Best Skyrim mods

Skyrim is a timeless game. Originally released in 2011, Bethesda Game Studios’ RPG is considered by many to be one of the best video games of all time. On the other hand, we are talking about a boundless title, able to guarantee experiences that remain well etched in the minds of the players. I’m not here to sing the praises of Skyrim though, as you certainly already know everything about the game, but my goal today is to help you find those community-created experiences that can keep you entertained.

Yes, in this guide we will dive into that undergrowth of mods created by fans, going to analyze the best mods for Skyrim . A place where you can find both particularly good content and some of the worst creations the gaming industry has ever seen. Don’t worry though: my goal is just to make a selection, so you don’t run into bad mods. In case you were wondering, I will not fail to describe in detail how to take advantage of this possibility and to explain how to install the content created by the community.

Having said that, it’s time to roll up your sleeves: you just need to get comfortable and follow the quick instructions below. You will see that we will have fun: the tutorial is not that difficult to complete and the mods considered are able to add several hours to the basic experience of the game. That said, there is nothing left for me to do, except wish you good reading and have fun!

Index

• Preliminary information
• How to install mods on Skyrim
• Best Skyrim PC mods
  • SkyUI
  • More dragons!
  • Cats House
  • Other interesting mods for Skyrim PC
• Best Skyrim PS4 mods

Preliminary information

Before proceeding and analyzing the best mods for Skyrim , I think it may be interesting to give you a general smattering of the subject.

Well, mods are modified content that add possibilities to the base game. These packages are usually made by the community : we can therefore define them as “amateur”, even if they should not be underestimated.

It is well known, in fact, that passion is able to let our imagination fly and lead us to carry out unthinkable projects. Over the years, in fact, Skyrim mods have given life to formidable adventures, able to keep players glued to the screen and rival the original content.

It is therefore no coincidence that Bethesda Game Studios, the company that developed the title, has implemented official support for user-created mods , which can be downloaded and installed directly through features introduced by the developers.

In short, the mods of Skyrim are well seen even by the developers and it is therefore good to get to know them, since they can dramatically expand the longevity of the game and make you have a lot of fun. Of course, of course you have to take into account that the experience offered by mods is unpredictable, since they are created by the community.

Just another clarification before starting: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a timeless title and this has led to the release of several re-editions . Generally speaking, there are two versions that circulate among enthusiasts: the “standard” one, released in 2011 and which made mods popular on PC, and the Special Edition (SE) of 2016 , which had the task of bringing these contents made by users even on consoles. Take this into account before looking for mods.

How to install mods on Skyrim

After explaining what mods are and what the main versions of Skyrim are out there, I’d say you’re ready to learn how to install this community-made content.

Well, as previously mentioned, Bethesda allows players to install mods directly through native features. If you have the original version of Skyrim for PC, the one released in 2011 , you can download and install the mods directly from the Steam Workshop .

To proceed, simply open the Steam client , go to the LIBRARY tab and select The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim . Then, press the Workshop item and consult the various mods available, taking a look at the Most popular , Most subscribed and Most recent tabs or using the search function . On the right are also available the various categories of mod.

Once you have found the content you want to install, just click on its box and press the Subscribe button . This will start the download and installation of the mod. If you don’t own all of the game’s DLCs, look out for the “ You must have downloadable content to download this content “. In fact, some mods are meant to be used exclusively with Skyrim DLCs installed.

To activate the mods, once the download is complete, start Skyrim and, while you are in the launcher , you should notice that at the bottom right there are writings related to the installation of the various customized contents.

For the rest, just press on DATA FILE , check the box relating to the mod you want to activate and press OK . Also pay attention to the order in which the contents are loaded, as some mods may “overlap” with others and therefore the game may decide to load only the first content of that type in the list. Perfect, now you just have to start a game and you can take advantage of the mods you have installed.

If, on the other hand, you have the Skyrim Special Edition , the one released in 2016, you can install the mods directly from within the game. In fact, you just need to start Skyrim and press the Mod button in the main menu.

Then, if you have not already done so, you will have to log in with your Bethesda account and choose the mods you want to install: you just need to click on Download , to start the download. Once the installation is complete, you can click on the Load order item , present in the Mod menu , to prioritize one content over another and fix possible conflicts.

Great, now just start a game and that’s it. For more information on mods related to the Skyrim Special Edition, I invite you to take a look at the official Bethesda guidelines .

It must be said that, in addition to the aforementioned official methods, there are also third-party portals on PC , such as Nexus Mods , which allow you to install customized content without going through the Steam workshop or the “store” inside the game. These third-party “tools” are used by to install mods that are usually not found on official channels, but in this case the procedure to follow to install the contents is not immediate.

In general, if you have no particular claims, I advise you to rely only on the official methods , since there are still myriads of mods available. In any case, if you are still interested and want to deepen the subject, I suggest you start from the Nexus Mods guidelines (in English). However, in this guide I will only refer to mods that can be downloaded via the Steam Workshop or the in-game “shop”.

Best Skyrim PC mods

Now that you know the procedure for downloading and installing mods, it’s time to discover the Skyrim mods that, in my humble opinion, you should try. In this chapter I will focus on those available in the Steam Workshop for the “standard” version of the game. If you play Skyrim Special Edition on PC, I recommend that you consult the appropriate chapter of the guide instead .

