Skyrim Immersive Mod List - Updated Regularly

[Nystel]

Update:

9/27/15 ~ Thread created

9/30/15 ~ Added 3 more mods

10/4/15 ~ Added 4 more mods and "thank you" section

10/10/15 ~ Added new section and 3 mods

3/27/16 ~ Back in the saddle again! Cleaned up the orginal post. Removed Dynamic Horse Saddles because the mod is now hidden on the Nexus. Also, added SPERG to the game overhaul section.

3/28/16 ~ Added "Bits and Other Bobs" section, along with 2 mods New World Modder Resource and Hunter's World for the New World

 

Hello fellow modders,

 

I have been modding Skyrim ever since the official HD texture pack was the bee's knees. Lately, I have come back to Skyrim and currently working on a Treasure/Relic Hunter playthrough. However, I want to add a certain level of immersion this time around.

 

Anticipating my playthough, I spent a few days Googling immersive mod lists and I noticed that most of them are pretty dated, at least going back a year. So I thought I would start an updated list of my own.

 

This list is for new-comers (yes, believe it or not, there are people are brand new to modding Skyrim) and guys looking to add some immersion spice into their game. Some of these mods that I will mention, you will already know and love. I will have an "Oldie but Must Have" section where these mods will be listed. I will also have sections that are for newer mods or mods that you may not be that familiar with.

 

I will also indicate if I have tested the mods or I just found them on the Nexus. By no means is this list suppose to be the be all end all of immersion mods. Also, my definition of "immersion" could be different than yours, and that is ok. Honestly, this is a list of really good mods, IMHO, that work well with each other. I do not expect people to use ALL the mods on this, trying to achieve the most epic immersion game ever. Pick and choose what you want. I will provide links and a brief bias description of all the mods.

 

 

Please leave a comment about how you like the list or how I can improve it.

 

Oldies but the Must Haves

 

SkyUI - This is not an immersive mod but if you are or are planning on modding Skyrim; this is a must have. It re-works the vanilla inventory and crafting menus to be more efficient and easier to work with. A lot of mods now a days require this SkyUI. I, of course, have this.

 

Immersive Hud (iHud) - This hides the in game heads up display health, mana, stamina bars. Along with the compass. It is compatible with most other hud widgets mods like A Mater of Time. I am a Gopher fan boy, so I have this mod as well.

 

Wet and Cold - This mod adds visual weather effects to the player and NPCs. ie: seeing breath when it is cold, and dripping of water off clothing when wet. NPCs will also put on clothing based on the weather. If it is snowing, followers (if it is in their inventory) and NPC will put on heavy/warmer clothing. Just to name a few features. I have this as well.

 

Frostfall - Adds hypothermia, camping, and survival features to the game. Great mod, IMO. You can customize the setting in the MCM menu.

 

Winter is Coming - If you have Wet and Cold, then is a must. Adds heavy fur cloaks and hoods to Skyrim. Not only for you but NPCs will utilize them as well. This is a omage to Game of Thrones.

 

Realistic Needs and Diseases / iNeeds - These adds player needs and diseases that can be contracted. You will need to eat, drink, sleep and if you get a disease for eating raw or spoiled food; then you must get yourself cured. The debuffs are pretty intense, lose staminia, health, slow movement, and carrying weight. Realistic Needs has a bit more to it than iNeeds. iNeeds has been reported to be easier to use and works really well with other mods like Hunterborn. I am currently using RND.

 

Realistic Ragdolls and Force - Reduces the extra force applied on ragdolls (dead/falling bodies) to a more reasonable level and replaces ragdolls so that they bend and twist more realistically and fall at a faster velocity. Increase friction to fix ice-like ragdoll sliding. Bodies react more realistically. With both, you can drink from a stream and fill empty bottles.

 

Static Mesh Improvement - This improves upon the vanilla 3D modeles, which are pretty bad. It also provides animations of items when you access them. The barrel top will animate if you click on it. The bag will expand like it is being opened. This is kind of an immersion mod but most other mods will require this mod. That is why it is on this list.

 

 

This list is subjective to me. By no means do you have to them but a lot of these mods are required by many other mods that you may install. I think it is safe to say, that these mods are pretty much staple mods for most immersion playthroughs.

 

 

Added Gameplay Content

 

Helgen Reborn - This allows you to rebuild Helgen in a very immersive way. With some added twists as well. There are many quests to this mod. Along with some important decisions that need to be made. Very good mod IMO.

