I know each hold has at least one village, but when travelling the roads of Skyrim I almost never find civilization, I remember in Oblivion there were tonnes of taverns and villages and most had at least one unique quest and about 5-10 NPC's in each one and that's just not there in Skyrim everything feels so desolate and I know they probably didn't have enough space to fit more or Beth are just going for a sort of dreary feel but it gets boring when all you can expect on the roads is enemy's with the odd NPC

It's most likely a design choice but you can reason with it that Skyrim isn't as civilized as the seat of the Empire....makes sense to me.

There are small mining towns, farms, and inns scattered all over Skyrim.

I know, i'm sure there's some inn's I haven't found as I only know the ones near Windhelm and Markarth, but when you compare it to Oblivion Skyrims roads just seem so desolate

It's mostly gameplay design! Remember the games are not accurate representations of the provinces. Also Engine, and time Restrictions. Skyrim does have a lot of small towns, inns and what not scattered about. Plus it actually has NPCs walking about instead of just guards and the random Count, like Oblivion.

I agree with the OP.

Skyrim just seemed so damn empty to me.

It probably isn't when compared to Oblivion, but it just seemed that way.

As I've said for a while now, I see the TES games as mere representations of what Tamriel might be like. And as such, I think they did a really good job. I like how every NPC in Skyrim is detailed with their own unique personality. The more NPC's you add, the less detail you get in this kind of game.

Still things to work on for TES VI though.

What did you expect from a desolate, frozen land like Skyrim?

The open spaces in Cyrodiil are empty too. I think you've got nostalgia goggles on.

It does make me smile when the Markarth guard welcomes you to: "The safest city in the reach."

It's the ONLY bloody city in the Reach!

I always thought he was being ironic.

The Nords of Skyrim isn't civilised like their brethren in Cyrodiil.

Nords only like to drink, brawl, and prefer to be isolated away from anything that wants to take away their lifestyle.

Another fan of IASIP/Day Man!

Splendid desolation.

Less is more Sir.

Perhaps Smaug secretly paid a little visit to Skyrim before heading towards Erebor.

Nah, it's just like the rural areas in northern Scandinavia. If you live close enough to your neighbour to be able to see their house, then it's crowded.

I think we can all agree that's definitely what happened...

OP: It doesn't seem desolate to me. Here's why:

1: It's meant to be less civilized, mostly wilderness.

2: I find twice the amount of NPCs than Oblivion, adding up Bandits, Merchants, Soldiers and so on.

3: There are more dungeons, abandoned camps, forts, ruins, caves and monuments.

I think maybe you need to play the game a little more.