Top 100 Best Skyrim Mods – Skyrim Special Edition Mods [2024]

Welcome to one of the most comprehensive Skyrim Mod articles around. Now that you have Skyrim, you’ve probably played it for a little while and realized that the game leaves a little to be desired in the graphics department. But fear not, any of these mods will breathe new life into your game.

Essential Skyrim Mods

Ultimate Skyrim

Ultimate Skyrim is 16 other Skyrim modifications joined into one with the aim to make your game more immersive.

With a better combat system, more focus on the roleplaying aspects of the game, and the addition of other in-game mechanics, there’s plenty in this ultimate mod to change your Skyrim game in the best way.

Skyrim Script Extender

For anyone who’s about to start adding modifications to their Skyrim game, you’ll want to add in the Skyrim Script Extender to help your game handle the new commands and graphics.

We advise that you add this mod while you’re adding in any others to keep your game going.

Unofficial Skyrim Patch

Skyrim is a bit of a dated game, and as such, it’s a tad buggy. Not great for first-time players and it can be pretty off-putting. on the buggy side. The Unofficial Skyrim Patch is a mod that is regularly updated to fix any and all of the bugs that players find in the Skyrim world.

Despite heavy patching from the original game team, this mod is well-known for fixing all of the other mistakes and mishaps that weren’t caught during the years the game was still being fixed up.

Static Mesh Improvement

Static Mesh Improvement is all about smoothing out your Skyrim world. This mod works wonders on making everything look less blocky and awkward. All of those strange edges and weird-looking objects will suddenly look a lot more natural.

Your computer’s performance might be affected by this mod, just because of all of the extra data inside it, but if your system can handle a bigger mod, then it’s worth it. Get rid of the obvious seams that lie between two objects that meet and watch as your world becomes just a bit brighter.

2K Textures

2K Textures gives you a huge range of textures for your game up to 4K resolution. Though this mod applies amazing textures to pretty much everything in your Skyrim game, there are other mods that focus on particular aspects of the game (like the glaciers or the grass).

2K Textures is a good start to your modding adventure. You’ll get four times the amount of textures that you get from the original game, and everything from the ground up will get a lovely rework.

There’s a lite version, too! So even those of you with less powerful computers can benefit from this mod.

Skyui

Skyrim is a great PC game but there are some elements that make it obvious that it was never supposed to be a PC game. However, with this mod, you get a completely new user interface that works better for PC gamers.

SkyUI rebuilds the interface from the ground up, making it more user-friendly for players that are using their computer, rather than a console. Put the controller away, keyboard and mouse lovers. You won’t be needing it anymore.

Advanced Mods

Fxaa Injector

FXAA Injector shoves a ton of new script into your game to create better images that are clearer and more vibrant. You can configure this mod by messing with post-processing effects, such as tonemap and technicolor.

Everything is easily adjustable via a slider system. Even a novice modder couldn’t mess this one up.

Real Vision Enb

Real Vision is one of Skyrim’s most famous and popular modifications. It produces some tremendous effects, and works well with the next mod on our list: Climates of Tamriel. When you combine Real Vision ENB with any number of other mods on this list, you can easy create a realistic world for your player character to live in.

Who needs to go outside when the sun is so perfect in your game that you can practically feel it? We jest, of course. Please remember to go outside.

Climates of Tamriel

Skyrim always needs a little extra weather modification. Climates of Tamriel takes what exists in your game’s world already, and makes it look more authentic. From better sunsets, to clouds that look like actual clouds, this mod adds thousands of effects.

The creator of this mod re-created the entire lighting system of the game. Making the sunlight and starlight look almost too real. It’s a harsh mod, and you’ll need a capable PC to run it.

HD Fire Effects

There are a couple of other fire modifications further down this list for campfires and fireplaces in taverns. HD Fire Effects is purely for the awful-looking fire in your workshop.

This mod does an amazing job of creating realistic flames, and it also works wonders on your fire-based magic attacks, too.

High Level Enemies

Most games get harder to play as you level up, Skyrim seems to do the opposite. Level up high enough, and everything becomes kid’s play to your player character. Bandits are, at most, level 25 for an average encounter later in the game. But at that point, you’re a lot higher.

High Level Enemies makes the game challenging again. From wherever you currently are to endgame, you’ll feel like the world is actually trying to actively kill you.

Mods That Add More Games

Hazard Gambling

Something in Skyrim is lacking. The graphics, obviously, but not that. No, we’re missing any fun pastimes in-game to mess with. It’s all adventuring. No adventurer spends all day, every day fighting for their life.

