Highlights

  • Settlement building in Fallout 4 allows players to turn junk into various useful structures and objects.
  • Modding community has created mods to make settlement building more intuitive and enjoyable.
  • These mods range from adding variety to settlers' appearances to adding new quests, items, and features to settlement building.

One of the largest additions to Fallout 4 was settlement building. Players can take the assortment of junk they find in the wasteland and turn it into buildings, turrets, generators, and much more. Bethesda went as far as to make an entire faction in the story revolve around this mechanic. However, many players have a hard time getting into settlement building due to some unintuitive systems and features.

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Fortunately, the talented and passionate modding community of Fallout 4 has created some fantastic mods that make settlement building much more intuitive and enjoyable. From simple quality-of-life improvements to fundamental overhauls, many fantastic Fallout 4 mods make settlement building so much better.

Updated on January 27, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Fallout 4 is a game that has its fair share of critics, but there's no denying that its amazing open world and modding support have helped the game stand out as a pretty great RPG that players can have a great time with as long as they're willing to overlook this title's faults. A new feature built into the game is settlement building, with players salvaging resources and restoring dilapidated settlements to reach their former glory once again. If players find this mode lacking in some way, then some mods will prove to be a huge help in this regard.

22 eXofied Settlers - We Better Be Varied And Real

Downloads: 131,214

eXofied Settlers - We Better Be Varied And Real mod for Fallout 4

The settlers that appear in areas that the Sole Survivor has helped develop do a great job of rewarding players for their hard work. However, given how lifeless most NPCs in Bethesda games already are, this becomes even worse once players see that most settlers look, talk, and feel the same.

To get rid of this immersion breaker, players can download a mod that combines the work of other celebrated modders to ensure that no two settlers look alike. It's a small change, but something that long-time players of Fallout 4 will appreciate if they enjoy messing around with settlement building a lot in this game.

21 Magazine Rack Extended

Downloads: 104,062

Magazine Rack Extended mod for Fallout 4

There are many magazines that players can find in the world of Fallout 4, but players who want to stack these items properly on magazine racks may be somewhat annoyed by the unnecessary limitations set here. Magazines can't be stacked properly without leaving some unnecessary space in the middle, which is a small annoyance for players, especially in settlement-building mode.

With this mod, players can rack up as many magazines as they want on a shelf without worrying about this issue. It may seem like a small change, but players who've found this arbitrary restriction to be a pain can finally get rid of it with a simple mod.

20 Project Zeta

Downloads: 63,893

Project Zeta mod for Fallout 4
  • Creator: HcGxGrill, TheFriedturkey, Zanthir, MrColonelMustard
  • Download Link

To simply call Project Zeta a settlement mod would be doing a huge disservice. The mod is inspired by the Mothership Zeta DLC for Fallout 3, adding a whole new quest line, new enemy types, otherworldly weapons, and an alien companion, just to name a few of its many polished additions.

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This mod also adds many alien-like constructs in the workshop that players can build, along with two new settlements as well. Project Zeta is highly rated within the Fallout 4 modding community, and it's easy to see why this is the case given how natural the addition of its elements is.

19 Climbable Ladders For Settlements

Downloads: 77,658

Climbable Ladders for Settlements mod for Fallout 4

Something that bothers players while building settlements is that they can't place ladders to connect two levels. While this may be a minor gripe, players who want their settlements to look as personalized as possible find the lack of player-made ladders to be quite irritating indeed.

Thankfully, there's a mod that adds such ladders in the workshop. Now, players have a different way to connect two levels so that they can make more complex structures.

18 Project Mojave Workshop Pack

Downloads: 33,903

Project Mojave Workshop Pack for Fallout 4

Fallout: New Vegas is considered by many to be one of the greatest role-playing video games of all time, and it's easy to see why this is the case. The sheer level of player freedom coupled with its amazing story made for a great time that combined the best of both the 2D and 3D Fallout games.

Players still can't get over this amazing experience and pay homage to it whenever possible. It should be no surprise that many mods exist that incorporate elements of New Vegas into Fallout 4, including the Project Mojave Workshop Pack mod that adds many workshop items present in Obsidian Entertainment's attempt to make a Fallout game.

17 Scrappable Skeletons

Downloads: 27,416

Scrappable Skeletons mod for Fallout 4

One thing that irritates many people while settlement building is that the skeletons on their property won't go away no matter what. This becomes a thing of the past with the Scrappable Skeletons mod.

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As the name suggests, players can now remove any unwanted skeletons from their settlement. This is a massive boon for people who hate seeing their developed settlements marred with these unsightly skeletons.

16 Working Aquariums

Downloads: 23,590

Working Aquariums mod for Fallout 4

Many mods have added several workshop items that do a great job of making a settlement look lively and lived-in, which is a massive achievement given the post-apocalyptic setting of Fallout 4. One such workshop item that is quite amazing is Working Aquariums.

This mod adds a whopping 40 aquariums that players can build in their settlements. It's a great mod that makes any area featuring these aquariums feel more alive and distinct.

15 cVc Dead Wasteland

Downloads: 1,362,011

cVc Dead Wasteland mod for Fallout 4

The vanilla selection of items that can be constructed in Settlement Mode is pretty decent in its own right. However, it's only normal that some fans would want even more from this experience.

This is where the cVc Dead Wasteland mod comes into the picture. It adds over a thousand new items that can be constructed while building a settlement, and the fact that all of these items are lore-friendly shows just how much effort was put into making this mod as accurate and engaging as possible.

14 Woody's Wasteland Stuff

Downloads: 265,085

Woody's Wasteland Stuff mod for Fallout 4

It seems that when it comes to Settlement Mods, the stuff packs are what sell the experience. So, it's easy to see why so many people love the Woody's Wasteland Stuff mod for Fallout 4.

