30 Best Mods for TES V: Skyrim

Have you already bought Skyrim? If not, it’s time to fix that, or Todd Howard will be deeply disappointed. Honestly, this game should come bundled with mods, because very few people play it without them. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of the 30 best mods for The Elder Scrolls V that will not only enhance but transform the title.

SkyUI

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Kicking off our list is arguably the most famous mod. As the name suggests, it changes the interface. The utility is available for both the base game and the Special Edition. Keep in mind that it only works on PC.

SkyUI completely overhauls the interface and adds numerous features that players can use while navigating all in-game menus. It’s both useful and interesting. If you're just starting to play Skyrim, like me, this mod is a must-have.

Skyrim 202X

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Another incredibly popular mod designed for the Special Edition. What’s an RPG playthrough without awesome textures? I can't imagine it either, so I recommend downloading Skyrim 202X.

This utility adds high-resolution textures to various objects in the game, including full-scale cities, dungeons, weapons, armor, and much more. If you've ever played the vanilla version, you might not even recognize the title after this upgrade.

Unofficial Patch

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Bugs that make you want to delete the game are the worst. Unfortunately, Skyrim isn’t free from such issues, but modders (yes, modders—not the developers) are working hard to fix them with useful improvements like the Unofficial Patch. As you’ve probably guessed, this utility is meant to fix a range of bugs present in the title.

A Quality World Map and Solstheim Map

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The default map is functional but boring. This Skyrim mod offers several ways to fix that. You can replace it with a much more detailed world map texture, with colors that help define individual regions more clearly. There’s also the option to use a paper map with a classic skin.

Caliente's Beautiful Bodies Enhancer

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Next up is a Skyrim nude mod that changes the appearance of female bodies in the game, making them more realistic and attractive. The characters can appear in lingerie or completely nude.

Fun fact: all models are based on real women and look significantly better than the vanilla NPCs. If you want to enhance the game's visuals, making virtual characters more appealing is definitely a step toward a stunning overall look.

RaceMenu

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Since we’ve mentioned character appearance, it's worth focusing on your own hero. Let’s admit it: Skyrim’s character creator isn’t anything special, but RaceMenu fixes that.

Players gain access to several new customization options to help create their character. You can fine-tune features, add body paint, rework facial features, and generally create more attractive characters. With this mod, you can spend hours crafting your masterpiece.

OSex

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Back to steamy content. The Skyrim sex mod will delight many players, as it introduces the ability to make love in-game. This includes 18+ animations that add hot scenes to the experience. It’s a solid way to spice up gameplay.

JK's Skyrim

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Tired of the same old towns and villages? Along with texture packs like Skyrim 202X, you can also download this mod, which revamps all the buildings in the game. The title will genuinely look and feel better with this utility installed.

Climates of Tamriel

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This comprehensive mod adds hundreds of new weather effects, a vast library of clouds, a new sun, enhanced lighting, and overall improvements to nature and weather sounds. With these combined modifications, every day in the virtual world will feel different from the last.

Enderal: The Shards of Order

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Now we get into the major Skyrim mods that not only transform but expand the game. This one offers an entirely new world you can explore after installing the utility. The size is impressive—comparable to Skyrim itself.

You’ll find new quests, dungeons, monsters, and fully voiced characters. It also includes a new story with about 50 hours of gameplay. And everything looks stunning! Download this to enrich your experience.

Performance Textures

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This utility modifies and improves armor, clothing, and weapon textures, enhancing their appearance while reducing file size for better performance.

It’s useful for players with lower-end PCs who still want better visuals. The author also made a similar mod for animals and other creatures.

Apocalypse - Magic of Skyrim

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The game’s magic system can get boring, especially for those who’ve completed the title multiple times. But there’s a fix—install this magic mod for Skyrim.

It introduces over 150 new spells and animations. All of them are lore-friendly and can be acquired through scrolls, staffs, merchants, and more. New spells are added across various schools of magic.

Luxury Collection for CBBE

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Another 18+ mod for Skyrim that spices up the game. This time, you can add sexy lingerie and even footwear—stockings, negligees, heels, and sandals. For those no longer chasing lore, this mod can add some heat to the title. The attention to detail is impressive—it honestly felt like I was picking clothes for The Sims 4.

Beyond Skyrim

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This DLC-sized mod lets you travel to the northernmost part of Cyrodiil and explore the county of Bruma. You’ll venture through Ayleid ruins, talk to NPCs, and fight enemies in a brand-new explorable area.

Players will learn what happened to the city’s residents after the events of Oblivion, through new quests and storylines. Bruma has been recreated from the ground up in stunning detail, making exploration thoroughly enjoyable.

Convenient Horses

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The best horse mod, allowing players to customize their mount in entirely new ways. You can now equip horse armor, whistle to call it, store items on it, and gather materials while riding.

Followers now also have access to horses and all the features mentioned. The mount can even charge into battle and dismount faster, making it suitable for combat in Skyrim.

Bannered Mare Immersive Sexual Playground

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You’ll need to register on the site to download this sex mod, but it’s worth it for the steamy content. The Bannered Mare has never looked like this, as it nearly changes its function. Now it’s a place for carnal pleasures, even with multiple characters. There are also various attributes that fans of rougher styles will likely enjoy.

Total Character Makeover

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A collection of major visual upgrades for NPCs. Total Character Makeover makes everyone in Skyrim look better without modifying the models themselves.