That’s why Hazard Gambling was released. This mod brings an old betting game from the 17^th century to your game.

Become High King of Skyrim

With great power comes great responsibility, or so we’ve heard. With this mod, you can become the most powerful in all the land. No longer will you feel obliged to gallivant across Skyrim in pursuit of quests from other people. Now it’s your turn to boss people around; how the tables have turned!

Become the High King and throw your weight around. Command people to give you their things, sentence others to death, and demand those who take your fancy to follow you.  Of course, no one became King in a day; you’ll need to prove yourself, first.

Become a Bard

Sure, you could be a warrior. You could be a great hero, whose quests are legends known only in verse. But what about leaving all that behind once you’re done with it and becoming a traveling bard, yourself? Warriors are everywhere in Skyrim, but music is scarce!

Play any instrument, sing in any tavern, have your companions join you in song. Whatever you decide, make sure you level up your new skill on the skill tree. No one likes a bard who’s out of tune.

Faction: Pit Fighters

Pit Fighters is a guild that is new to the world of Skyrim. They offer an amazing storyline for you to complete while you fight in actual gladiator puts. There are several arenas that you can fight NPCs in, and you can even make a bit of cash on the side by betting on fights.

Become the gladiator you were always meant to be with the Faction: Pit Fighters mod.

Extra Content Mods

Moonpath to Elsweyr

Travel all the way to Elsweyr, there a new storyline awaits you. Elsweyr is a tropical region that has a bunch of new creatures and 6 new quests for you to complete. The jungles in this area are quite impressive, and the NPCs here are characters like you’ve never seen before.

Remember to update the textures of your game before you download mods like this. There’s no point journeying to the greener areas for hours on end if you can’t appreciate what you can see.

Dwemertech

The Dwemer, the Dwarves of Skyrim, left Tamriel many years ago, but a small number of their scientists stayed behind in the lands. They planned on bringing their people back into the light, but they need a mage of great power to help them on their quest. That’s you!

If you succeed, your riches will be great. But you’ll need to be a high enough level to do any good. Level 40 Destruction magic should work (or Alteration, or Restoration of the same level). When you’re ready, the Dwemer are waiting.

This mod brings over 40 spells to the game, as well as a whole host of fine Dwarven crafts for you to ogle.

Cutting Room Floor

Like all finished games, Skyrim is missing some of its original content; things like NPCs, items, and quests that didn’t make that final cut before production and weren’t restored in following patches.

Cutting Room Floor restores those features and elements of the game, bringing with it hours of content that you wouldn’t have ever seen.

Legacy of the Dragonborn

An ideal mod for the magpies among you, Legacy of the Dragonborn gives you an enormous exhibition hall to load up with the knickknacks you’ve collected throughout your quests and journeys off into nowhere. This mod also includes an additional story and a bunch of extra content.

Who doesn’t enjoy collecting things? This mod is perfect for the completionists among our readers.

New Area Mods

Open Cities

There are too many loading screens in Skyrim. It’s annoying, time-consuming, and awful if you’re on an older PC. Thankfully, Open Cities pulls together the five major cities into the Tamriel worldspace, which completely eliminates the load screen transitions for those areas.

Finally, you can ride a horse through from one city to another without waiting for the game to catch up to you and load up everything it needs to.

Hermit’s Tree House

The absolute perfect mod for players who are going with the typical elven archer build, even though they’re playing Skyrim. Live in your very own Tree House, out in the woods and away from civilization. No loading necessary, either, thanks to the way that the mod was built. You can simply enjoy the whole area without waiting for your game to catch up to your actions.

Plus, there’s a perfect height advantage for the hunters out there. Nothing like surprising something by coming at them from above.

Build Your Own Town – Becoming a Lord

Not a mod that’s entirely complete as its still in Alpha, but the creator does warn players of this before they download it. Even so, it’s a mod that gives you a bunch of land to do whatever you want with! Thanks to the Hearthfire DLC, which introduced the ability to build houses in Skyrim, this mod’s creator was inspired to go further.

You have an entirely blank canvas to do with whatever you want. And once you’ve built on the land, you’re officially the Lord of that area. Fair warning: It’s been some time since the last update, but if you’re handy with script and programming, you might just be able to keep this mod going.

Castle Volkihar

A mod that allows players to clean up the ruins of Castle Volkihar and rebuild it. The North Tower is also renovated into a new player home with this mod.

Castle Volkihar is about as grand as castle comes in this game; an old, almost vampire-esque building that has huge winding corridors. It also has its own questline.