SkyUI

SkyUI is one of the most popular mods ever for Skyrim. In fact, we are talking about a content that reviews the main menus of the game, from the inventory to the options related to spells.

In fact, one of the most criticized aspects by fans of the game is the original interface made by Bethesda which, according to many, is not exactly the most comfortable to use. The gameplay is considered a bit “rigid” and, at times, implementing some options may not be immediate.

Using this mod, however, some enthusiasts believe it is possible to have a more “fluid” experience and a more elegant graphic interface . There is no lack of support for the Italian language , so you should definitely check out SkyUI.

To use this mod, you must also install the Skyrim Script Extender tool , downloadable directly from Steam (not from the Workshop, just from the store, since it is a program ). Both mods require no DLC and are downloadable from the Steam Workshop .

More dragons!

Let’s not ignore it: many users have been convinced to buy Skyrim just for the presence of dragons. There’s nothing wrong with that, we know all about how fun these fire-breathing beings are to face and admire in play.

Well, the More dragons mod does nothing but satisfy your desire to meet as many dragons as possible during the adventure by increasing the spawn rate (i.e. the frequency with which these beings appear in the game).

The number of dragons is not increased by that much, but by just enough to make encounters with these creatures more frequent . However, in some cases it may happen that multiple dragons meet in a few minutes. It will be up to you to decide whether this balance suits you.

We are talking about a light mod that usually does not conflict with other custom content. It does not require any type of DLC and is downloadable from the Steam Workshop .

Cats House

If you love felines, you can’t not try the Cats House mod . In fact, this personalized content adds a house inhabited by cats.

Once the mod is installed, all you need to do is head east to Riften (south of the Black-Briar Lodge houses). Here you will find a house where you can talk to different cats and use them as a companion (thus letting you follow you and so on).

In addition, it is possible to summon felines as mounts (rideable). Just use the books and spells you find inside the house. In short, we are talking about an interesting content for all those who love cats. Incidentally, the mod does not require any DLC and is downloadable from the Steam Workshop .

Pure Waters

It is known that PC gamers are demanding in terms of graphics and that they look carefully at individual aspects. It is therefore no coincidence that the community has created the Pure Waters mod , capable of making  Skyrim’s waterways much more “realistic”.

Contrary to what one might think, this mod does not even affect too much in terms of fluidity, since no particular resources are requested from the PC. In short, Pure Waters is certainly an interesting content if you want to improve the visual rendering of the game . As you may have already guessed, the mod does not require any type of DLC and is downloadable from the Steam Workshop .

Quest: Sea of ​​Ghosts

How do you say? Are you looking for a mod that can make you go on an adventure within the world of Skyrim? Well, then you can’t not try Quest: Sea of ​​Ghosts .

This mod, set in the waters north of the shores of Tamriel , takes the player to experience an adventure in the thick fog that is often there. The story can be activated by chartering the Winter’s Warmth ship for 5000 septim . The latter can be found in Solitude and you need to talk to Roggnar .

From there on you will leave for various islands , but I don’t want to give you too many spoilers. In any case, the mod does not require any DLC and is downloadable from the Steam Workshop .

Other interesting mods for Skyrim PC

Clearly, there are countless other interesting mods besides the ones I’ve shown you. Below is the list of community-made content that I think you should try.

• Towns and Villages Enhanced Mod Series:The community of players has made several mods cataloged under this name. This is content that improves the various villages and cities in the game, from Riften to Riverwood ;
• Deathknight Weaponry : A set of Death Knight‘s weapons and armor . It is a content that is particularly appreciated by Skyrim fans and according to many it is well balanced. Requires Dawnguard and Dragonborn DLCs;
• Here There Be Monsters – Trollhunter: if you love challenges, this mod will take you to search and defeat 5 huge trollsscattered around the game world. You must have the Dawnguard and Dragonborn DLCs to use this content;
• Whistle : a very simple mod but it can save you a lot of time. Introduces the ability to whistle to summon the last horse ridden. The key used by default is Z.

For more mods and the latest releases, I recommend checking out the Skyrim Workshop on Steam .

Best Skyrim PS4 mods

How do you say? Do you have the Special Edition of Skyrim and would like to have information on the customized content available? No problem, I will immediately provide you with all the necessary information.

Well, this edition of Bethesda’s title has become popular for bringing mods to consoles, as well as for various graphical improvements. However, in reality the content that I will present to you is available for all platforms and you can therefore use it even if you have the Special Edition of Skyrim on PC.

Below are my recommendations on what I believe to be the best mods for Skyrim SE .

• Driftweald (PS4 mod): Adds an interesting cottage to explore in Haafingar, near Solitude. An interesting location with a somewhat gloomy atmosphere. Definitely worth exploring;
• Cathedral Weathers (mod for Xbox One): improves the visual renderingof weather conditions and lighting in general. It is capable of creating breathtaking views;
• Ancient Refuge Snow Elf House (mod for PC and Xbox One): adds an “elven” locationto the game to be explored. A valley in which it is worth taking a tour;
• Moon and Star (mod for PC and Xbox One): introduces 1 main and 4 side missions. There is also a village, weapons and 9 NPCs;
• Volforge (mod for PC, PS4 and Xbox One): Adds a huge building to visitsoutheast of Markarth. A place to be explored.

Those mentioned are just some of the more interesting mods available for Skyrim Special Edition. You can find all custom content for this edition on the Bethesda Official Site .