The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim may have released way back in 2011, but there is still plenty of fun to be had with Bethesda's open-world epic. That's in large part because of the vibrant mod community that exists for the game's PC version, allowing players to create and download new quests, characters and items to further expand upon an already huge game. There just might be enough content to keep you playing Skyrim until the release of Elder Scrolls VI.
With so many mods to choose from, consider the list below as simply a starting point, as it includes a good mixture of additional content, "fixes" to the original game as well as some mods that are just plain funny. Check them out below.
Live Another Life
Created by Arthmoor
Playing through the opening sequence of Skyrim again and again on multiple characters can get old fast. This fun mod spices things up by adding a completely new introductory sequence for the start of the game. In keeping with Elder Scrolls tradition, this mod places your character at the start of the game in a damp, dark dungeon you must escape from. It's also much shorter than the original intro sequence, making it a good pick for players who can't wait to start their new adventure.
Wyrmstooth
Created by Jonx0r
This mod adds a whole new quest line to Skyrim and is one of the most professionally made content add-ons available. It adds a whole new island for players to explore as they are tasked with eliminating a dragon that is causing problems for the East Empire trading company. Along the way players will meet new, fully voiced NPCs as well as acquire new weapons and spells as they embark on one of the mod's 17 new quests. This mod is a fantastic new adventure for the player who has experienced nearly everything the standard version of Skyrim has to offer.
SkyrimUI
Created by Snakster
If you are playing on PC, this mod is a must. While Skyrim's default UI is solid enough and works well when playing with a controller, it left a little to be desired for keyboard and mouse players. This mod fixes all that, updating and tweaking the UI with PC gamers in mind. Because it blends in seamlessly with the existing UI, you likely won't even remember you installed a mod in the first place.
Really Useful Dragons
Created by Trainwiz
Don't let the name of this mod deceive you -- this dragon modification is not useful in any sense of the word. Unless by useful you mean hilarious. Then it totally is. This mod replaces every dragon in the game with variations of Thomas the Tank engine, which instead of roaring at you toot their surprisingly menacing whistles. You'll never look at Thomas the Tank Engine the same way again.
Stones of Barenziah Quest Markers
created by Turn_on_a_dime
You won't find a more annoying quest in all of Skyrim than the "No Stone Unturned" quest. In it, players are tasked with finding the 24 Stones of Barenziah hidden around world. The game gives you no indication of where these might be, and while some are in frequently visited quest areas, others are completely off the beaten path. This simple mod adds quest markers for each of the stones, making the game's most tedious quest easy.
Skyrim HD - 2K Textures
Created by NebuLa
If you want Skyrim to look even more beautiful (and who doesn't?) then this mod is an essential. It simply ups the polygon count of the game's textures, resulting in a crisper, more detailed world than ever before. While Bethesda did release its own official HD texture mod, it honestly fails in comparison to this fan-made one. A must-have for any Skyrim PC player.
Macho Dragon
Created by Fancypantz
Every Skyrim player has to download this mod and experience it at least once. It transforms famous pro wrestler "Macho Man" Randy Savage into a hideously deformed dragon (complete with purple leopard print hat) that yells "I'm gonna get cha" and his famous "Oh Yeah!" as it breathes fire down your neck. It's hilarious and terrifying at the same time, and one of the most memorable mods ever made for the game.
Dovahbit of Caerbannog
Created by Mickyan
The best useless mod this side of Morrowind, Dovahbit of Caerbannog is a faithful rabbit companion who doesn't really do anything besides look cute. He just kind of runs around and does his own thing. But you can customize him with cool hats! That makes it worth it, right? Everybody loves hats.