Tundra Defense

How many fights has your character been in already? Too many, we’re sure. But that’s why you need an outpost! Even if it’s only for the time you’re playing the minigame.

Tundra Defense grants Skyrim that exact minigame; one where you build your own outpost in the wilds of the Skyrim world and then defend it from the attackers.

Community College

Any hero needs a school to help them perfect their skills. Think of it being a little like Xavier’s Home of Gifted Children, but it’s a College for folk who want to master the numerous skills of the land.

Just east of Whiterun, the Skyrim Community College has 18 different trainers, a huge number of merchants for one area, and a storehouse of free stuff that you can have to help you hone your skills.

Greystone Castle

Designed as a large player-owned castle that fits into Skyrim and its lore, Greystone Castle is located on a cliff northeast of Ivarstead.

There aren’t any new quests or people here, but who doesn’t want to own a castle? What kind of Dragonborn doesn’t have a castle?

Into the Deep – Atlantis

A mod that brings the literal city of Atlantis to your Skyrim game. Into the Deep recreates the sunken city of Atlantis within the existing Elder Scrolls story. It’s not a land for you to explore, but a difficult dungeon for you to conquer. The gameplay here is fast paced, the traps are hard, and the enemies are going to come at you with everything they have.

You’ll fight mermen, agents of Hades, and face traps you’ve never gotten yourself out of before.

Wyvern Rock Castle

Wyvern Rock is a large home built for your player character, which is located on the mountain between Whiterun and Windhelm.

The first owner of this castle kept many secrets locked inside its walls. Your task, should you choose to download it, is to find them.

The Asteria Dwemer Airship

Who doesn’t want a flying ship to use as their player character’s home? Created back in 2012, The Asteria is a simple player home that adds a unique experience into your game.

This mod was inspired by the Morrowind quest Bloodmoon, and your new home is complete with forges and other crafting equipment.

The Elder Scrolls Places

The Elder Scrolls Places is a mini-series of mods that fit with the existing lore of Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls. Each mod adds locations seen in The Elder Scrolls Chapter I: Arena, into the modern setting of Skyrim; over 200 years later. The Elder Scrolls Places is an interesting mod that recreates a places and people from the very first Elder Scrolls game and places them into your Skyrim game.

There are new NPCs for you to talk to, and all of the added places are as the creators imagined them to look 200 years later in Skyrim.

Falskaar

Falskaar, a mod that isn’t dissimilar to a DLC release. This piece of extra content adds entirely new lands to Skyrim. And with new lands come new people, new places, and new quests. Falskaar adds about 20 extra hours of play onto your game, with its 26 new quests and 40 minutes of music that you’ve never heard before.

Created by Alexander J. Velicky, who advises that you should go to Riften and speak with Jalamar to start your journey to this new world.

Immersion Enhancing Mods

Relighting Skyrim

Skyrim’s lighting isn’t exactly logical. In fact, you could look around at pretty much any point in your game and there’d be light coming from the wrong place or somewhere that’s just plain weird. Doors don’t shine, and the sun’s in the wrong place for those shadows.

To enhance your immersion, try entirely Relighting Skyrim to edit the game’s light sources. No more strange light coming from nowhere. Instead, light beams will come from the right places. From fires and lanterns, but not from wood.

Lanterns of Skyrim

Lanterns of Skyrim is also a good addition to the above modification. It adds a range of new lamps to your game’s world; all of them placed in areas and locations that make sense for them to be in.

The new lanterns even help you see around areas that were previously badly lit. Skyrim feels a bit more alive with more light in place.

Better Embers

In the event that water is as difficult to replicate in games as it is, that must mean that fire is almost incomprehensible to create in a way that doesn’t look like a two-tone dancing candle GIF. While Skyrim’s fires do have that style to them, Better Embers presents some warmer-looking flames to the world’s fireplaces.

These are genuinely entrancing fire pits; much better than the strange yellow-orange thing that was there before you downloaded this.

Enhanced Blood

Skyrim has a lot of blood in it, that’s just part of the game.

However, it doesn’t exactly look realistic… More cartoon-ketchup-splatter. Enhanced blood does away with those strawberry-red splats and replaces them with high-resolution spatter patterns with just the right viscosity.

Pure Waters and Logical Grass

We’ve put these two together in this section because if you’re getting one, then you’re getting the other. Water effects are super difficult to create in games, and this mod makes them look stunning.
Pure Waters turns Skyrim’s murky pools of water into reflective surfaces of rippling liquid.

Likewise, Logical Grass changes all of the grassy regions of Skyrim; populating them with many more blades of grass and foliage for a more natural look.

