominently features another character voiced by Creator/LauraBailey?
** Paarthurnax is probably Creator/CharlesMartinet's most famous role that isn't from a [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]] game. ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' has a dragon boss, which [[OurDragonsAreDifferent ordinarily]] wouldn't be anything special if not for the fact that [[https://i.ytimg.com/vi/03e7mvY6uws/maxresdefault.jpg the dragon's design]] clashes ''heavily'' with the rest of the game and looks more like something the Dragonborn would slay. And then things would come full circle with ''Skyrim'' itself joining ''Odyssey'' on the Switch less than a month after the latter's release as the first ''Elder Scrolls'' game on a Nintendo system.

** The game predates ''VideoGame/MiddleEarthShadowOfMordor'' on the [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative transparent blue ghost]] [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot archer elves]] department.
** There exists an in-game book titled ''The Lusty [[LizardFolk Argonian]] Maid''. And now we have a manga about [[Manga/MissKobayashisDragonMaid a lusty dragon maid...]]
** One gag in that manga is the titular Dragon Maid attempting to have Kobayashi eat her tail. Someone would eventually make [[https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/60989 a mod]] that would let you eat the meat of '''Alduin'''.
** If you ask Clavicus Vile if he could end the Skyrim Civil War, he will say: "[[Film/AvengersInfinityWar I'd simply snap my fingers, and everyone in Skyrim would die.]]"

** The cutscene of the three Nord heroes defeating Alduin in the past comes off as funny rather than epic, watching these actors swing their weapons around clumsily while screaming fearsome battle cries.

* TheScrappy:
** Delphine. A rude {{Jerkass}} who orders the player around, hates dragons (even benevolent ones) and has [[VanHelsingHateCrimes no interest in them beyond killing them]], considers the Greybeards untrustworthy cowards and has no respect for them or High Hrothgar, and she'll coldly refuse to aid the player if they don't kill [[spoiler:Paarthurnax]], accusing them of going soft. Little wonder there are mods out there to let the player [[WhatTheHellHero put the Blades in their place]] either verbally (remind them ''you're'' the Dragonborn; the Blades serve you, not the other way around) or physically (make them killable). Even the scant few players who support killing [[spoiler:Paarthurnax]] out of pragmatism don't care much for her.
** Out of the child [=NPCs=], Braith. She's both SmallNameBigEgo and TheBully put into one, and is the only child that many players actually hate. Jarl Balgruuf's children aren't much better, which is rather jarring given that the Jarl himself is a ReasonableAuthorityFigure. Nelkir will mock you for allegedly coming to "lick my father's boots" (though to be fair, his demeanor can be at least partially blamed on the influence of [[spoiler:Mephala]]), while Dagny is just a horrific SpoiledBrat. It's not hard to imagine that the creation of many "[[WouldHurtAChild make children killable]]" mods were spurred by seething players eager to give Braith and Dagny a lesson.
** Taarie. You could be kitted out with the most terrifying or noble armor (or clothing) ever, yet she'll call your outfit "open wound" after saying that "you might want to rethink that outfit" if you meet her in the streets of Solitude. Even if you're walking around in the Emperor's robes. The only way to shut her up is to accept her "quest" to shill her outfit (which is no different than the other fine clothes except for the name) to the Blue Palace; after you've done this, she becomes much less abrasive to you, even acknowledging that she's only in a good mood because you're around.
** If you thought Taarie was bad, her sister Endarie somehow manages to be even ''worse''. She is a shopkeeper who absolutely ''hates'' her clients, acting openly dismissive, condescending and abrasive even to paying customers. Trying to rebuff her has her arrogantly reply that no, she does not in fact have any trouble finding buyers despite her rotten attitude due to the quality of the dresses she sells. And unlike with Taarie, there is no way to make her friendlier.
** Rolff Stone-Fist due to being a racist bully who harasses a female dark elf as being a "Imperial spy" in his very first scene (his threat to "pay (her) a visit tonight" and make her talk is hard not to read as a threat of ''[[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil rape]]''). He can turn friendly towards the player should they beat him up in a brawl, but he will continue throwing slurs towards anyone that isn't a Nord. And to make things worse, he is an essential character (meaning he can't be killed).
** Maurice Jondrelle. Being the only straight case of an EscortMission in the game (all other temporary followers in the game either can't die or can be left behind with no ill consequences) annoy most players enough; but his annoying voice, entitled attitude, and TooDumbToLive behavior irritate people greatly. Escorting him does allow you to skip a troublesome Spriggan gauntlet, but given how difficult the trip can be, you might be better off taking your chances with the Spriggans.
** Jaree-Ra, the Argonian who hangs around Solitude trying to rope players into his scheme and then backstabbing them when they join along. He's marked as essential so you can't even kill him without joining his scheme and letting him stab you in the back first. There's no way to justify a benevolent character helping him kill a bunch of innocent sailors by turning the lighthouse off, so good-natured characters are basically stuck with him. He also has a very annoying habit where if you commit a crime anywhere in the city he'll relentlessly chase you down and attack you until you're dead, and again, since he's essential you can do nothing to retaliate.
** Maven Black-Briar, the [[TheDon criminal matriarch]] of the Black-Briar family in Riften, is a condescending {{jerkass}} who constantly belittles and threatens the player with her connections to the Thieves Guild and the Dark Brotherhood (despite the fact [[MuggingTheMonster you could be the Guildmaster, Listener or both]]), becomes the Jarl of Riften if you side with the Imperial Legion despite her extreme corruption, and [[KarmaHoudini never receives any comeuppance for her actions]] as there are no quests involving getting back at her. You can't even get the satisfaction of killing her, as she is permanently marked as essential. The most you can do is annoy her during some Thieves Guild quests, but you actively worsen your quest rewards by doing so while leaving her ultimately unharmed.
** Dear God, ''Nazeem''. An insufferably smug Redguard who kisses the Jarl of Whiterun's ass, insults hard working merchants and talks to the Dragonborn like they're a drooling idiot. He's gotten a reputation among fans as the most obnoxious NPC in the game, and even people who haven't played it might still cringe slightly when they hear "Do you get to the cloud district very often? Oh what am I saying, of course you don't."
** Astrid, the leader of The Dark Brotherhood. She's disliked for the fact that she sells you out to Commander Maro because she felt threatened of losing her leadership to the Night Mother and ultimately the one responsible for everyone in the Sanctuary except Nazir and Babette getting killed.

