Despite being released nearly eight years ago at the time of writing this article, Skyrim has become a mod platform in a way that its predecessors Oblivion and Morrowind had never dreamed. With tens of thousands of mods available in the Steam Workshop and Skyrim Nexus, it can be a daunting task to find those that offer the best value.

Before we delve too quickly into the mods themselves, this article will break them down into several sub-categories. There are simply too many mods, offering a vast array of improvements or changes, to just throw them into a list without context. The categories of best Skyrim mods we will be focusing on will be:

• Complete Overhaul Mods
• Visual Mods
  • Lighting
  • Weather/Environment
• Audio Mods
• Gameplay Mods
• Additional Content Mods

As a side note, this article will not be focusing on Adult Content mods. While some complete overhaul mods may offer nudity settings, the focus of this article is not to provide a list of mods focused on nudity or sexual activity. So if that is what you are hoping to find here you will most likely be disappointed. It will also not be focused on “rapid levelling mods”, “item spawning mods”, or “teleportation mods”. These are things you can do with the console if you want and really don’t need to be mentioned in a list of mods to improve the game.

How To Install The Best Skyrim Mods

There are two versions of Skyrim that exist today, The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim Special Edition. For the purposes of this article, we will be focusing solely on the non-Special Edition as it has easier access to mods and is, in my opinion, the superior edition of the game.

There are two types of mods that will be on this list, those that are on the steam workshop, and those that are on Skyrim Nexus. Here are a few guidlines that will teach you how to install Skyrim Mods.

Installing Steam Workshop Mods

Steam mods are by far the easiest to download and install. Simply subscribe to the mod in question and wait for it to be installed. Nothing could be easier.

Installing Nexus Mods

This is slightly more intensive, but not by much. Simply create a Nexus account, which, if you have created a website account at any point in your life should be a breeze.

Download the mods in question, usually they will come in a .zip or .rar or .7zip file.

Simply extract them into a temporary folder and then copy the files into your skyrim Data folder (I should note that some mods are a little more intensive than this and so you should read the installation notes on the mod description page).

The other, and easier way, is to simply download the mod from Nexus, using the Nexus Mod Manager, which I will go over next.

Nexus Mod Manager – Download Link

Nexus Mod Manager does not seem like the most intuitive piece of software when you first install it, but it will aid you in your modding experience immensely. In fact I would consider it to be almost vital if you plan on downloading a lot of mods from Nexus, which a significant portion of these mods will be from.

Activating Mods

Okay so you have your mods in your data folder or you have subscribed to them on Steam (which puts them in your data folder) and you are ready to go. You click on the Mod menu in your launcher and there is a giant list of mods.

How can you possibly figure out which order they should load in? Well it is time to break out a handy program called LOOT. This program will organize your mods and to some extent detect incompatible mods to make your modding process a little easier (please get this it will save you so much time and frustration believe me.)

Skyrim Script Extender (SKEE)*** Mandatory ***

That’s right… a double-triple asterix. This program is so vital to modding that it is mandatory. No really, I mean that. Most of these mods will crash horribly if you do not have this script extender installed.

Get this program first. It is 100% crucial to any modding you plan on doing.

Disclaimer

Not all of these mods will play nice together. Modding Skyrim can be a labor of love and you should read about incompatibilities on each mod’s page prior to installing them. There is an almost 0% chance you will be able to install and run all of these mods in tandem.

In addition, heavily modding your game can, in a large amount of cases, cause game instability, FPS drops, or loss of save files on occasion. Just keep that in mind. Save often. Save in different spots and enjoy the magic of Skyrim.

This article also does not cover special edition mods. In nearly all cases I have found that the Legendary Edition is superior to the Special Edition. There are simply more mods compatible with Legendary Edition.

So, with that out of the way, here’s a list of the best Skyrim mods.

These will either expand the gameplay far beyond what was intended from the base game, or could be classed as a new game themselves set in the Skyrim game engine.

This mod fixes a ton of the problems that plague the vanilla game including, but not limited to, NPCs, Quests, Object Placements, Text problems, etc. If you were to pick one utterly essential mod in this list to install, this is that one. It’s one of the best mods for Skyrim to pick up if you don’t want to invest too much effort into modding.

Falskaar is somewhat similar to the Dragonborn DLC in that it adds a new land to explore outside of the game map. You will need to initially access the land of Falskaar through a dungeon the first time, but afterwards there will be a boat that will take you to the island, not unlike the Dragonborn DLC.

This Mod offers around 30 hours of gameplay and includes new voice acting, new music, new items, and its own storyline and quest tree. If you have reached the end of your Skyrim adventure and do not want your journey on Tamriel to end, I cannot recommend this mod more.

Vigilant is a little bit less intensive than the mods noted above, but is still very impressive in its own right. It adds a four-chapter story that focuses on the Vigilants of Stendarr, which are a faction dedicated to combating Daedric incursions, as well as other “evil” denizens of the world.