If you want to go even further to make your game look great, you should also add Pure Weather to change the substandard weather settings of Skyrim to something that looks and sounds fantastic.

Realistic Needs and Diseases

Bringing survivalism to Skyrim, we have the Realistic Needs and Diseases mod. All things considered, these are the ideal terrains to test your guts in. Realistic Needs and Diseases forces you to look after your player character. You need to eat, drink, and rest consistently to remain healthy.

Illnesses are considerably more harmful to your wellbeing and require satisfactory treatment before you can proceed with your adventure. Sorry, not sorry.

Perseid’s Inns and Taverns

Walking into a tavern or inn on a cold, windy night is not really the experience it should be, so this mod makes inns a little truer to form.

Room rates vary greatly, you can arrange a lengthened stay, and you can also arrange accommodation for your companions, so that they’re not just standing around all night.

World Enhancing Mods

A Quality World Map

Quality World Map is one of the most popular mods for the Skyrim game, and we can certainly see why.

This mod boosts all ofthe visuals on Skyrim’s world map; adding defined roads and better texturesfor areas with mountains and fields of grass.

Deeper Snow

There’s snow in parts of Skyrim. But it’s not good snow that looks like and acts like snow. It’s a bit boring, honestly, and if you’re going to mod your game, you may as well do it right.

Deeper Snow allows your game to add in better textures for the blankets of snow lying around the north. These will even gradually build if it keeps snowing in the area that your player character is in.

Impressive, no?

Wet and Cold

To go with the Deeper Snow mod, you should also add Wet and Cold. The north of Skyrim, in particular, is what one would call a chilly place. Wet and Cold is a mod that adds weather effects to characters (and not just your own player character, no sir). Snow will get caught in your hair, your companions’ hair, it’ll get stuck to your clothes, your armor will get wet. The world will act like it should when there’s snow and rain around.

There’s even a cool effect that shows breath in the air if you’re in the right areas of the Skyrim world.

Real Glaciers

There are snowy and icy regions of Skyrim but no good glaciers. Skyrim is a large game that is missing a lot of detail because it’s an older MMO. The Real Glaciers mod will make any glacier in the north completely unmissable.

The recoloring that this mod does is nothing short of utter perfection. You’ll see your plain and underwhelming glaciers become frosted, reflective surfaces with realistic finishes.

Towns and Villages Enhanced and Detailed Cities

These mods are all about the extra details that you might not think about. In Enhanced collection, you’ll gain a number of trees, they’ll overtake roadsides and appear in every village garden. Each town will transform in a way you wouldn’t have imagined. Some feel this mod is a bit much for the game, but others will agree that it adds much more realism and feels very appropriate.

There are also more chickens. You know, in case you wanted more chickens. Does it feel like you’re playing Fable yet?

To keep the extra details flowing into your game, add in Detailed Cities with your Enhanced Collection mod. You don’t actually need both mods, but Detailed Cities adds decoration in places than the Enhanced Collection does not. Detailed Cities is a good middle level of detail, though, should you only want to download one of these.

Immersive Saturation Boost

Though Skyrim’s graphics and art aren’t terrible, there’s no point in saying that it all looks completely amazing. The colors are a bit washed out in places; unsaturated, in a way. That’s all well and good in certain areas, like the mountains where everything is misty anyway, but the forest should be vibrant and alive.

Immersive Saturation Boost brings color and life back to your game. Strengthening every color and making the world contrast in a beautiful and fresh way. For players who prefer the washed-out look of Skyrim, you may not want to install this one.

Vurt Flora and HD Plants & Herbs

More flora to bring nature to life in a more beautiful way, better forested areas to breathe an atmosphere of freshness to the land, and a wealth of blooming flowers and blades of green grass everywhere.

To add to your new flowers and better greenery even more, download HD Plants & Herbs alongside it. This mod will sharpen up the flowers further, completely washing away any and all unfocused pixels and making everything look as natural as a game can be. No more blurred smudges, just breath-taking nature.

Sounds of Skyrim

Sounds of Skyrim adds over 400 new sounds to your game to help create a realistic world.

No more unnatural silences; just wind, birdsong, and the sounds of life in every city. The sounds change depending on where you are and the time of day.

Better Gameplay Mods

Lightweight Potions

Potions are pretty heavy in Skyrim when you consider how many of them you need to carry to, you know, not die. But this mod can make things much easier for your character by reducing the weight of all potions to a measly 0.1.

When the going gets tough, the Dragonborn carries a shop’s worth of liquid health and mana.