 

Morskom Estate - A player home located near Dawnstar. However, to utilize it you must actually build and remodel it. Very cool! Be warned, this mod is no longer being updated and there are some unresolved issues with it. Still very high quality.

 

Tel Nalta II - Cool idea for the player to construct a town and populated in an immersive way. It is a mushroom town, would work well the Dark Fantasy Overhaul (no longer support but still run great) or Enhanced Landscapes (Dark Fantasy is now integrated into this mod. Bit of a bear to get installed since it requires multiple other mods). It offers a player home, followers, pets, and all the other amenities that you would expect in a town.

 

Looking for more content mods that add new game play into the Skyrim in an immersive way.

 

 

Immersive Mods

 

Dovahkiin Relaxes Too - While idel, the player will partake in general immersive activities; warm hands by a fire, sweep floors, and meditate to name a few. This is staple mod for immersive gameplay but I feel that you don't have it to have an immersed game.

 

Audio Overhaul - This sound mod, overhauls the enter Skyrim soundscape. The sounds are more impactful, there is reverb system for distance. This could be argued to be a must have but there are other sound mods, but I feel this is the best one.

 

Pumping Iron - This is a fun little mod by Gopher. The crafting and fighting you do within the game, your muscles will grow. You can go from a smaller body type to bigger body type in a playthrough. This transformation is a very slow process. You must sleep to grow your muscles. I currently do not have this mod installed but I have used it. It pretty cool. There is an MCM menu so you can monitor your stats.

 

Ultimate HD Fire Effects - I have always thought the vanilla fire textures are pretty crappy. This mod makes fire look and interact in very real and immersive way. This mod also effects candles. I do have this mod currently installed. This mod will ultimately go in my graphic section of this list, but I am putting here for now till it is created.

 

SM Drop Lit Torches - Instead of putting a lit torch back in your bag or on your person to get a weapon out. You actually drop it to pull out your weapon(s). Once dropped, the torch is lit can act as a light source. It is very immersive but it can be a little annoying having to pick up your torches all the time. I am using this mod currently, but not sure for how much longer......I know, I know.

 

Jaxonz Real Names - This puts names to all the NPCs in Skyrim. It does include DLC and other mods that add NPCs (at least that is what it says in the description). No longer will guards be called "guards." It will say what city they hail from and their name. Pretty immersive. I do not have this mod installed but I have been thinking about it.

 

People are Strangers - This put the name "stranger" to everyone you look at and have yet to meet. Once you do talk with the NPC, if it is scripted, their name will be revealed. I do not have this mod installed but I have been thinking about it.

Real Shelter - No longer will rain and snow fall through awnings and shelters will outside. I have been looking for a mod like this for a while becuase it is pretty immersive breaking when I am under a canopy and it is still raining. I believe it will work with Frostfall. I have not worked with it enough to confirm either way.

No Snow Under the Roof - Kind of explains it all. It like Real Shelter. Good mod.

Fantasy Soundtrack Project - For me, I find hearing the same old music all the time is pretty immersive breaking. Part of being immersed in a game such as Skyrim, is the sound track. This mod adds over 12+ hours and over 235 orchestral and instrumental tracks to the game. You can have the mod replace the original soundtrack or work side by side with it. So that you still can here some of your old favorite background music.

 

Red Mountain Erupts: I am just starting to get into the lore of Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls. I doing some reading and I was watching a few lets play and I came across this little nugget. The story of Red Mountain. I will not decribe the event, only to say that there was a conflict there and because of that conflict the vulcano (Red Mountain) is now erupting. Here is the link to the story of that event, Ministry of Truth. Well, that mountain can be seen in Skyrim. In the vanilla game. However, it is not erupting even though it is suppose to. That is pretty immersion breaking This mod fixes that. The Red Mountain is now eurpting like it is suppose to. I will be adding this mod to my load order.....going to have to find some room.

 

Birds of Skyrim: Skyrim has always seemed sparse on fowl wildlife even though most of area is covered in forests and lowlands. This mods adds flocks of birds to Skyrim in an immersive way. Certain birds will be found in certain area do to climate and environment. Most are found in wooded area, or near waters sources. This is a great mod and I highly recomend it if you have the room in your load order. I am not currently running this now, but I have used it before.

 

This mod allows you to place weapons and gear on your horse. There are special saddle bags that are on horse and items that you place in it (currently only weapons) will be displayed. Very immersive!! I love the idea. I will be adding this mod once it gets a little bit more complete.

