With the six-year anniversary of Skyrim upon us, we thought it was time to take a look back at the title that changed the face of open-world gaming and RPGs. We all have our favorite memories from this epic entry in the series, from getting wasted with a Daedric Prince to tracking the Headless Horseman and many, many more. Yes, we all have memories, and many of us beat the game a long time ago. However, “beating” Skyrim isn’t all there is to being the Dragonborn.

It is what we do with the time outside the main questline, the small discoveries made, that keep us coming back for more. With Skyrim, there is no conceivable end. There is always something more to do. Passing by the same wall twice often yields different results for the eagle-eyed thief or the wise mage. Oh, and let’s not forget the constant updates Bethesda has made to the game to keep it from turning stale.

This is why instead of a retrospective of Skyrim moments, we decided to shine a magnifying glass on all the amazing wonders you might have missed during your time with the game. After all, with 244 quests, let’s face it, it is nearly impossible to see all the game has to offer. (It would be surprising if you did.) So, skip that trip down memory lane, dust off your copy of Skyrim, and join us as we cover 30 things you might have missed the first time around.

30 Jorrvaskr Is Actually A Ship

After completing becoming a werewolf, curing Kodlak of lycanthropy, and becoming the new Harbinger, one would (rightfully!) assume they know all there is to know about the Companions. Well, the secrets don’t stop once you complete the questline, and one of the biggest ones is so obvious you will kick yourself for missing it. Jorrvaskr is an actual ship.

Don’t believe us? Go outside (in the game, of course) and take a really good look at the roof. Your eyes do not deceive you. The Companions of old traveled around in that fine sea vessel before converting it into a place to stay. If those walls could talk imagine the tales they would in your ear at night. Well, at least you can take solace in the fact that you’re residing in a piece of history.

29 Open-World ‘Game Of Thrones’?

Well before Jon Snow’s bent knee and Bran’s fall from the tower (yes, we are talking about pre-HBO), Todd Howard and his team were approached to make a Game of Thrones tie-in game. Not only would fans get to watch the tale play out, they would get to live out their dragon-riding, sibling love fantasies in the comfort of their living rooms. There is no word on how the game would have concluded without George R.R. Martin’s final book, but luckily we don’t have to worry about that as Bethesda declined the offer.

The team, not wanting to limit themselves to Martin’s source material, truly believed in Skyrim, and given its success, they were right to do so. Still, one can’t help but wonder how a Bethesda-style Game of Thrones would have played out.

28 The Secret Of The Divines

Unless you are walking around with earplugs on, you have heard of at least a few of the Nine Divines and may have received a blessing or two during your journey. These gods and goddesses are worshiped all across the land, and the NPCs will be sure to let you know which one they favor if you engage them in conversation.

But there is a secret behind the names of the Nine Divines—well at least for seven of them. Six of the deities—Akatosh, Arkay, Dibella, Mara, Stendarr, Zenithar—are named after beta testers and one, Julianos, is named for the project leader of early Elder Scrolls titles like Arena and Daggerfall. We are sure there are many perks available to Bethesda’s employees, but being immortalized in the lore of Elder Scrolls has to be the icing on the cake.

27 A Virginia-Based Grandma Has Recorded Over 300 ‘Skyrim’ Let’s Play Videos

Shirley Curry is a grandmother from Virginia with an unrivaled passion for Skyrim, and who can blame her? After all, Skyrim’s landscape is breathtaking, the quests challenging, and the NPCs interesting. With so much to offer, it is no wonder it piqued her interest.

Grandma Shirley has uploaded more than 300 Let’s Plays to her YouTube channel, and with over 100,000 subscribers there is no sign of her slowing down anytime soon. Shirley’s “grandkids” watch as she calmly traverses Skyrim’s expansive landscapes. Exploring Skyrim through the eyes of a woman in her 80s offers a perspective that even the most hardcore fans can appreciate.

Recording over 300 Let’s Plays is a major accomplishment, and we look forward to seeing 300 more from our favorite grandma gamer.

26 Windhelm Is Home To A Mysterious Wall

Adding to the ever-growing list of mysteries in Skyrim is a mysterious wall in Windhelm that appears to have names carved into. To find the wall, enter Windhelm, head left, and enter the alley. Once in the alley, which is near the graveyard, examine the wall to your right. On it, you will find names inside what appear to be tiny plaques.

There are many theories about the significance of the names. Some think they are the names of the Five Hundred Companions, while others think the names are another nod to Scandinavian mythology. Then there are those who believe the names reference Nord characters from Morrowind. With no official word from Bethesda, all fans can do is continue to speculate. This is one mystery that may remained unsolved.

25 There Is A Bigger Map In The Elder Scrolls Series

Skyrim is huge, and if you’ve ever ridden a horse (or walked) from Riften to Solitude, then you know exactly what we mean. There appear to be acres upon acres of trees, grass, and mountains riddled with giants, bandits, and wisps. To explore Skyrim is to explore a living, breathing 3D world.