It should be noted that Vigilant also has a dramatic power spike of enemies when compared with the base game, so you may want to hone your fighting skills before delving in. It should also be noted that Vigilant really embraces a horror aesthetic so expect a scary and tense environment.

One of the few mods that has its own web page dedicated to it. Ultimate Skyrim adds so much to the game that it can only be considered a total overhaul or conversion mod.

This amalgamation of over a dozen other mods improves roleplaying by adding survival mechanics, and also changes everything from the combat mechanics, to character progression, to factions, and even the game economy.

It really adds a lot to the game, though it is not for the weak of heart. Some of these new mechanics make the game more complicated and intensive to play.

This is perhaps one of the most beautiful overhaul/expansion mods that I have ever experienced. Everything about this is picturesque and feels truly fantastical.

It falls more into the investigative/puzzle side of quest lines but there are some fights so don’t skimp on leg day. I could not recommend this mod more to those of you who enjoy working out your brain and your brawn, and who want to have an ethereal journey with their Skyrim character.

In other words, there will be no Thomas the Tank Engine or Randy Savage dragons. You have been warned.

In addition, some of the mods on this list are those many deem vital as they often serve as the backbone of other visual mods, so if you see an * beside the title of a mod, it is one of these super important ones that you should absolutely get.

Textures

Let’s face it. Skyrim is getting a little long in the tooth. When it was released back in 2011 most people considered 1080p to be cutting edge and 1440p would not become viable on most systems for another few years.

Nowadays, however, we have systems that can run 2k or 4k resolutions and so Skyrim has to adjust to this new era. To this end, Skyrim HD will retexture many game assets to allow you to view them at 2k resolution.

It should be noted that there is a 4k texture pack on nexus as well, but I have not had a chance to play around with it as I do not have a 4k monitor. Nevertheless, if you want to wipe some of the dust off of the game’s old engine, this is one of the best graphics mods for Skyrim out there.

The blood effects in Skyrim were never awe-inspiring, even when it was first released. With this mod you will know for certain your blow connected as blood will copiously flow from your enemies as you eviscerate them.

In addition, this mod adds green blood for spiders and oil blood for machines. Oh! It also adds death spasms which is neat.

To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure if this belonged in gameplay mods or graphics mods, but I think it fits better here. It is an updated, detailed and much more aesthetically pleasing map than the base game’s rather drab overview.

While this mod is not vital by any means, it is a nice quality of life improvement that I could not support more. Get this mod if you want a quality world map.

Okay, so you may notice there are two links above. The first is simply for Lanterns of Skyrim, which adds lanterns along the roads and in some villages, towns, and cities.

It is a very nice quality of life improvement for those who like to explore at night and can work especially well with the “Realistic Nights” mod which plunges you into an inky black during the darkest hours of the night.

I have included the Towns and Villages Enhanced Patch that allows this mod to work with that mod because I think Towns and Villages Enhanced is vital and these two work well together. If you do not have Towns and Villages Enhanced you do not need the second link.

Ultimate HD Fire Effects, Image Source: Steam Workshop

We have covered a lot of texture changes in this article, but one we have not yet touched on is fire itself. The fire effects in vanilla Skyrim were a little lackluster, let’s be honest.

Ultimate HD Fire Effects ramps up the detail of fire in a truly stunning away. This mod is especially great if you plan to play a magic-wielding character, but is also good for anyone who glances at torches from time to time. This is one of the best Skyrim mods that you can get, so I highly recommend it.

RealVision ENB, is a truly breathtaking graphical overhaul primarily focused around lighting, colors, depth of field, water effects, and anti-aliasing.

It is an extremely system intensive mod, and despite its creator doing what he can to minimize performance loss, you should expect to take a hit to your FPS if you are not running a pretty powerful gaming PC.

This is a mod I have mixed feelings about. On the one hand, it is very cool and makes night time in Skyrim legitimately scary at times. On the other hand, it is really really hard to maneuver around at night and can get a little annoying due to the scarce light sources.

I should note that this mod will take some configuring to ensure it works with weather mods, and there is a whole section in the mod description dedicated to explaining how to implement it properly. If you are looking for spooky scary nights, look no further.

Unlike most mods, which require very little file editing knowledge, this one requires a few slight changes to your skyrim.ini file. Luckily, the author explains how to do that on the mod page so just follow those simple instructions. Skyrim, as you may know, is a land of rolling hills, towering mountains, and dense forests.

This mod simply makes the plant life more varied, more detailed, and more numerous. The changes are rather dramatic and it can cause a bit of an FPS drop if your computer hasn’t hit the gym in a few months.

First of all, I should note that this mod is actually six different mods that work in concert to create a truly great experience. So don’t freak out when you see six links in the table above.

Okay, with that out of the way, this is a mod that I truly think everyone should pick up. I used it during my Skyrim playthrough on YouTube and found that it made the towns and villages around Skyrim much more enjoyable to travel in.

