The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has a secret epilogue that you probably missed. Though in fairness, the game doesn’t tell you about it.
Some may say that Skyrim ends once you’ve completed the main story, others might say it’s when you complete the main story and all of the side missions. Where do the game’s DLC expansions factor in as well?
There are those that’d consider the fight with the Ebony Warrior the final part of the game, as the character only spawns in when you’ve hit a high enough level and is one of the toughest challenges you’ll face in your playthrough.
However I’m here to let you know that Skyrim does indeed have an ending, but it’s one you need to find yourself.
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After slaying Alduin and returning to the land of the living you’re free to carry on your adventure however you see fit, but once the big bad has been killed it’ll actually trigger an unmarked quest that serves as an epilogue.
In order to complete this quest you’ll have to speak to both Paarthurnax and Odahviing, presuming you weren’t a heartless monster and killed Paarthurnax during your playthrough.
You can then head back down the mountain and speak to the Greybeards of High Hrothgar, specifically Arngeir who you’ll have spoken to a few times during your adventure.
Finally, you can travel to wherever you left Delphine, which will then complete the quest and in turn the main story of Skyrim.
You don’t get anything for doing this, it’s just a way of informing some of the main characters that you’ve killed Alduin and brought peace back to Skyrim.
That said the game does class it as the epilogue, and it’s worth doing if you haven’t already.
Again everyone’s perception of the game’s true ending will be different, but as far as the main story goes this is the definitive conclusion.
It’s cool that Bethesda went the extra mile in this way, though the same can be said for most of the game with how many minor details are present.
With The Elder Scrolls VI taking its sweet time you just know the game is going to be huge, and hopefully doesn’t share the same fate as Starfield and get stuck with loads of barren wastelands with nothing to do.
For comparison Skyrim takes approximately 30 hours to finish the main story alone, and I’m thinking The Elder Scrolls VI will beat that comfortably.