Thankfully, we’ve picked the best for you.
The fewer mods youve installed, the easier it will be to pinpoint any problems or conflicts.
There are several good ones, but Nexus Mod Manager is your best bet.
Heres atutorialfrom mod guru Gopher to get you started.
Before you test anything in-game, run LOOT.
Download LOOT
Skyrim Script Extender
Several important mods wont work at all without the Skyrim Script Extender.
Its been updated since then, thankfully, and now works with both editions.
you could launch it directly from the .EXE or by connecting it to the Nexus Mod Manager.
Thats obviously dumb, so heres a mod that gets around that.
If youve got regular Skyrim, you dont need to do anything.
Youll probably not even notice it most of the time, but it works its magic everywhere.
Its also a key ingredient in several other mods, so it should be one of your first downloads.
Everything from the sky and mountains to the interiors of ramshackle hovels has been done up.
There are two complete versions, one of which is a 1K resolution lite version for less powerful PCs.
Optionally, it’s possible for you to download just the cities, landscapes, dungeons or miscelleanous packs.
This is specifically for old Skyrim, but there are plenty of great alternatives for the Special Edition.
The latest version of the mod only comes with one complete file, but the2017 versionis more modular.
You definitely wont be able to use a PC that ran Skyrim in 2011.
Its not as dramatic, either, but thats the point.
ELFX wants to make Skyrim pretty, not just realistically lit.
Both mods are great, so it really depends on what kind of atmosphere you want to generate.
You could always mix and match, and even throw in an ENB for good measure.
Theres a grass-only and trees-only version, too, which obviously have less of a performance impact.
This is one of those changes thats worth sacrificing some frames over, mind.
If you see some H2O in the game, its probably been improved.
There are so many tiny touches that make this mod brilliant, like curated sound effects and animated icebergs.
Realistic Water also fixes that.
Generally, theyre just less drab.
Its predominantly a visual mod, but there are plenty of audio improvements to go along with it.
Most important is the survival instinct feature, letting NPCs evaluate threats and act accordingly.
This throws in everything from warring goblin tribes to considerably more exotic and indescribable nightmares.
The world a bit more deadly.
Its possible to tweak this mod to your liking, removing creatures and changing the difficulty via the menu.
There are even some raider patrols, too.
No more risking your life to save some idiot with a torch whos decided they can fight a dragon.
Not with Convenient Horses, however.
The name doesnt paint the full picture.
DownloadConvenient Horsesor theSpecial Editionversion
Relationship Dialogue Overhaul
Relationship Dialogue Overhaul makes Skyrim a chattier place.
NPCs get a whopping 5,000 lines of new, reactive dialogue, all voiced.
Walking speed has been significantly boosted, while running is slower.
Moonlight Tales, then, is essential if you plan on tearing people apart during a full moon.
Whichever beastie you pick, youll also get lots of different skin choices.
There are some nifty accessories, too, including eye patches and scarves.
Youll be prepared for anything.
If youd prefer to look less likeCableand more like a wizard, there are also book and vial holders.
Theyre practical, too, letting you stuff your inventory full of junk.
Cloaks are an RPG necessity, so Cloaks of Skyrim provides an important public service.
NPCs will wear them, too, and they actually make guards look more authoritative.
A nice cloak commands respect.
DownloadCloaks of Skyrimor theSpecial Editionversion
Wearable Lanterns
Only mugs hold their own lanterns.
Honestly, is there any need for the sun now that we’ve got this sorted?
DownloadWearable Lanternsor theSpecial Editionversion
Deadly Cabbages
Throw a magical cabbage at your enemies.
Theyre customisable, too!
OK, that’s not mundane at all.
Generally, combat is faster and more deadly, with weapons dealing more damage.
You’ll look dangerous even when you’re just standing around.
There are maybe a few too many trees, though I am a fan of the overgrown look.
The should still work with Special Edition anyway, but there might be some unforeseen issues.
And unlike Towns and Villages Enhanced, they’re designed for the Special Edition.
If youre looking for something that hews closer to Bethesdas vision of Skyrim, these are perfect.
All youre really bypassing is a brief loading screen, but what a difference it makes.
DownloadOpen Cities Skyrimor theSpecial Editionversion
Helgen Reborn
Poor Helgen.
It only got a few minutes of screentime before it got roasted, along with most of its inhabitants.
Helgen Reborn, then, is a lovely mod that gives the town a second life.
What you pick doesnt just determine your starting location, it also changes your inventory.
Hes since landed a job at Bungie as a result.
If youre looking to push more mileage from Skyrim, they dont come much better than Falskaar.
Its a proper detective story, full of interrogations and sniffing around for clues.
Think Poirot, but with magic and ethical conundrums.
It feels like a professional production that just happens to also be a mod for Skyrim.
Astandalone game based on the modis also in the works.
DownloadThe Forgotten Cityor theSpecial Editionversion
Moonpath to Elsweyr
Sick of chilly Skyrim?
Hop on a wagon and take a trip to distant Elsweyr, the home of the fluffy Khajiit.
Its the best time to take it for a spin.
There are countless new assets, running the gamut from photo-scanned rocks to new monsters.
Perks, combat and animations have similarly been overhauled - its essentially a new game.
And a great one, to boot.
DownloadTotal Character Makeoveror theSpecial Editionversion
Apachii’s Skyhair
Worried your greasy hair is holding you back?
Keep finding twigs in your mane right after a job interview?
The mod offers up a ridiculous number of new styles.
No more souls gathering dust because youve had your fill of Dragon Shouts.
Take Alchemy, for instance.
The vanilla tree just gives you some resistances and lets you make more powerful potions.
Building your own unique class is infinitely more rewarding with all these exotic perks.
There are search fields, you’re free to make lists of favourites and everything is displayed clearly.
It cuts out so much mucking around.
It also includes the Mod Configuration Menu, an extremely handy tool that makes it easy to customise mods.
Its used by several on this list, making SkyUI even more essential.
After a long wait, a Special Edition port appeared last year, but its still in alpha.
Immersive HUD makes HUD elements like the crosshair and compass invisible until they’re called for.
Its not the sort of map that youd use if you were orienteering.
Its essential for explorers.
Its a massive pain in the arse to find them all without it.
Theres a perk tree attached to it, as well.
Its also required if you want to use the latest version of Frostfall.
Its just sitting there, completely ignored.
Imagine how miserable all the chefs must be, preparing food that nobody is remotely interested in.
The best they can hope for is that an adventurer will scoff some as a last resort.
Realistic Needs and Diseases returns food to its lofty status.
If you dont eat, youll starve.
Drinking is similarly necessary.
There are other negative effects before death, but also lots of positive ones for eating well.
It mostly adds visual effects that complement the foul weather, but it also changes NPC behaviours.
During bad weather, NPCs will have different reactions depending on their race, age and job.
DownloadWet and Coldor theSpecial Editionversion
If you want to see some other cool things people are doing with Skyrim?
