*Updated 09/01/2017* Four brand new mods added!
I know what you're thinking. Why bother playing Skyrim: Special Edition when you've already sunk what my mother assures me is an unhealthy amount of hours into the original game (needless to say, I disagree)? I'll tell you why: mods. Let me tell you the tale of the quality fan-made stories that are equal to Bethesda's colossus itself. Wondrous sagas await with enigmatic characters swaggering by your side, mind-boggling dwemer gadgets, and mysterious locations begging to be explored. As an added bonus they promise hours of gameplay as these mods have a ton of content. Some are even DLCs in their own right. All of the quests below are stand alone ones, meaning you don’t have to bother with joining a faction to trigger them. At last there's an excuse to neglect going outside for as long as humanly possible, just like when Skyrim first came out. Ah, good memories.
I’ll be updating this list periodically with which platforms support these mods (which you can check via the Bethesda website), so be sure to check back to see what new delights await you in Skyrim Special Edition! Make sure to take a look at our best Skyrim mods if you want to iron out any bugs, alter NPC behaviour, or overhaul the graphics.
Inigo
Available on: Xbox One, PC
It’s time to say goodbye to Lydia, as Inigo is the only companion you’ll ever need. The blue Khajit has over 7000 lines of dialogue and will develop differently depending on how you interact with him. Coming across various NPCs will trigger this chatterbox as he chats to them too. A veteran of the Skyrim mod scene, Inigo has been around since 2013 and has over 1275 ratings, all giving him 5 stars. He’s a big deal. To get on his good side you can also complete his quest, which at the moment is small as it’s being worked on as we speak. The full plot will be released in upcoming updates to the mod, so think of Inigo as an investment.
Clockwork
Available on: Xbox One
Feel like the dwemer are neglected a tad in vanilla Skyrim? Well, now you can get your fix, as nestled deep in the mountains is an enigmatic mansion heavily inspired by dwemer culture. Named the Clockwork Mansion, it’s full of mystery. Who’s that following you through its secret passages? Where have its inhabitants gone? What the hell does all this dwemer machinery do? You’ll have plenty of time to find the answers to these questions, especially as something is keeping you there. To escape you’ll have to uncover the Clockwork Mansion’s secrets. Billed as the equivalent of a DLC with 6 hours (yes, really) of playtime, new types of enemies, and side-quests as well as the main storyline, Clockwork will keep you busy for quite a while.
The Forgotten City
I cannot over-emphasise how much I love this mod. By far my favourite of any I’ve played, the story is gripping, intelligent, and forces you to challenge your morals. For those who love the Dwemer it also fleshes out their legacy and ethos, as they are distinctly under-represented in Skyrim despite being, in my opinion, the most interesting civilisation as well as the most mysterious. Warning, though: once you start this story and go past a certain point - which will be obvious once you get to it, trust me - there’s no going back. You can’t exit the story location to take care of some side-quests, so this mod is one you should expect to complete without any distractions.
Aethernautics: A Space Travel Mod
Available on: Xbox One
Another dwemer-centric mod, the title to this is pretty self-explanatory. But to get the promised spaceship you’ll have to find out where the hell it is first. You might ask "how hard can it be to find a gargantuan spaceship?". Answer: surprisingly hard. If a quest wasn’t enough you’ll also be voyaging through a dungeon that comes with a brand new type of enemy, as well as wielding radically different weapons (which may or may not make a pew pew sound). If you can overlook the few issues the mod has, it’ll add a completely new dimension to Skyrim.
Blackreach Railroad
Available on: Xbox One, PC
By now you should have realised that if you want something mechanical in Skyrim, the dwemer are your first port of call. Yes, I know this is the fourth mod that includes the underground-dwelling lost civilisation, but if you want a choo-choo train which stretches between cities then Blackreach Railroad is for you. Of course, getting this locomotive working is a key part of the quest, plus afterwards you can discover new stations and explore unmarked tunnels. You also get a train driver’s hat. Just in case you weren’t sold already.
Falskaar
Available on: Xbox One, PC,
Okay, the fact that this mod landed its creator with a job at Bungie should tell you quite a bit about its quality. Falskaar feels like a seamless expansion of Skyrim and makes you the harbinger of an ancient prophecy, which is a nod towards the changing social climate of Falskaar rather than making you The Chosen One (again). Granted, the landscape does look the same no matter where you go and some of the voice acting is a bit over-the-top, but the story is completely new and feels like a DLC. Falskaar is definitely a pedigree mod.
Moon and Star
Missing Morrowind? Moon and Star gives the Dunmer a chance to shine, as you’re enlisted to help track down a criminal on the run who hails from Morrowind. The village of Little Vivec, new voice-acting, NPCs, and a storyline that has you trawling through a lost Dwemer civilisation are just some of the things Moon and Star has to offer, plus it works with all the Skyrim DLCs. Featured on multiple top 10 mod lists, Moon and Star is a lore-friendly addition to any Skyrim fanatic’s game.
Moonpath to Elsweyr
Available on: PC
As if building a whole new world wasn’t impressive enough, this mods has new monsters, NPCs, and items. Elsweyr looks like nowhere I’ve ever seen in Skyrim, Oblivion, or Morrowind, with dense jungles, waterways to wade through instead of roads, new creatures to fight or ally with, as well as a backstory which explains the trading prowess of the Khajit. If your Khajit is lacking in backstory and you can feel its computer-generated self aching for the motherland, Moonpath to Elsweyri is a must. Or just download it if you’re a bit fed up with Skyrim’s Norse vibe and want to go on some exotic travels!
Enderal: The Shards of Order
Available on: PC
I’m currently in denial because my laptop doesn’t have the memory to download this mod, but it looks magnificent and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will come out on console at some point. The amount of content is staggering which isn’t surprising as Enderal is basically an ENTIRELY NEW GAME. Enderal is a new land with its own lore and mythology, with professional voice-acting and between 30 - 120 hours of gameplay, depending on whether you like to steamroll through the story or soak up side quests like a sponge. New soundtrack, animations, NPCs, locations, combat, and even a new skill tree, Enderal is an end-game mod for you to install when you have wrung Skyrim dry.
Castle Gonduin
Available on: PC
Castle Gonduin won’t be yours without a fight. The slog to claim the castle is definitely worth it; Gonduin feels like the right top-tier reward for someone who’s completed most of the game as you don’t just get the chance to live in a castle - which, admit it, is pretty awesome - but you also have the equivalent of an estate. A guardhouse, tavern, and 40 new NPCs await you, as well as being able to choose your decor and the outfits for your guards. Strolling around the castle after having raised the money to renovate it to its ancient glory made me instantly feel like lord of the manor.
Faction: Pit Fighter
Available on: PC
If you love hearing the thud of a well-sharpened blade in someone’s skull and can’t get enough of shield-bashing, tanking, and bellowing, this mod is for you. Faction: Pit Fighter adds a whole new guild dedicated to spilling blood in an arena, with its own NPCs, quests, weapons, and guild progression. Situated in Windhelm, the Pit Fighters are an alternative to The Companions and are sure to sate the appetite of any bloodthirsty warrior.
Not seen your favourite story mod here? Mention it in the comments below!
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