 

Archery Gameplay Overhaul - This is great mod for the archery enthuist, highly recommended and immersive. The mod as bleeding damage to anyone, including you, by an arrow, better camera angle for 3 person shooting, and arm fatigue. The longer you have your bow drawn, the more your bow arm will shake, very immersive. Everything is customizable in the MCM menu.

 

Equipping Overhaul - This mod sets up a new way the Dovahkiin sways, equips and drops items. This operates much like SM Drop Lit Torches. Even though it might be very immersive, it might not be for everyone. Beware, that in the 4.25 alpha build of this mod, you will need XPMS or similar skeleton mod.

 

Skyrim - Enhanced Camera - This mod operates much like the Fallout NV mod New Vegas - Enhanced Camera. In fact, it is the same author. This mod allows you to look down see yourself in the 1st person. Must have IMO opinion for an immersive playthrough.

 

Locational Damage - This mod offers different damage and criticals to different areas of the body while hit in combat. If you get hit in the head with an arrow or other weapon, usually it will be an instant kill. The mod offers better disarming mechanics, blurred vision. Along with percentage damage, based on your weapon skill. Everything is customizable in the MCM menu. Be warned, that many reviews claim that this mod can be buggy. Trying to find a more update mod that does the same thing as this one.

 

Here is an amazing website that is a quick reference guide that a group of modders have put together. They feel that the mods they list are lore-friendly, realistic, immerisve and challenging. If you don't know about it, the site can be hard to find. They do not advertise it very well. Thus kind of why I am making this thread.

 

Game Enhancement Mods for Skyrim

 

G.E.M.S.

Game Overhauls

(not really immersive but really good game overhauls that should be checked out)

Be aware, with these massive mod, it can be a bit of a process to install them. You just cannot download them and activate. All of these require a SkyProc Patching before playing. This can be a little bit daunting to setup. Requiem being the most difficult, IMO. But once, you finish it, you will not regret it. Make sure to read the description (everyone says that....but especially for these mods), or watch some installation videos.

:smile: You will be able to tell where my allegiance lies when you read this section.

Perkus Maximus - The second installment by the legendary T3nd0. This mod is mostly a perk/skill overhaul. T3nd0 took what he learned with Skyre and then applied it to this mod. I have not played it but what I have read about Perkus Maximus, it does not overhaul as much as Skyre (races, stones, etc). It is mostly about the character and character building. The new perk trees look impressive.

 

Requiem - The Roleplaying Overhaul - This overhaul takes no prisoners. With this mod, you really have to think about how you approach combat, because one well placed blow and you will die. If I had to say which overhaul is the most immersive I would say Requiem. Ogerboss has add little mechanics that effect the character in a big ways and they make sense. Case in point, as a level 1 character (regardless what armor you are wearing) you will notice your stamina going down wherever you walk/run. This will continue until you put the 1 point in that armor tree. The justification is that you finally trained yourself on how to properly wear and function within that armor type. Very cool!

 

As I said the installing process for these mods, especially Requiem, can be a bear. In this mod's case, Ogerboss, has setup a trouble shooting website where you can create tickets on any issue that you might have with the mod and he and his staff will answer in a very timely manner. Usually, in less than 12 hours. I am currently, using this mod and I love it. This mod may not be for everyone, but you should at least check it out and watch some spot light videos on it.

 

If using this mod, make sure to check out Requiem 1.9 Patch Central for most, not all, compatibility patch for Requiem.

 

Skyre (Skyrim Redone) - This is T3nd0 1st overhaul mod. It is the most endorsed overhaul mod on the Nexus with 55k endorsements and over 1.2 million downloads. Skyre is arguably the 1st successful overhaul mod coming out in Feb 2012. Like Perkus Maximus, the overhaul is based on character development and building. Combat, enemies' AI, race traits, standing stones, and scaling are just of the few things that are overhauled with this mod. I have used this mod for years and it was a staple for me for any playthrough that I was doing.

 

SPERG - Skyrim Perk Enhancement and Rebalanced Gameplay - This is a lite weight, compared to the other, game overhaul. Its main focus is the retooled perk trees. They help promote new play styles and builds. Along with this, leveling and skill points have been redefined. If you want a different Skyrim experience but do not want to undertake mods like SkyRe or Reqiem, this give SPERG a try.

