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Skyrimis one of the biggest, deepest, and most beloved RPGs of all time, and for many it’s hard to imagine ever needing mods, considering how much the vanilla version already has to offer. Whether it’s updated graphics, new weapons, or whole new lands to explore, the mod scene has plenty to offer, however. Here are some of the most ambitious mods ever produced for the game.

8 Beyond Skyrim - Bruma

Skyrim is already an absolutely massive game, but that hasn’t stopped modders from making it even bigger. With Beyond Skyrim - Bruma, that change is literal, as the mod adds an entire county to expand the base game’s experience.

Bruma is cyrodiil’s northernmost county, so players will want to throw on their warmest furs before venturing into the cold. The mod adds new weapons, dungeons, and quests to keep the player busy. A change of scenery is often enough to keep players entertained, but Bruma goes above and beyond by including original dialog recordings and high quality of content all around.

7 The Shire

The novels are J.R.R. Tolkein are some of the most enduring literary works, inspiring generations of readers and fantasy writers ever since. It was inevitable that Middle-earth would eventually come to Skyrim, and with The Shire mod, it has.

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Attention to detail is important with any mod, but it matters all the more when the source material is so well-known and beloved as fans of the original will be quick to point out any lapses in quality. The Shire includes over 6,000 lines of voiced dialog, 25+ hours of additional questing, and, yes, one’s very own hobbit home to relax in after a long day of monster-bashing.

6 Auri-el White-Gold Tower

One of the many things that Skyrim does beautifully is creating unique locales for people to visit, whether that’s a grim dungeon filled with bones and pools of rancid water or a bustling city where the many races of Cyrodiil practice their crafts or take a day to stroll about in the sun.

Auri-el White-Gold Tower adds yet another fascinating locale, in this case a levitating elven tower.Sticklers for Skyrim’s original lore may be irked by the tower, but it is undeniably gorgeous as well as fully explorable. The statues of Skyrim’s gods within gives players plenty to look at, but if they tire of the view inside, they can always climb to the top of the tower to take in the majesty of Skyrim’s landscape.

5 The Elder Scrolls V Middle-Earth Redone

Given the popularity of The Lord of the Rings, was there any chance that Skyrim would receive only a single mod devoted to it? Not likely. The Elder Scrolls V Middle-Earth Redone expands on world, but unlike some other mods, it goes beyond the addition of the Shire alone.

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Players can travel to Moria, Lothlorien, and other iconic locales, immersing themselves in the beauty and lore of a fantasy world that feels quite at home as part of the Elder Scrolls saga. Whether the player is looking for new enemies or just the chance to inhabit their favorite fantasy series for a while, The Elder Scrolls V Middle-Earth Redone is an exceptional addition to the game.

4 Tel Qahnaar

One of the most ambitious and inspiring aspects of The Elder Scrolls is the way the series has continued to expand upon the map and lore of the previous games, bringing players into parts of the world and story that were previously nothing more than words on an abandoned note or teasing references in an NPC’s dialog.

Tel Qahnaar adds a village inspired by Telvanni, one of the wizarding houses of Morrowind, and this full-fledged settlement would be worth seeing for its architecture and vibe alone, especially for fans of magic in the series.Tel Qahnaar goes beyond that, however, by also giving players a variety of new weapons and spells with which to wreak havoc.

3 Disparity and Diversity - Diversified Individual Race Textures

Not every mod has to add 1,000 spells or an entire continent. There are plenty of mods that can change the game in ways that are entirely different yet no less impactful. A brilliant example of this is Disparity and Diversity - Diversified Individual Race Textures, one of the largest mods in the game.

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The mod gives the non-beasts races unique textures, making their appearances more varied and better reflecting the characteristics of those races. It also does this in resolutions up to 4K, an achievement in itself. From skin textures to body hair, this mod alters everything about the default character models, and though its considerable size will dissuade some players from using it, the mod undeniably adds greater realism for those that want it.

2 Aka’s World Of Weapons

Sometimes players want deep lore, numerous NPCs, and branching quests, giving them plenty of reasons to save, betray, recruit, and destroy others. Other times, players just want a shiny new sword. For the latter player, Aka’s World of Weapons is the perfect mod.

Adding dozens of new Eastern-inspired melee weapons to the game, Aka’s World of Weapons offers plenty of new ways to stab, skewer, and bash one’s enemies to pieces. It’s a hefty download considering it doesn’t add any unique areas to the game, but for those that are looking to expand their already impressive arsenals,Aka’s World of Weapons gives collectors and fighters plenty to be happy about.

1 Enderal: Forgotten Stories

Easily one of the largest, most complete, and most ambitious mods for Skyrim, Enderal: Forgotten Stories goes above and beyond in every way. Essentially functioning as a full-fledged DLC for the game, Enderal adds a new land, quests, enemies, and lore, featuring professional voice acting.

There’s good reason this mod won Best Fan Creation at the 2016 Game Awards. Enderal is a total conversion mod, so those that have somehow exhausted everything there is to offer in the base game and don’t want mods that make piecemeal changes can rework their entire game with a single stroke. The ambition of Enderal: Forgotten Stories is matched only by its quality, and that’s good news for players everywhere.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch.

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