Skyrim Special Edition brought advanced support for modding with 64-bit on PC, meaning players can load up more heavy mods with fewer issues and instability. For all the mods listed in this round-up, we'll be using the Nexus platform and the Nexus Mod Manager to install them. Here are the best mods you should install for your next Skyrim playthrough.

• Skyrim Archery Gameplay Overhaul Arrow In Hand

See where you're going: A Quality World Map

Moonlight Tales Special Edition. Grab this Skyrim Xbox One werewolf mod right here; Much like how the archery overhaul changes ranged combat, Moonlight Tales completely and totally revamps the game's werewolf mechanics.

The map isn't necessarily bad in Skyrim, but there are a few improvements that A Quality World Map by IcePenguin brings to the table. The mod includes a set of highly-detailed world map textures, complete with roads. This is a must-have for anyone who enjoys walking (or riding) everywhere without the use of fast travel. This mod also adds a detailed Solsteim map. And there's even a paper-style map!

Free at Mod Nexus

Start a new life: Alternate Start

When modding Skyrim, some bad things can happen, especially during the opening scene. This is a heavily scripted part of the game and one that can cause problems if you have mods that interfere with Bethesda's code. Alternate Start provides the option to skip the start of the game altogether, protecting against crashes, and can even allow for some interesting role-playing adventures.

Free at Mod Nexus

Call down the heavens: Apocalypse

This is an important mod for anyone looking to do a mage build. You get 155 new spells, all of which are added to existing vendors and loot lists, no script bloat for enhanced performance, compatibility with many other spell-related mods, and the ability for unique mage builds that do not focus on destruction or conjuration. You will need ASIS (Automatic Spells, Increased Spawns) for NPCs to be given new items and spells.

Free at Mod Nexus

Make torches useful: Darker Nights

As the name suggests, this mod makes the nights in Skyrim darker, depending on personal preference. For many, the evenings in Skyrim were far too bright, and Darker Nights provide the option of 6 different levels that can be set to create a more atmospheric experience during the late and early hours of each day.

Free at Mod Nexus

Skryim never looked so good: Enhanced Lights and FX

Enhanced Lights and FX is a sizeable mod that creates a more dynamic and realistic mood to the Skyrim landscape by adding actual lighting to all light sources and removing any light without a source, as well as the addition of numerous effects including smoke, volumic lights, and more. If you want dungeons, interiors, and Skyrim in general, to look better, you need to install ELFX. Just don't install the weather part of the mod if you plan to use True Storms.

Free at Mod Nexus

Walk-in wardrobe: Immersive Armors

Skyrim has a bunch of armors already available, but Immersive Amors is a mod that takes kitting out your characters (and NPCs) to the next level. 55 new sets are included, alongside 396 shields and various other miscellaneous apparel items. That's a lot of new items to play around with. Different sets and items have specific stats that are integrated into the game through quest rewards, placement in dungeons, and given to certain people.

Free at Mod Nexus

Countless ways for decapitation: Immersive Weapons

Much like the Immersive Armors mod, Skyrim has a number of weapons already available for you to use, but Immersive Weapons adds around 230 more, not to mention new weapon sets to make various new melee builds viable. Not only is it great to see and use the new weapons, but hothtrooper44 made sure that the mod doesn't have a negative impact on the lore, just in case you wish to play as close to vanilla as possible.

Free at Mod Nexus

Choose your starsign: Ordinator

The perk tree could do with some improvements to make each playthrough and build feel more interesting and unique. This is where Ordinator comes in, adding more than 400 perks to the game, completely overhauling each skill tree. You'll need to visit the Nexus page to see all the perks added, but it's a comprehensive list and Ordinator is a mod I simply cannot play without.

Free at Mod Nexus

Fus-Ro-Dah: Realistic Ragdolls and Force

The ragdoll effect in Skyrim can lead to some hilarious situations, including those moments when a giant will send you to outer space with a whack of its club. That's no good for role-playing and immersion, which is where Realistic Ragdolls and Force can lend a hand. Bodies now react to gravity and force more realistically. It's a small, but effective, mod.

Free at Mod Nexus

Shimmering splendar: Realistic Water Two

With the updated water flow system and more included in Skyrim Special Edition, mods that affect the natural liquid are now more important when the aim is to create a more realistic-looking environment. Realistic Water Two takes Bethesda's improved system and takes everything to the next level with higher quality effects and textures, not to mention more accurate water body movement depending on the location (sea, river, pond, etc.).