 

 

Bits and other Bobs

 

New World Modder Resource - I have not tried this out. But it looks like an open landscape for mod authors to use to create new area in a new land separate from Skyrim. The space is already created so writers can just use this space to make their new content mods. Cool idea.

 

Hunter's New World - This add an immersive way to get to the "New World" in the previous mod, via ship. The ship is docked near Solitude.

 

 

There are many many more mods to put up but I wanted to get this up. I will be adding more sections to better present these mods in the coming days. Maybe, even alphabetize the list.... That will take some time. The list only includes the ones that I know. I will also add other mods based on responses.

 

In the coming weeks, I will be adding to this list. Please suggest mods that you find that are immersive and tell me about them and/or notify me if there are any broken or wrong links. Thank you for all the support and feed back!

 

~Nystel

 

Thank you's

 

 

Xjaegermeifter - Equipment Overhaul, Archery Gameplay Overhaul, Locational Damage

Ac3s - even though it was a plug for his own mod, TelNata II looks great. Wonderful idea, I will use it in my druid playthrough.

[Kerberus14]

https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrimmods/

 

Also; check ELGO out, far too few people know of it or even tried to play with it, maybe it sucks because it does too many things, who knows.

Edited September 27, 2015 by Kerberus14

[Nystel]

Since I orginally posted this thread, I have added 5 other mods to the list.

 

~ Fantasy Soundtrack Project

~ No Snow Under the Roof

~ Real Shelter

~People are Strangers

~ Jaxsonz Real Names

[mfancy]

This is a brand new mod, but I suggest Dynamic Horse Saddles for the list.

[Nystel]

I added 3 more mods to the list today. I also, edited the post to clean up some errors and issues.

 

~ Red Mountain Eurpts

~ Birds of Skyrim

~ Dynamic Horse Saddles

[xJaegermeifter]

I cant find them, due to me not remembering their names... But if you can find them, heres a few.

 

 

Enhanced Conversations- Where it would zoom in on the NPCs face when talking to them, like in Oblivion/Fallouts.

 

I remember some Mod that had "section" damage, Meaning if you got hit in the arm, you would swing slower, in the face, blurry vision, in the back, stagger, and in the leg, you would move slower/stagger/limp.

 

Also, i believe its called Equipping overhaul. Where you can Equip any number of weapons (one of each) as favorited, to your body. What was neat, this also adds a "realistic switch" option, where weapons would drop when you switched to another, this included Torches (so when your walking in a cave, a Bear jumps out, AHHHHH, *drops torch, pulls out 2hnd*), allowing you to fight with your torch light on the ground.

 

And Lastly, "Archery Overhaul" i believe the name is, it makes the way you look, and gives way better animations look way more realistic.

[Nystel]

Xjaeger, great ideas!

 

Yea archery overhaul will defiantly make an apprehended on this list. I love the mod so far. I wanted to do some more testing before putting it up. It should be this weekend though.

 

I know the damage one you are thinking of. In fact, I got in my load order now. The name, however, escapes me too.

 

I have also heard of the equipment one too. However, don't you need a certain skeleton mod though? Not sure.

[xJaegermeifter]

Xjaeger, great ideas!

 

Yea archery overhaul will defiantly make an apprehended on this list. I love the mod so far. I wanted to do some more testing before putting it up. It should be this weekend though.

 

I know the damage one you are thinking of. In fact, I got in my load order now. The name, however, escapes me too.

 

I have also heard of the equipment one too. However, don't you need a certain skeleton mod though? Not sure.

im on my cell atm, so i cant really surf the Nexus, but i think its XP32 which is the most norm one out there, but if not, its compatable with anything. Basically it allows any weapon to be equipped to the slot its suppose to be in, at the same time, works with DSR as well.

[Nystel]

Added some more mods to the list:

 

~ Equipment Overhaul

~ Archery Gameplay Overhaul

~ Locational Damage

~ Enhanced Camera

[Deleted31005User]

Check out Tel Nalta II, you begin with nothing and its up to the player to grow the mushroom buildings, then build the interiors and then hire npcs to live in them.

Main tower is for the player, its got displays for daedric items etc., and also room for your spouse and kids (2/4/6 beds, allowing you to fully use Hearthfire Multiple Adoption if you wish so).

Its got lots of extras but I'm not going to mention all of that in here, just read the description or experience it for yourself.

 

I still slowly work on this mod so any bug that gets reported to me will get looked at, but imo v2.08 is pretty much in pristine condition at this point.

Edited October 4, 2015 by Guest