Potion of Ultimate Leveling

Already completed the game once and not looking forward to the long-winded grinding of leveling up again?

Potion of Ultimate Levelling allows you to immediately up all of your skills to level 85 the moment your character drinks it.

Sneak Tools

For a game that does have some sneaky tasks to complete, it’s strange that Skyrim’s more rogue-like options are so badly done.

Sneak Tools gives you better stealth options, allowing you to knock people out, kill people from behind, put out lights, and mask yourself to hide your identity.

Dragon Knowledge

Like all other creatures and people in Skyrim, dragons also have souls. But you can’t do anything with them without getting the Dragon Knowledge mod.

Dragon Knowledge messes around with the story of Skyrim a little and tells your player character that taking in the souls of dragons will give a Dragonborn new knowledge of the world. Skills. You’ll get more perks and skills if you absorb dragon souls while using this mod.

Craftable Clothing

Skyrim is a game that promotes armor wear. Your character will always be in armor; which is awkward if you’re someone who prefers wearing actual clothing and not large pieces of metal. There’s plenty of cool armor in Skyrim, even without the mods that give you more gear to wear in your game.

But when it comes to cloth, you’re stuck with what you find on the people you kill or steal from. Craftable Clothing gives you the option to create appropriate and stylish clothing that you can wear instead of constantly walking around in your armor. No one needs a trip to the market in full gear.

Fishing

Fishing is something that can be found in a huge number of MMOs and roleplaying games. Skyrim, for some bizarre reason, doesn’t have the option to let your player character fish. But with the fishing mod, you can grab your rod or your net, and start fishing in any river you want to.

But, if you didn’t want to waste a lazy afternoon riverside, you could just throw a grenade or something into the water and scoop up whatever you’ve managed to kill.

Monsters Reborn

Monsters Reborn gives you a whole range of new enemies and monsters to fight across the Skyrim world.

Dragons are included, of course, but the new variety can add a little spice to your game and give you the proper level of enemies to fight with the skills you have.

Better Combat AI

While a Better Combat AI can’t entirely stop the clunky movements of Skyrim’s combat system, it can help you make better decisions while you’re fighting and adjust a fight in your favor.

The Better Combat AI modification also changes how smart your enemies are, depending on the type of enemy you’re facing. Farmers aren’t going to be as strong or blood thirsty as bandits, for example.

Greylight Soul Summoning

Defeating your foes allows you to add their soul to a register that this modification provides. From there, you can call on that soul whenever you like, to aid you in combat.

There’s no conjuring magic here, just pure soul summoning that allows you to use your enemies to do your bidding after they’ve bit the dust.

Camping Kit

Fast-travel doesn’t exist in the real world, you can’t just suddenly pop-up in your new location without doing the work. If you want to add a bit more realism, the Camping Kit allows you to set up a full camp, complete with tent.

This kit includes a special campfire which gives off heat but no light; keeping you warm and safe while the bandits are none the wiser.

This mod should definitely be paired up with the amazing Dynamic Fires mod. If you want to light your fires and put them out in the same way you would in real life, Dynamic Fires can add that bit more realism to your Skyrim game. It’s a tiny modification, but for immersion and better gameplay, you can’t go wrong if you choose to download this one.

Duel Combat Realism

For a better and more logical combat system, download the Duel Combat Realism mod. Shields become more effective; completely negating an opponent’s attack, should you properly block with it. Your stamina bar also becomes more important; the more stamina your player character has, the better you’ll be in a fight.

This mod also puts a little bit of pressure on you to have good armor. The armor you’re wearing affects your defense, too. And the stealth system that this mod puts into place makes any of your hidden strikes much better.

Better Hunting

Better Hunting changes the value of animal parts that you can sell. The title of the mod is slightly misleading because the hunting system isn’t improved, but what comes after is.

You can get better rewards, but you can’t make hunting any easier.

Engineering

Engineering lets you to craft a range of Dwemer machines. All of those Dwarven Gears that are cluttering up your inventory will finally have a use.

This mod lets you use the forge to make blueprints for your new machines, as well as other cool things like dwarven spiders, spheres, and guardians.

Reverse Crafting

Melting old weapons and armor down to make something new isn’t an action that currently exists in Skyrim; even though it makes sense to do it. With the Reverse Crafting mod, you can do just that.

Melt down own gear to help create new items that are better, shinier, and stronger.

Glowing Ore Lines

There isn’t much to be said about this particular modification.

The Glowing Ore Lines mod causes any ore lines that are in nearby rocks to glow. This helps you find mining spots without running around for hours.