Free at Mod Nexus

Seriously. Run.: Run for your lives

Run for your lives is a package of two handy mods, developed and uploaded by the same author. Run for your lives and When vampires attack affects the way NPCs react to dragon and vampire attacks, namely those who are unable to fight back. Instead of witnessing absolute carnage due to citizens of Skyrim not fleeing to the safe indoors, installing these mods lets you fight off deadly beasts with guards by your side.

Free at Mod Nexus

Must-have tool: Skyrim Script Extender 64-bit

Finally, the extremely talented modders behind the exceptional Skyrim Script Extender has released a version in beta that works wonderfully with Skryim SE. What this tool allows you to do is install mods that require additional functionality that the base game engine simply cannot offer. I'm talking a better UI experience that wasn't designed for consoles, more feature-packed mods, and more.

Just make sure you download and install the version for SE and not the old Skyrim. Afterward, you need to launch the SKSE64 .exe and not the Skyrim executable through Steam.

Free at SKSE

How the UI should be by default: SkyUI

This is currently an early testing build of the excellent SkyUI mods, but it's well worth checking out now. What it does is revamps the entire UI, allowing you to more easily navigate your inventory and such, seeing more information at a glance.

Free at Mod Nexus

Better looking ropes: Static Mesh Improvement Mod

SMIM is a huge mod. And by huge we mean massive in both scale and size of the download. Totaling nearly 1GB, this package contains a bunch of improved 3D models for various things like robs, chains, lanterns, and other objects. It's particularly effective if you're one to notice when things look slightly out of place or aren't high-quality assets.

Free at Mod Nexus

Uncover hidden secrets: The Forgotten City

How does an expansion sound? The Forgotten City has you covered with an award-winning unofficial experience, backed by superb writing, original orchestral score, and voiced dialog that offers around eight hours of gameplay. You're tasked with entering an underground Dwarven city and uncover a mystery, and it's non-linear too with multiple endings.

If you've finished the main plot numerous times and are soon running out of things to do, give The Forgotten City a go.

Free at Mod Nexus

Skyrim Archery Gameplay Overhaul Arrow In Hand

Make Skyrim feel more alive: True Storms

The weather effects in Skyrim are pretty good, but since everything was compiled way back in 2011, there's definitely room for improvement. Cue True Storms. This is a must-have mod for anyone looking to create a more immersive Skyrim experience with the weather really adding to every outing. It brings fog, variable weather, high-quality sound effects, new textures, dust storms, and more.

Free at Mod Nexus

Fixes Bethesda never made: Unofficial Skyrim: SE Patch

This is a must-have download for anyone, even if you do not wish to get into modding your Skyrim install. As the name suggests, it's a compiled package of fixes, improvements, and additions to the title. Hundreds of gameplay, quest, NPC, object, item, text and placement bugs have been fixed. Seriously, there's no reason as to why you shouldn't install this patch.

Free at Mod Nexus

Choosing the best mods

The absolute must-have mods for Skyrim include SKSE, SkyUI, and Alternate Start. The rest depends on your system specifications, your desired playstyle and what type of content you want to add to the world of Skyrim.

But what are your favorite mods for Skyrim Special Edition? Are there any you have for Skyrim that have yet to be ported? Sound off in the comments. We'd also like to thank modders for their continued support in extending the enjoyment of games, particularly Skyrim. You guys are incredible.

Aleithian’s Extended Load Order (Recurring Update)

Mods in italics are no longer active in his load queue, but are popular. They are included to show you where to put them. Some require patches that he doesn’t list, and some are outright incompatible with mods in his list. Please consult the mod description for guidance.

Bug Fixes
Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch (“USSEP”)

Game Structure and UI Mods
Climates of Tamriel (though an environment mod, it now defaults to the top)
Campfire
Better Gray Quarter
Frostfall
Open Cities (Incompatible with Project Hippie; May Conflict with Alternate Start Considering Research by /u/ApatheticPsycho; Be Sure to DL All Necessary Patches)
Cutting Room Floor
Even Better Quest Objectives (Be Sure to DL All Necessary Patches)
Paarthurnax Dilemma
Increased Summon Limit (per mod creator’s instructions)
Imperious
Phenderix Magic Evolved
Apocalypse
Ordinator
Summermyst
Yash2

Missions/Quests
Falskaar
Conan
The Scarlet

Environmental Mods
SMIM
Lush Overhaul
Wet and Cold
Vivid Weather
True Storms
Skyrim is Windy
Climate of Tamriel Winter Edition
Climate of Tamriel Darker Nights
Surreal Lighting
RealLight – Cities
RealLight – CitiesExt
RealLight – DLC
RealLight – Dungeons
RealLight – Weather
Display Enhancements
Project Hippie
Fallen Trees
Dense Grass
No Snow Under the Roof (Incompatible with Any Map Texture Pack Mods)
Immersive Sounds

