Every few months, some YouTube channel will upload a video essay asking why we continue to play Skyrim more than a decade after release. Virtually all of them come to the same conclusion: at this point, what keeps us coming back for more isn’t the gameplay, or the story, or the seemingly never-ending wait for The Elder Scrolls 6: Sentinel, but the coziness of its setting.

At a glance, this makes perfect sense. After all, many of us no longer play Skyrim to progress the narrative or complete quests, but simply to spend time in its world. And yet, if you really think about it, it’s also kind of strange. Many cozy games are devoid of danger or pressure, and sport a warm, colorful, often cartoonish look. Skyrim, on the other hand, is dark fantasy 101, its lands frozen over and filled with scary, pointy things that can and will kill you if given the chance.

Sure, some use mods that remove enemies, shake up mechanics, and even clear up the weather, making the game look and feel more similar to cozy favorites like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley. However, I don’t think I’m alone when I say that – to me – the base game already feels incredibly cozy as it is, dragons and all. For many years I’ve wondered why. And this month, in honor of Skyrim’s 15th anniversary, I took a stab at finding answers.

While researching, it quickly became clear that most of the common reasons for Skyrim’s coziness do not hold up to scrutiny.

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