To Have and To Hold Marriage

We all know you can marry NPCs in Skyrim and have various types of relationships with them. The To Have and To Hold Marriage mod is something that was written to help you strengthen the bond between your player character and their spouse; but that’s not all it can do.

With this mod, you can divorce your spouse, marry more than one NPC, and even get your partner to dress up for you. There are also quests that can help make your relationship a more positive one; quests that you’ll need if your first spouse finds out about the other 10 you’ve married using this mod.

Apprenticeship

The Apprenticeship mod forces you to find trainers that can further your skills.

It’s a challenging way of progressing certain skills in the Skyrim world, but it does make everything just a touch more interesting than simply grinding to level up.

Companion Mods

Dwemer Dogs Companions

The Dwemer Dogs mod is a spell that your character can use to summon a robotic dog which stands directly by your side for an hour.

Unfortunately, they can’t do anything, but who doesn’t enjoy a good (useless, but good) companion to share the sunset with?

Multiple Followers

Skyrim will only let you have one companion following you around, but when has any PC gamer stuck to the rules?

Mod away with Multiple Followers and watch as you’re surrounded by your faithful and loyal companions; all of them just waiting to do your bidding for you.

Convenient Horses

If you’re sick of walking everywhere with your followers, then you definitely need this mod. Convenient Horses makes the horses of Skyrim a thousand times better; allowing you to have conversations while on your horse, and even loot without getting down.

There’s also more armor, more saddles, and the mechanics of riding are just better overall.

Monster Mounts

Horses are so basic, though. Why stick with a horse when you could mount up on a troll and go around destroying whatever takes your fancy? If not a troll, then there are over 80 other monstrous and unique mounts for you to travel by.

Puppies and kittens have been supersized, giant spiders are ready and waiting; what are you waiting for?

Tame the Beasts of Skyrim

This mod lets you to tame any of Skyrim’s wild beasts and take them with you as a companion. in the wild using a special shout. When you’ve tamed the animal you want, assign a role to them, look after them, and take them out on the road.

You can even spirit bond with your tamed animal; which allows you to directly control their actions.

Inigo

Want a blue Khajiit to follow you around commenting on everything and anything? A sarcastic follower to lighten the mood and make everything hilarious? Someone so in touch with the utter stupidity of the Skyrim world that you can’t help but identify with them?

Inigo is the right companion for you. He has his own quests and nothing better to do than follow you around. Download him into your game today!

Vilja in Skyrim

Vilja in Skyrim adds Vilja’s great-granddaughter to the game and gives her to the player as a companion NPC.

The young lady is an alchemist with her own quests that you can help her follow and complete. She isn’t technically a follower, so you can have her with you without her taking up a follower space.

Inigo and Vilja will even talk to each other when they’re together; so, if you’re going to get one of these mods, you may as well get both.

Changing the Villagers

Immersive Citizens

Finally, the NPCs that can’t fight will actually react properly when their area is being attacked. Villagers will run to safe locations, fighters will actually try and be helpful, and the judgement of a dying NPC is much less insane.

This mod also changes the schedules of the NPCs in the game, getting them to properly react to the weather and other changes in their environment.

Guard Dialogue Overhaul

The guards in Skyrim leave something to be desired. Basically, they’re all mean (to put it in a way that isn’t crass). This mod completely overhauls the dialogue of the guards, making it so they respect you more as you climb in rank and gain more respect.

No one talks down to a Dragonborn.

Interesting Npcs

This mod is exactly what you think it is. You suddenly have the power to make your companions more interesting and give them custom voices and their own quests.

Each of your companions can be completely unique, and you can even marry them if your heart so desires!

Diverse Guards

There are so many men in the Imperial army. No women that have any titles or rank are actually within the faction – it’s time for that to change.

With the Diverse Guards mod, your game with automatically edit the list of NPC models used for guards and soldiers. Meaning that you’ll have men and women of all races walking around.

Immersive Patrols

Immersive Patrols will add patrolling faction groups into your game. From Stormcloaks to Bandits, and Imperials to Dawnguards; these groups will follow certain paths which sometimes intersect. And when they do, they fight in huge battles, trying to kill each other off.

Survivors of the fights will try to take control of the nearest fort, and you can either watch it all happen or take part.

Amazing Follower Tweaks

The ultimate companion mod where you can have several people following you around, pick their gear for them, manage how they fight and where they live. It’s basically a human pack for you to look after. They’re even intelligent enough to side-step traps and ride horses.