With how big and immersive the world of Skyrim is, many would be surprised to find that its map actually isn’t the biggest in the Elder Scrolls series. That honor belongs to The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall with a map that covers a whopping 62,394 square miles. That makes this map 4,000 times bigger than that of Skyrim’s. Bigger may not always be better, but we certainly wouldn’t mind a Daggerfall remaster.

24 A Blank Book For Blind Eyes

Adventure long enough and you are bound to come across White River Watch, a cave that doubles as a hideout for a group of bandits. If, upon entering, you did not immediately shoot the poor fellow sitting at the table, just beyond the entrance, in the head, then you likely discovered his shocking secret. That’s right. He is blind. Ulfr the Blind, to be exact.

Engage in dialogue with Ulfr, it soon becomes apparent that he can’t tell you from Rodulf, the guy who is supposed to be guarding the outside of the cave. If you are perceptive enough, you will notice he is reading a book, but not just any book. Oh no, this is an empty book. There aren’t even any pictures. Poor Ulfr!

23 Need A New Follower? Try Crash Bandicoot

Yes, you read that right. Players tired of traversing the landscape of Skyrim with the dry and the drab can take things up a notch by adding a splash of the ‘90s. A Steam mod created by manuelx98 adds the colorful Crash Bandicoot, with his bug eyes and plastered on smile, to the game.

If you want to recruit Crash, download the mod first, of course! Then, head to Dragonsreach where he can be found hanging around the Jarl. Unfortunately, the little guy can’t use his slide attack or spin moves, but he can use weapons and equip armor like any other normal follower. It is amazing (and a little sad) to watch a childhood favorite slice through wolves with a greatsword. It is far more satisfying than watching Lydia get caught in the same trap for the 10th time.

22 There Is A Star Wars Reference

It is only fitting as we approach the release date of The Last Jedi that we include a Star Wars Easter egg on this list. There are, in fact, several references to the franchise in Skyrim, but today we are only focusing on one of them—the Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back reference in Bleakcoast Cave.

Enter the cave, and you will find an upside-down skeleton hanging from an icy ceiling. Beneath the skeleton, on the ground, is a glowing sword. The eerie scene is a reference to the ice cave on Hoth where Luke got stuck hanging from the ceiling. Obviously, the glowing sword represents his lightsaber.

Of course, unlike the poor guy in Bleakcoast Cave, Luke managed to escape and show up in a few more movies.

21 You Can Ride An Invincible Dragon

The release of the Dragonborn DLC brought with it the ability to ride dragons. Of course, the Dragonborn needs to know all three Words of Power of the Bend Will shout. These words are easy to acquire if you play through the main storyline of Dragonborn. Then, simply use Bend Will on any dragon out in the wild, and they will land and allow you to ride them.

Of course, this is standard knowledge by now. However, if you travel to the top of the Throat of the World, you can use the Bend Will shout on Odahviing, the immortal dragon NPC. You can also summon him him with Call Dragon and have him wait around long enough to use Bend Will. No matter how you get him, one this is clear: you will be the coolest guy in the skies.

20 The College Of Winterhold Has Actual Lectures

When first stumbling upon the College of Winterhold, it appears to be a college by name only. Members of the college don’t appear to have a purpose outside of being in their designated rooms or wandering about the campus. It is a wonder that there are any experts or new students at all given its seeming lack of organization.

Well, looks can be deceiving because for short time each day, typically sometimes between 1pm–3pm, lectures are held in the Hall of Elements, and the college becomes an actual institution of learning. Each master gives a lecture in their field of expertise. The topics vary quite a bit, as you can hear about subjects ranging from restoration magic to college policy.

Now if only you had a way to take notes in-game.

19 You Can Farm Cure Disease

The Silver Hand, in all their werewolf-hunting glory, are always prepared to fend off a potential beastly attack. With silver weapons in hand, they believe they will never fall to the creatures they vehemently hate. Unfortunately, for them, there isn’t enough preparation time in the world to defeat the Dragonborn.

Players looking to cure a disease or to simply farm Cure Disease, should consider raiding and killing members of the Silver Hand, as many of them carry the potion or the ingredients to make it on their person (they mistakenly think lycanthropy is a disease). Talk about a bargain. There is nothing better than free. Unless you count the weight of your guilty conscience after your decision to mow down a group of people just to take their resources as currency.

Yeah, didn’t think so.

18 The First Western Title To Receive A Perfect Score From Famitsu

While series like Fallout, Skyrim, and Grand Theft Auto are all the rage in the States, they take a backseat to franchises such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest in Japan. However, that all changed when Skyrim became the first Western game to receive a perfect score from Famitsu, joining the likes of Metal Gear Solid, Pokémon Black and White, The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, and more recently Breath of the Wild.

This may not seem like a big deal now, but it certainly was at the time. Before Skyrim’s arrival, western titles like Gears of War 3 and L.A. Noire received heartbreaking, near-perfect scores of 39/40. Skyrim’s impressive score was not only groundbreaking, it opened the door of possibility for future western title, such as Grand Theft Auto 5, the second to receive Famitsu’s coveted perfect score.