*** If you thought Taarie was bad, her sister Endarie somehow manages to be even '''worse'''. She is a shopkeeper who absolutely '''hates''' her clients, acting openly dismissive, condescending and abrasive even to paying customers. Trying to rebuff her has her arrogantly reply that no, she does not in fact have any trouble finding buyers despite her rotten attitude due to the quality of the dresses she sells. And unlike with Taarie, there is no way to make her friendlier.

** Delphine. A rude {{Jerkass}} who orders the player around, hates dragons (even benevolent ones) and has [[VanHelsingHateCrimes no interest in them beyond killing them]], considers the Greybeards untrustworthy cowards and has no respect for them or High Hrothgar, and she'll coldly refuse to aid the player if they don't kill [[spoiler:Paarthurnax]], accusing them of going soft. Little wonder there are mods out there to let the player [[WhatTheHellHero put the Blades in their place]] either verbally (remind them ''you're'' the Dragonborn; the Blades serve you, not the other way around) or physically (make them killable).

** [=NPCs=] are only supposed to send Hired Thugs if you harm them or their relatives. Hrongar has been reported to send Hired Thugs after you if Lydia joins the Blades, which may be just a bug but has also been been interpretated by some gamers has Lydia being his daughter.

** Nothing is more comically annoying than a mudcrab with zero self-preservation instincts that scuttles up behind you while you're fighting a dragon and starts stabbing away. Sure, you can turn around and one-hit kill the thing, but you have to take your eyes off the dragon to do it. By the same token, ''dragons'' can get distracted by the little pests and fly off from your battle to deal with them, which forces you to [[GetBackHereBoss chase the dragon]].

** Alduin, the BigBad of the game, a [[GutturalGrowler deep-voiced]] DraconicAbomination whose very power [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt threatens to end the entire world]].

** Also in ''Dragonborn'', there's the [[BonusBoss Ebony Warrior]], a MetaGuy who can be argued as the TrueFinalBoss to all of Skyrim, being a NighInvulnerable adventurer who has SeenItAll and [[DeathSeeker wants you to kill him]] so he can go to [[WarriorHeaven Sovngarde]]. The fact that you fight him in an inevitably awesome duel atop the Throat of the World and that he has Dragon Shouts just like you is just the veritable icing on the cake.

** Blackreach. An absolutely ''huge'' underground cavern (approx. four square miles) home to an abandoned Dwarven city and some of the most unique and breathtaking environmental design in the entire game. It even comes with its own BonusBoss! You'd have to spend several hours exploring the vast compound to find everything ([[spoiler:including the secret dragon]]), but you'll love every bit of it.

** The Forgotten Vale of ''Dawnguard'' is almost as massive as Blackreach, has some of the most beautiful visuals in the game, and even has two {{bonus boss}}es that are actually quite challenging and fun to fight. It also has unique side quests involving Frost Giants and Falmer books.

* EvilIsSexy:
** Ulfric Stormcloak gets this quite a bit thanks to his deep, commanding voice and manly disposition.
** Astrid, [[spoiler: "Matron" of the Dark Brotherhood]].
** [[spoiler:Alva]], [[{{Stripperiffic}} scantily-clad]] [[VampiresAreSexGods vampiric seductress]] extraordinaire.
** Strangely enough, Miraak of all people gets this treatment, largely because of his voice.

** Apart from getting a 40/40 from ''Weekly Famitsu'' (the very first western game to get it), ''Skyrim'' seems to be growing in popularity in Japan.

* EpilepticTrees: A few players who joined the Imperial side erroneously believed Legate Rikke and the Imperial Captain at Helgen were the same person.[[note]]Both are female [=NPCs=] who share the same voice actor and wear the same uniform, and the Captain's fate is not known if you follow Hadvar (you'll have to fight her if you follow Ralof, but won't see her for long or at close range if you don't), so there are some legitimate reasons for the mistake.[[/note]]