Essentially, you’re playing as a whole D&D squad now, instead of adventuring by yourself.

Travelers of Skyrim

The occasional bandit may cross your path, but never for long. Otherwise, the roads are strangely empty; which doesn’t make much sense with how busy some of the towns and villages are. There are markets, surely someone is trading somewhere. But no, it’s silent. That needs to change.

Add the Travelers of Skyrim mod to your game and see a multitude of travelers suddenly pop-up on the paths between cities. Bandits will still come around from time to time, but you’ll also meet new merchants, mages, and mercenaries.

Greater Gear Mods

Bandolier Bags and Pouches

Inventory space, the bane of every gamer’s existence. This mod adds some handy bags and pouches to your character, which can be crafted from the tanning rack.

You’re definitely packing for an adventure with these; because you won’t need to leave anything at home!

Throwing Weapons

Really, what self-respecting adventurer like yourself can’t throw a weapon to kill someone? There’s a ton of ranged attacks in Skyrim, yet throwing weapons seem to be missing from your armory.

And so, this mod adds a collection of throwing weapons to your game; including the basic throwing knife, a sharp javelins, some small axes, and a few grenades. It’s a fantasy game that you’re modding, nothing is era-appropriate anymore.

Daedra Hunter Armor

Follow the journal of a Daedra Hunter through a few dungeons in order to discover a set of ornate armor for your player character to wear.

You’ll also gain a collection of swords! This quest can be started at the Buried Tower southwest of Riften. We’ve included it in this section because it is mainly about getting the gear than having the extra quest.

Staves of Skyrim

Staves of Skyrim is a mod which completely overhauls the staffs in your game.

The mod changes the way that staffs are configured in the Skyrim world, and also adds more staffs that are better looking and more detailed. Some can be used to block magic better, while others are suited towards attacking. Find the best staff for you!

Dragon Bone Weapons

Dragon Bone is one of the most time-consuming crafting items to work with. It takes so long to reach the appropriate crafting level and get the right requirements to craft such basic armor. So, let’s make it better.

With the Dragon Bone Weapons mod, you’ll be adding a huge range of Dragon Bone weapons to your game, which you can craft and use to fight other dragons.

Talos Armoury

Remember Talos? Well, you can have his armor if you want it. The Talos Armoury mod adds Talos’ armor to the game, butit can be crafted only at the Forge of Talos.

Once you have it, why not recruit the Avatar of Talos as an NPC companion? You’re sure to turn a few heads walking through the next village.

Royal Elven Armour

You’ve seen the amazing armor that the Elven Royal Guard wear.

Well, now you can wear it, too, Dragonborn. Craft this armor at your forge, and spend a few hours teasing every Royal Guard you find; because elves can be a bit stuck up, and you’re important, too.

Immersive Armors

A whopping 55 new sets of armor are adding into your Skyrim game with this mod. The Immersive Armor mod is perfect for players that love the feel of getting a new set of armor at various points in the game.

You can find your new armor the same way you find any other item; after killing bandits, opening a chest, or just buying them from a vendor NPC.

Immersive Weapons

No combat game ever has enough weapons, and it’s so difficult to find the one that you fall in love with. Luckily, Immersive Weapons adds over 200 new weapons to the Skyrim system, and you don’t have to craft them to find them.

If you’re downloading Immersive Armors, you may as well get this one, too.

Cloaks of Skyrim

Why aren’t there any good cloaks in Skyrim? A game in the fantasy genre should be awash with them! That’s why you need the Cloaks of Skyrim mod. It comes with 100 detailed cloaks, which can be worn by you, the player, or exist on NPCs in the game.

You can wear your cloak over any armor set, craft them yourself, or just have that one favorite cloak and leave the rest to be showcased by the non-playable characters.

Mystical Arts Mods

Invested Magic

Invested Magic improves Skyrim’s buff systems. Casting buffer spells with this mod only costs ten mana points, and those points are taken from your total mana pool for the duration of the spell and no longer!

That means that your buffs will last for a longer time, and it costs less mana for you to use them. It’s a much better way of using armor spells, at the very least.

Midas Magic Evolved

Midas Magic is for the Skyrim player who wants so many spells, that they don’t know what to do with them all (or what half of them do). 250 spells in total will be added to your game with Midas Magic, including beam-style spells to kick your magic use up a notch.

Great for the players who are more inclined to cast than to swing swords around.

Apocalypse Magic

Want 140 new spells? Of course you do! Apocalypse Magic focuses on all schools of magic outside of destroying things or conjuring them. It’s a great mod if you want to go down the route of Illusion magic, or if you’re interested in Alteration magic.

