Summary
Like so many other RPGs,Skyrimallows players to break the law and deal with the consequences as they see fit. Players can rage against the system and fight the law, pay a fine, or turn tail and run, but they can also surrender and be taken to prison, and while the prisons players have the honor of residing in are all well-designed and plausible, oneSkyrimprison still stands out: The Chill.
Going to jail isn’t unheard of in gaming, with many RPGs and open-world adventure titles featuring some sort of interactive system of law and order. However, it can be a hard system to get right, as it’s not exactly easy to make sitting in a prison cell enjoyable or engaging. RPGs likeBaldur’s Gate 3let players escape from jail, which turns something that could be seen as a punishment for failure within the game’s ruleset into an opportunity for interesting and rewarding gameplay. Even so, this can sometimes be a rudimentary or tedious process rather than an independently enjoyable part of the game. This is where The Chill excels.
The Chill Is One of Skyrim’s Best Small Details
It’s surprisingly easy to miss The Chill, as it is a small, unmarked cave in the middle of a frozen lake north of Winterhold. On top of being situated in such an obscure spot, The Chill is also an unmarked location, meaning that players won’t be able to find it on a map, even if they do happen to travel past it. It’s most likely that a player will only discover The Chill after being arrested in theicy and majestic city of Winterhold.
In this scenario, a player will be locked up in one of The Chill’s cramped cages, with only a Frost Atronach for company. Just like the rest ofSkyrim’s prisons, players are then presented with two options: serve their time peacefully, or try to mount an escape. The Frost Atronach makes the latter option a bit more challenging, however, even if The Chill differs from otherSkyrimprisons by letting players retain their gear upon being incarcerated. The unique premise of the prison, combined with its unheralded and unassuming nature, help make it one ofSkyrim’s most underrated and memorable locations.
Upon exiting The Chill, players will then have to fight three additional Frost Atronachs, making escape even more difficult.
Lore and the Element of Surprise Combine to Make The Chill Something Special
The Chill isn’t the only interesting prison inSkyrim. In fact, some would argue that it’s not even the most impressive or memorable, as that honortypically goes toSkyrim’s Cidhna Minethanks to its prominence in the “The Forsworn Conspiracy” quest. However, what sets The Chill apart from something like Cidhna Mine is the fact that it is so understated and easy to miss; many players likely won’t even encounter it during their first playthrough, but when they do, the shock of not only seeing a Frost Atronach, but also of finding themselves so far from any sort of civilization upon exiting the cave, make it a genuine surprise in a game filled with unforgettable moments.
The prison isn’t just surprising: it offers some subtle environmental storytelling aboutthe intriguing city of Winterhold. Though it is home to a renowned school of magic, the city itself is beaten down, impoverished, and decidedly unrefined. The Chill reflects this interplay of powerful magic and low quality of life, as it is a brutal, cold, inhumane prison whose only real defense are the Atronachs, presumably summoned by a mage from the College. It’s unforgiving, mysterious, and thematically fitting, and the fact that it is presented with such little fanfare is a great example of how richSkyrimis in nuanced worldbuilding.
Skyrim
WHERE TO PLAY
Skyrim is a beloved game for a reason. There is so much to do in the game, and with the new anniversary updates, even veteran players will have a fresh experience if they haven’t played it in a few years. The modding community around the game is beyond active with some fans even using Skyrim’s foundations to rebuild previous entries into the Elder Scrolls series.Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail. The Special Edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features like remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more.Skyrim Special Edition also brings the power of Bethesda Game Studios Creations to PC and consoles. New quests, environments, characters, dialogue, armor, weapons and more – with Creations, there are no limits to what you can experience.
