The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is a modern gaming classic that set a new standard for RPGs when it launched over a decade ago. In the intervening years, every square inch of Tamriel’s northernmost nation has been explored, every line of dialogue heard, and every random encounter experienced.
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With so many gamers having spent so much time in the world of Nirn, a modding scene unprecedented in its scale has grown around it, and Bethesda’s game has become a self-sustaining machine with a dedicated community working tirelessly to change and improve it. Bethesda then brought this community to consoles in 2016, giving you a chance to experience fan made content usually limited to PC gaming.
10 Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch
Before you decide to become a Jedi or Thor, God of Thunder, you’ll want to begin with the Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch. This sizable mod provides extensive bugfixes to the loveable mess that Bethesda seems unable or unwilling to entirely fix.
It might not be the most glamourous mod in the world, but you won’t regret installing it when your game runs uncharacteristically smoothly, with nary a quest unplayable. The highest endorsem*nt this patch can be given is that you will almost definitely forget that you ever installed it, whilst it works silently and vigilantly behind the scenes to streamline your experience.
9 Alternate Start – Live Another Life
Skyrim’s intro sequence is timeless, but on your 18th replay it may grow a little tedious. If you can recite every line from the execution from memory, then it may be time to install Alternate Start – Live Another Life. This mod provides a way to begin your game in a variety of ways, from being a warlock's thrall to a soldier in the Imperial Legion.
As these changes dynamically impact how you begin the game, they’ll also help to immerse you in the world. Alongside the ability to start your game far quicker, Alternate Start also provides you an opportunity to play Skyrim whilst postponing or even ignoring your destiny as the legendary Dragonborn.
8 Ordinator – Perks of Skyrim
There’s nothing wrong with Skyrim’s skill tree, per se, but after installing Ordinator – Perks of Skyrim, you’ll never want to go back to the limitations of the vanilla game. With over 400 new perks added, every skill tree in the game receives a significant expansion, adding an enormous amount of depth to your gameplay experience.
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The mod makes Skyrim feel like a true RPG, and gives Skyrim that tabletop feeling of absolute freedom to play however you like, without worrying about being underpowered. Want to play as a mage? Ordinator makes each school of magic viable in its own right, with Restoration especially receiving considerable upgrades as compared to vanilla.
7 Apocalypse – Magic Of Skyrim
For further depth, there’s Apocalypse – Magic of Skyrim, an enormous overhaul that adds 155 new spells total, many of which include high-quality custom animations. From the same creator as Ordinator, the two are entirely compatible with one another, and with most other mods.
The added spells include convenient movement spells such as Longstride, passive spells that automatically activate beneficial spells when entering combat, and shotgun-style destruction spells which prove deadly at close range. With all of this and much more, Apocalypse is a significant overhaul to an underdeveloped aspect of the base game which will have you feeling like a real wizard in no time.
6 Imperious – Races Of Skyrim
Another immersion-focused mod, Imperious – Races of Skyrim is an overhaul that aims to make the experience of each race in Skyrim more unique. Each race receives more extensive bonuses, including three passive abilities each and new powers unlocked through quests. These apply to both you and NPCs in the world, making the changes feel integrated and natural.
For example, as a high elf, you’ll be physically weaker than many other races, and may be prone to physical damage, but increased magicka and stamina regeneration when low on health will counteract your negative traits. Imperious creates a balanced experience where your origin feels significant beyond just your appearance.
5 Immersive Citizens – AI Overhaul
Immersive Citizens – AI Overhaul is a mod which massively improves NPC AI to further your experience. Questioning if Skyrim’s cart drivers are even able to stand? Wonder no more as you watch these previously static citizens move through full day/night cycles without inconveniencing you by being difficult to locate.
With Immersive Citizens installed, you’ll no longer feel like the only person in Tamriel who has anything going on, as the citizens of Skyrim go about their days in greatly increased detail. The mod's changes feel natural, so for role-playing value alone Immersive Citizens is a fine addition to any new modder's library. No promises that Nazeem is any less annoying, though!
4 Open Cities Skyrim
Loading screens are becoming a relic of a bygone era in gaming, and Bethesda have historically been chief amongst the offenders. In Skyrim the larger hold cities are the main offenders, with loading screens required to enter the main gates. The result is that these cities which should be hubs of trade feel smaller and more insular.Related: The Elder Scrolls Skyrim: Best House Mods
Open Cities Skyrim solves all these problems by allowing seamless travel between Whiterun and the plains that surround it, or Riften and the autumnal landscape of the reach. What seems initially like a small change makes a big difference in immersion, and you’ll be amazed you ever bothered with those lengthy load times.
3 Old Kingdom – Armor Overhaul
Much like the skill tree, there’s nothing necessarily wrong with Skyrim’s armour designs. But, if you’d like to give your game a bit of a facelift, Old Kingdom provides over 1300 new textures and meshes to the game, with almost every piece across the base game and DLC covered.
In addition to the general improvements, unique armour sets that previously had standard models are updated to have unique appearances that befit their individuality. All of this comes together to deliver an experience that elevates your game a little further and makes previously stale designs exciting.
2 Old Kingdom – Weapon Overhaul
A companion to the armour overhaul, Old Kingdom – Weapon Overhaul does exactly what the previous mod did, this time for the weapons of Skyrim. With meshes and textures from over 50 mod authors, this overhaul drives home the size and organisation of the mod development community that has built around the game.
Covering every weapon across both DLCs as well as the base game, Old Kingdom contains new models for over 60 unique weapons, alongside corresponding lore. Some changes are more subtle than others, but the combined effect of every author’s work on this mod makes it a must-have which justifies its large file size.
1 Convenient Horses
Skyrim’s horses are little more than a means to an end, and unless you’re playing on survival, you’ll likely hardly use them. With Convenient Horses installed, however, you’ll be able to level your horse dynamically, and choose skill improvements to strength, speed and endurance to match your play style.
The additional ability to whistle for your horse or summon them by blowing a horn brings an end to trekking across Skyrim’s countryside, attempting to locate where your horse fled whilst you fought a mudcrab. Options for changing behaviour in and out of battle are also included, so you can turn your lowly steed into a fearsome armoured stallion.
Next: Skyrim: Best Horse Mods