Destruction magic is such a huge part of the magic areas of Skyrim, and Apocalypse Magic aims to fix that and make other paths more viable.

Immersive College of Winterhold

The College of Winterhold like you’ve never seen it before! This mod expands the College so that it becomes a better educational facility. No longer is the College of Winterhold a boring, badly erected institution! Now, it’s full of experiments, and opportunities.

Go ahead and specialize in your chosen school of magic, or just get involved with the events at the school.

Mods for the Fighter

Way of the Monk

Skyrim doesn’t usually lend itself well to unarmed fighting, but the Way of the Monk gives you better options if you’re looking to do a bit of fisticuffs. The mod comes with plenty of new skills, a bunch of perks, and a pair of spiked gloves.

You can even enchant your fists to damage your opponent with different types of magic; definitely not something that’s included in the original game.

Wildcat and Smilodon

Wildcat and Smilodon are both combat mods. There are some differences between each version, because one was made for the Original Skyrim game, while the other is for the Special Edition.

However, both still improve the combat system, and the mods are designed to be customized.

Violens

VioLensis A Kill-move mod made just for your action scene pleasure. You can customize your kill-moves; letting you decide what move is triggered by what weapon, and how often the kill-move appears. Great for a bit of extra flair, especially for the video-makers among you with growing YouTube channels.

Alternatively, try the Dance of Death modification. A new collection of final moves is added into your game, making combat just a touch more satisfying and utterly brutal. As you grow in skill, some moves may become excessive; but that’s the fun of it!

Unnecessary but Great Mods

Bear Musician

You’re an adventurer, right? Every great adventure is immortalized in song.

Why settle for a standard bard when you can have an actual bear following you around singing about your victories? The NPCs won’t soon forget you or your lute-playing bear.

Storm Troopers and Jedi

You might actually be a little taller in this Storm Trooper armor! Definitely not too short at all. This isn’t just Skyrim armor painted in black and white, this is full Storm Trooper armor.

But if being a Storm Trooper isn’t your game, then try this on for size: It’s time to bringlightsabersto your game and become a Jedi of Skyrim.

It would eventually get a little boring if you were only running around with a lightsaber, though, so you can also enjoy popular Force abilities like Mind Trickand the Lightning power; why be a Jedi, when you can be a Sith.

Iron Man Armor

You are playing Skyrim, not Avengers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t walk around in Tony Stark’s beloved hotrod red armor.

This Iron Man armor mod contains the classic Mark VI, and also brings along the faithful Pepper Potts as a companion.

Squeaky Toys

Squeaky Toys brings some childlike joy to Skyrim with massive inflatable weapons for you to beat people with.

Complete with a perfectly timed squeak on impact. What’s not to love?

Call of Trainwiz

Airstrikes. Can we say anything more? Essentially, this mod uses your Dragon call to bring down a rain of highly explosive projectiles.

For those tricky quests with too many enemies to fight, or the next time you happen to be facing off with a dragon.

The Minecraft Mod

Minecraft is one of the most popular games at the moment, so it’d be strange if there wasn’t a mod to add it to Skyrim.

You’ll get plenty of classic Minecraft swords, such as the Diamond Sword and Pickaxe. And there’ll be plenty of Diamond Ingots for you to use to forge the weapons at the smithy station.

Pokémon in Skyrim

Not quite the original Pocket Monster game as you know it, this mod adds Pokémon mechanics with a twist to your game.

Become a Skyrim Pokémon Master by killing each animal to add it your Pokédex. You can use your in-game book of Pokémonto then summon these animals.

Explosive Chickens

Bored? Looking to have an hour or two of fun at the expense of the chickens running around Skyrim clucking away?

The explosive chickens mod allows you to fire at them with any projectile for a quick burst of exploding poultry. See how many creative ways you can blow up these feathered menaces.

Installing Your Skyrim Mods

Now that you have the mods that you want to install into your game, it’s time to get them up and running. Vortex has largely replaced the old Nexus Mod Manager, and can be downloaded from the original Nexus Mods website.

You’ll also need the Skyrim Script Extender we mentioned in the “Essential mods for your game” section, to help the more complex mods run in your Skyrim world. LOOT is also a great tool for customizing your mod load order, and it will detect any problems and try to repair them before launching your game.

Many other mods can be found in the Steam Workshop, too.

Remember to read any and all pages for your mods and the Vortex before you start changing your game.

You might also be interested in:

• Risk of Rain 2 Mods
• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Mods
• Starsector Mods
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Mods