Buildings
Dolmen Ruins
Oblivion Gates
Bridges of Skyrim
The Watchtowers
Karthwasten
Helarchen Creek
Soljund’s Sinkhole
Shor’s Stone
Whistling Mine
Kynesgrove
Darkwater Crossing
Ivarstead
Old Hroldan Extended
Bee Hives
Hidden Hunter’s Cabin
Books of Skyrim
Spiderwick Manor
Dragons Keep
Dragonborn Retreat
Atmoran Hearth
Bear Mountani Lodge
Seagulls Rest
Dragonstead
My Riverwood House
Hemlock Hall
Frostvale Estate
Whispering Water
Antennaria
Draven Manor
House Strong-Blood
Skyfall Estate
Silvermoon Mansion
Imperial Officer’s Villa
Magical College of Winterhold
Better Solitude Throne Room
Thieves Guild: Ragged Flagon
Septimus Signus Outpost
Better Docks
Skyforge Workshop

Items
Cloaks & Capes
Kyne’s Breath – Weapon Pack
Ashara Newermind’s Elven
Ashara Elven Knight
Ashara Paragon
zzjay’s Wardrobe
Silver Knight Armor
Winter is Coming
TDN Equipable Horns
Triss & Yennefer Armor
Nocturnal’s Clothes
Vampire Knights (seems to cause facial pixilation when paired with appearance mods)
Animated Feather Wings
Animated Dragon Wings

Gameplay
Alternate Start (may conflict with Open Cities in light of research by /u/ApatheticPsycho; relocated the mod to gameplay in order to avoid pixelated faces, contrary to mod creator’s advice)
Immersive Citizens
Realistic AI Detection
Realistic Conversations
Marriage All
Skyrim Unbound
Increase Follow Limit
NPC Clothes Changer
Civil War Equipment
True Lords of Oblivion
Equippable Tomes
Bandolier: Bags and Pouches
Ars Metallica
Skyforge Dragonbone
Craftable Elven Light Armor
Clothing Forge Crafting
Phenderix’s Arcane Archery
Unlimited Werewolf Transformations
Faster Greatswords
skyBirds
Birds of Skyrim
Birds and Flocks

NPC
The People of Skyrim (TPOS) [Be Sure to DL all necessary patches and read the mod description to avoid conflicts; place all DLC for this mod immediately below it – conflicts with Covered Carriages & Ivarstead; may conflict with Quality World Map)
Diverse Dragons
ERSO Mighty Dragons
Hardcore Dragons
Better Vampires
Sacrosanct
Populated Skyrim Civil War
RS Children’s Overhaul
Diverse Imperial Soldiers
Immersive Patrols
Frost Giants
Deadric Cults

Appearance Mods
Girly Animations
Apachii Hair HiRes
KS Hairdos Lite
Adorable Females
Ashara’s Faces Series
Aela Facelift
Mjoll Facelift
Dimon99 and Maevan2 Female Body
Beautiful Mistresses 2.1
Seraphim Body Mods
Natural Eyes
Skyrim Hair Colors
Roman Imperial Armor
Open Face Guard Helmets
Get Rid of Serana’s Hood
Humanoid Vampires
Belt-Fastened Quivers
Covered Carriages
Skyrim Mercenaries (out of order to avoid pixelated faces – thanks to /u/Greeneydreaper)

Texture Mods
Optimized Vanilla Textures
Skyrim Graphic Overhaul
Skyland
Nordic Snow
Vivid and Classic Map Series (Possibly Incompatible with No Snow Under the Roof)
UNP Female Armor Refitted
LeanWolf’s Better-Shaped Weapons
Real Bows
Enhanced Blood Textures
Beautiful Boats of Skyrim
Sovngarde Gold
Sinister Elven Armor
Webs (causes blue lines to appear)

Patches
Even Better Quest Objectives + Cutting Room Floor Patch
Even Better Quest Objectives + Paarthurnax
Stones of Barenziah Droppable + Quest Markers
Apocalypse – Ordinator Patch
Equippable Tomes – Campfire
ERSO – Diverse Dragons Patch
Rich Merchants
Hunter’s Reward – Better Prices
Vampires Take no Fall Damage
Vampires Suck
Better Gray Quarter Patch
TPOS Cutting Room Floor
Torch Light Expanded
Dawnbreaker Sun Damage
Disable Cinematic Kills
No Radial Blur
No Edge Glow
Disable Combat Boundary
FPS Boost
Insignificant Object Remover

Mods That Mod Creators Request Should Appear Last
Realistic Water Two
Elizabeth’s Tower