What this mod does is add a ton of foliage, light sources, containers, seating, animals, etc. to the major cities and towns and villages through Skyrim to make them feel more organic and alive. Let’s face it, the settlements in the base game were bleak and depressing affairs.

Oh also… this mod is pretty computer-intensive, so just be aware of that.

Total Character Makeover, Image Source: Nexus Mods

This mod almost makes the characters of Skyrim too pretty. It does add a much needed graphical upgrade to the face texturing of nearly every NPC and of course your PC, but at times it can come off as a little bit too clean and pretty for the rugged landscape of Skyrim.

That said, it is a vast improvement to the cold dead lifeless eyes staring out at you past dirty, low-res skin.

Okay so, with that taken care of. The three mods change the ambient sounds of the Wilds, the Dungeons, and of Civilization.

While you technically can install only one of the three and leave the other two uninstalled, I would not recommend it. The improvements to your auditory atmosphere can bring you further into the living breathing world surrounding your character.

These are mods that change the gameplay of Skyrim in one way or another. These are some of the best Skyrim mods that avid modders usually seek, so if you’re fine with the original graphics and textures, give these ones a shot.

So I think we can all agree that aside from the quest NPCs, the generic inhabitants of Skyrim are a little bit bland and samey. This mod is one part graphical update and one part audio update.

It adds over 200 new interesting NPCs into the game with new voice lines and new voice actors, bringing new life into the dreary, if uncomfortably dangerous, life of the Skyrim resident.

Well if you haven’t, worry no more. This mod will send NPC’s running for safety in houses or inns the moment vampires or dragons land in their towns or cities.

A much more realistic response than trying futilely to poke a dragon with an iron dagger. This mod does not affect soldiers or guards, because they are made of sterner stuff.

This mod allows you to wear lanterns on your belt.

Wait, wait, don’t go. Think about this carefully. If you take a gander up towards the visual mods section of this list you might notice a mod that would work amazingly in concert with this one. YES!

Wearable Lanterns allows you to have the scary and inky Realistic Nights mod and also still be able to see where you are going. In truth Wearable Lanterns on its own is a nice quality of life improvement, but with Realistic Nights it really hits its stride.

This mod, quite simply, allows you to spend Dragon Souls on Perk Points. Simply travel to your nearby Dragon Stone (which are at the Guardian Stones) and spend your hard-won dragon souls on some delicious perks. Also, don’t forget to save a few for Dragon Shouts… just saying.

Ordinator is a mod that changes literally every perk tree in the game. It is so in-depth that pretty much none of the trees are recognizable afterward.

It may take some getting used to but one you have taken a quick glance at each tree you will see that the new trees are so much more unique and iconic. A strong addition if you are tired of the vanilla game’s perk trees.

A truly vital mod for anyone trying to complete the stones of Barenziah quest. There are so many of these damn things hidden in the world that missing them is almost guaranteed.

Simply get this mod and you will be able to see their markers spread throughout the land, just like any other quest. Get this mod and save yourself a headache.

It also changes the fighting strategies of human NPC enemies like bandits and Forsworn. It definitely improves the general feel and flow of combat.

This mod allows you to destroy unused items and break them down into their component pieces for re-use in other projects. With how much of a pain it is to gather resources in Skyrim sometimes, this mod also helps to level that pesky crafting skill.

These are mods that change the gameplay of Skyrim in one way or another. These are some of the best Skyrim mods that avid modders usually seek, so if you’re fine with the original graphics and textures, give these ones a shot.

While Vanilla Skyrim had a fairly diverse group of monsters, there are only so many Draugr, Wolves, and Dragons you can kill before you start to long for something more. Immersive Creatures adds dozens of new creatures to the game, giving you a much greater array of baddies to hack or blast apart.

There are two types of people in the world, those who believe that cloaks are a vital aspect of a thriving fantasy RPG world, and those who are wrong.

Cloaks add a sense of epicness and authority to even lowly guards, and you would be remiss in not adding them to your Skyrim experience. I could not recommend this mod more.

While not the most widely downloaded of mods, Monsters reborn offers a slew of new enemies for you to battle throughout Skyrim.

Some of the new monsters are truly brutal as well like the Sovngarde Dragon. I would recommend this mod to anyone who is a little bit bored with the standard Skyrim fare.

This relatively popular player housing mod adds a new home for you to obtain on a mountain between Whiterun and Windhelm. It is quite large and has secret rooms and treasures to seek out.

It is also one of the largest player housing mods with tons of storage area, a lot of mannequins, weapon plaques and racks, and a bunch of bookshelves. This is the perfect mod for those hoarders out there.

It has been a long time since I have played Resident Evil (aside from the L4D2 custom map version), but even I instantly recognized this iconic mansion. Have you ever wanted to have that creepy, eerie mansion for yourself?

Well, here is your chance. Simply complete the questline associated with it and it will serve as a lovely new addition to your growing real-estate portfolio.

This wraps up our list of the best Skyrim Mods. What are your favorite mods? What would YOU include into the list? Tell us in the comments below!

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