No nudity, anime hairstyles, or flashy makeup—just a set of new textures and settings for everything from beards to vampire fangs.

Deadly Dragons

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The first dragon fight might be impressive, but the rest feel repetitive. The battles blend together and lack spark. Modders must have felt the same because they created Deadly Dragons.

Now each dragon has different health, damage stats, types, and abilities. It’s awesome because the game becomes more diverse and engaging. These creatures are truly dangerous and powerful—you’ll feel it.

Immersive Creatures

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Many of you have probably explored the vanilla version inside and out. Looking for something fresh? Then it’s time to install creature mods.

Your world will fill with new monsters for the hero to battle. This full set of creatures makes the virtual world more dangerous and diverse.

Frostfall

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Not afraid of the cold? Time to venture into icy lands, and Frostfall helps with that.

This mod offers players not just a new city to explore, but also the chance to play detective. Interrogate NPCs, uncover secrets, and even travel through time. Voiced by over a dozen actors, The Forgotten City is one of Skyrim’s biggest mods.

Cloaks of Skyrim

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It’s not a real fantasy game if people aren’t wearing wide, flowing cloaks. Cloaks of Skyrim fills the world with a variety of new cloaks and capes, automatically adding them to the inventories of random guards, bandits, and so on. You can then loot these impressive cloaks from their bodies.

It’s also recommended to add the 360 Walk and Run Plus mod, which helps prevent some display issues with cloaks.

However, nothing can be done about Argonian and Khajiit tails—this mod simply removes them when cloaks are equipped.

Alternate Start - Live Another Life

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One of the simplest ways to experience Skyrim differently is to change the intro sequence.

This utility shows your character imprisoned in a dungeon, clinging to life as something magical occurs. The mod still lets you choose your character, and you’ll be able to make specific choices that will impact the rest of the game.

Moonpath to Elsweyr

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If Skyrim’s harsh climate reminds you too much of what you see out your window most of the year, it can get a bit old. You might start longing for a break from snowy mountains and icy winds. If that’s your case, hop in a cart and head to faraway Elsweyr—the home of the furry Khajiit.

Tropical forests and deserts provide a refreshing change of scenery. And let’s be honest, these polite cat-people are much more pleasant company than the gruff, moody Nords.

Besides the new environment, you’ll find engaging quests, NPCs, and, best of all—your own flying ship!

Moonpath to Elsweyr is one of the oldest mods on this list, and like Skyrim itself, it continues to be updated and re-released for different versions, so it’s always worth giving it a try—even a second time.

Falskaar

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Another impressive mod that adds a completely new location, separate from Tamriel, with about 20 hours of brand-new content.

In addition to the new area, you’ll find many new items, spells, fully voiced dialogues, and more than 25 quests—9 of them being main storyline adventures and 17 side quests.

Ars Metallica - Smithing Enhancement

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The blacksmithing system in Skyrim leaves much to be desired, and Ars Metallica addresses many of the issues players have with it.

The mod adds the ability to earn experience through mining and smelting, craft arrows and lockpicks, smelt weapons and armor for resources, and much more.

You can also craft specific armor based on the faction you belong to, letting you equip appropriate gear for certain quests.

Skyrim Flora Overhaul

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In Skyrim, players spend much of their time surrounded by the evergreen vegetation of this vast northern region of Tamriel. However, let’s face it—over the years, these forests have lost their wow factor, especially for newer generations of gamers.

To keep things looking fresh, install Skyrim Flora Overhaul. This is one of the best mods for making the flora more vibrant and scenic—you might even skip fast travel now and then just to take a stroll through the woods and enjoy the breathtaking natural landscapes.

Rich Skyrim Merchants

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This mod will make your life ten times easier. All it does is give various merchants across the map more gold in their inventories, allowing you to sell more items to them.

It completely eliminates the time wasted waiting for merchants to restock. The utility lets players customize the amount of gold merchants have, ranging from two to five or even ten times the usual amount.

SkyrimSE Re-Engaged ENB

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Originally intended as just a reshade, SkyrimSE Re-Engaged ENB has become the best way to make the 2016 re-release look like a modern AAA title.

It includes 7 preset filters, not counting revamped default ones. Each is dramatically different from the last and designed with specific weather conditions and other mods in mind.

Potion of Ultimate Leveling

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If you manage to find a Daedra Heart and a Human Heart, you can combine them to create the Potion of Ultimate Leveling, which instantly boosts all your skills to level 85 upon use.

This maxes out your skills, and you can even go further to achieve legendary status in each skill, earning more perk points for your character.

To unlock all perks in Skyrim, you need to reach level 252, which requires a total of 10 Potions of Ultimate Leveling.

Skyrim Realistic Overhaul

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The game world is already vibrant and beautiful, and if we’re being honest, it doesn’t need enhancements. But there’s always room for improvement—and visual and design upgrades are an important part of that.

One of the most successful examples is Skyrim Realistic Overhaul, which replaces the game’s original textures with higher-quality ones (2048/4096 resolution).

The mod is compatible with both the original game and the Special Edition. But be prepared—it’s quite hefty in size, over 10 GB.

We’ve covered 30 of the best Skyrim mods. Among them are graphical upgrades, gameplay enhancements, and even 18+ content. A full range of variety that can completely transform your game!

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