17 The “Arrow To The Knee” Origin Story Is Actually Pretty Lame

An empty glass of bourbon. Logs on the fire. Wadded up scraps of paper scattered across the floor. Then, suddenly, lightning strikes. This is the image many of us conjure up when we try to envision the birth of the line that broke the Internet, “I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow in the knee.” Unfortunately, the line’s origin isn’t as colorful as we imagined.

Late in the development cycle, Todd Howard thought the guards were lacking in the personality department. So he asked writer Emil Pagliarulo add more life to the dialogue. Instead of simply bossing the Dragonborn around, the guards would react to him, making for a more immersive experience. The “Arrow to the Knee” line was but a small part of that addition.

Underwhelming, right? We like our version better, too.

16 An Outrageous Number Of Actors Lent Their Voice To ‘Skyrim’

There is nothing worse in an RPG than hearing the same tired line of dialogue over and over again. Lucky for us, Bethesda felt the same way and ensured that Skyrim was filled to the brim with unique dialogue. In fact, over 70 voice actors recorded over 60,000 lines of dialogue for more than 100 roles. Recording sessions for the game took place over the course of four whole weeks—with different actors simultaneously recording at 3 separate studios.

The difference may have gone unnoticed but the change created a more immersive experience for Skyrim players, and further proves that, contrary to popular belief, the “arrow to the knee” line isn’t said nearly as often as fans think. Now, if only you could find the thief who swiped your sweet roll.

15 Todd Howard Looked To The Classics For Inspiration

Todd Howard wasn’t always the visionary behind The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series. Back when he was a mere child, he was nothing more than an ordinary fan who marveled at the creations of long-gone developers such as Origins Systems and Sir-Tech. Of the games he explored, two names stick out from the rest: Wizardry and Ultima III.

Howard was impressed by these games ability to transport players to another world. A fantasy world that presented players with a variety of choices and activities, such as breadmaking and chatting with NPCs. When we study these titles, the parallel between them and The Elder Scrolls series—with its many side quests, menial tasks, and varied conversation—becomes crystal clear. Bethesda just needed someone to make history by connecting the dots.

14 The Killcam Nearly Had Another Name

Every player knows when they've got an enemy on the ropes. Their health is low and each blow you deal staggers your attacker. You know it's time to end this fight, but midway through your final attack, something amazing happens. The camera zooms out to third-person just in time to capture your finishing move from a unique angle.

This delicious feature is affectionately called the “killcam.” However, before settling on the name, the team threw around other interesting names, including “Vio-Lens” and “Cine-Kill,” while the game was still in development. These names may be more creative but it is difficult to feel like a badass when executing an enemy on Cine-Kill.

Sometimes simpler is better, and in this case, there was no need to deviate from the industry standard.

13 There’s A Reason Protagonists Begin As Captives

One of the most common tropes in Elder Scrolls is the player taking control of a captive protagonist. Nearly every title in the series begins this way with Daggerfall being a notable exception. On the surface, this common occurrence is easily dismissed as lazy or poor writing. However, there is an actual reason Bethesda keeps sticking you in a cell. Doing so allows you to start from scratch.

Think about it. If your character already had an established story, and you jumped in right at the middle, you would likely be forced down a path that doesn’t deviate too far from the story. An experience blademaster is expected to have sword skills, and a member of the mage’s guild should be adept at spellcasting.

Stripping the character of all skills and possessions allows players to make unique decisions, such as joining the Stormcloaks as an Altmer.

12 ‘Skyrim’ Removed Class Restrictions

Every Elder Scrolls title before Skyrim featured a character class system, and certain races performed better in particular classes than others. For instance, anyone who wants to play a mage would be wise to create an Altmer character due to the boost their magic skills get. Character customization was still satisfying but had its limits.

In an effort to open up the gameplay, Bethesda decided to do away with the class-based blueprints, giving players the freedom to acquire any skill they wanted without restrictions. Players, for better or worse, could now make unique combinations, such as a spellcasting, stealthy Orc or a broadsword-wielding, heavy armor-clad Altmer.

This is great, but players also run the risk of creating a jack of all trades and master of none.

11 ‘Beowulf’ Found Its Way Into The Game

Skyrim drew inspiration from many creative works of the past, but perhaps the most surprising of them all is the Old English epic, Beowulf. Although the two have obvious parallels such as mead halls and a dragon, it is the language that found its way into the game. We are not talking about the spoken dialogue of the people of Skyrim. It is the dragons who inherited this elite language.

To create the spoken dragon tongue, the writer found and listened to recordings of Beowulf in Old English. No wonder the dragons sound so wise and poetic, especially when compared to the commoners of Skyrim.

Let’s just be glad he chose Beowulf. Imagine how dramatic the dragons would be and sound had he listened to Hamlet.