It adds a bunch of cool-looking things to the game without breaking a player's immersion, which can be pretty challenging to do. Thankfully, this mod succeeds on all fronts and is a must-have for fans of the Settlement Mode who want even more items to play around with.

13 Immersive Settlers

Downloads: 234,766

Better Settlers mod fallout 4

The settlers that arrive to populate a player's location in Fallout 4 make it feel like the player is on the right track while trying to make these habitats more livable. However, the issue that arises here is that the majority of these settlers are completely lifeless and feel more like walking mannequins than actual people, especially since they don't even have names of their own!

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This is a problem that the Immersive Settlers mod aims to accomplish. It's a simple but effective mod that gives every settler a random name from over 200 possible monikers. It might seem like a minor change but does wonders when it comes to making the settlements of Fallout 4 feel more organic.

12 Kamuro Neon

Downloads: 14,536

hifoo's Kamuro Neon mod for Fallout 4

While a lot of the Fallout 4 settlement mods focus on making settlements bigger and better, hifoo's Kamuro Neon mod is a little more niche. It's one that's been built specifically for fans of the Yakuza series and aims to bring a little taste of Japanese nightlife to the Boston wasteland.

Installing the mod will add several neon signs to the workshop, all of which are designed to emulate the look and feel of the Kamurocho district from the Yakuza games. Even for those who've never played the titles, the neon glow they provide can completely change the look of a settlement and offers a nice option for those looking to mix things up a little.

11 Functional Displays

Downloads: 1,035,442

SecretAgent99's Functional Displays mod for Fallout 4

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the Fallout series is the ability to scavenge a wide variety of unique items and weapons. Sadly though, the vanilla version of Fallout 4 offers very few options when it comes to players storing and displaying their bounty. SecretAgent99's Functional Displays mod aims to right this wrong.

Once installed, it allows players to show off their weapons, armor, and collectibles in several different ways. There are wall-mounted pegboards, glass display cases, and different types of shelves available, providing players with just about everything needed to show off their expert scavenging skills.

10 Scrap Everything

Downloads: 3,234,444

Fallout 4 Scrap Everthing Mod

Scrap Everything does what it says on the tin. Once installed, virtually every aspect of a settlement can be scrapped, making it far easier for players to start their settlements from scratch. Granted, it can seem a little daunting at first, but it ultimately gives players far more control over the layouts of their settlements.

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Scrap houses, sidewalks, and once irremovable vegetation — nearly everything tied to a settlement can be removed to create more building space. It's incredibly easy to use too, although players should perhaps be careful as once scrapped, things can't be easily restored. However, these minor issues pale in comparison to the world of possibilities opened up by this mod.

9 Quieter Settlements

Downloads: 1,585,692

Fallout 4 Castle Armory

Most settlement objects that require power generate a large amount of noise. While this is fine when players are making a small settlement, creating multiple generators and turrets can give players a headache with how loud they are. This is especially true when players have to spend a lot of time trying to perfect each and everything about their settlements.

Quieter Settlements from mod author Lemures reduces the noise of these settlement items. This mod comes with a configurable installation to let players adjust how loud different settlement sounds are. Players can finally explore Sanctuary without hearing Sturges hammer a wall from half a mile away.

8 Homemaker - Expanded Settlements

Downloads: 4,688,285

expanded settlements fallout 4

Players who want to make their settlements truly unique should consider installing Homemaker - Expanded Settlements by NovaCoru. This mod adds over 1,000 additional craftable objects to the settlement system, most of which are assets from the vanilla game.

Pre-War assets, Institute architecture, greenhouses, and entire buildings from downtown Boston are included in this mod, allowing players to create the settlement of their dreams. It's also possible to recreate certain areas of the game, which can also be a lot of fun. All in all, this mod is a godsend for players who want to create something truly amazing and creative in the game, which is impossible with the vanilla selection of items that can be constructed.

7 Place Everywhere

Downloads: 4,826,969

Fallout 4 Chichen Itza Recreation

Building conflicts will be a thing of the past once players install TheLich's Place Everywhere mod. This mod allows settlement items to be placed anywhere the player desires. Objects can be placed in midair, intersect other objects, or be placed partway into the ground.

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Players will still need to abide by the settlement's building radius and can't build items directly into the ground. That said, those who want to try their hand at creating massive structures or intricate settlements will want to give this mod a try.

6 Better Settlers

Downloads: 3,318,384

Fallout 4 Better Settlers Mod

Settlers are mostly useless in Fallout 4, as they can hardly defend themselves. Better Settlers by Thom293 addresses this issue by adding over 240 settler variants to the game. These different settlers not only have unique appearances, but they also have different sets of equipment to make them useful during raids.

Most of the mod is customizable, allowing players to tweak what types of settlers can spawn, the stats and equipment settlers have, and decide the mortality of NPCs in certain situations. It's a great mod that allows players to focus more on building and less on gearing settlers.

5 OCDecorator - Static Loot

Downloads: 1,596,490

Fallout 4 OCDecorator mod tables

OCDecorator is the perfect mod for players who want to decorate their settlements with small objects found throughout the Commonwealth. This mod allows players to convert most items into a static mesh that cannot be moved by NPCs or physics interactions.

Players will need to craft an OCDispenser tool in their settlement. From there, use the dispenser to convert items to static meshes that can be placed in settlement mode. Decorate the settlement as desired, then enjoy the plethora of perfectly placed objects that won't be displaced by a simple nudge.

4 Sim Settlements 2

Downloads: 2,296,451

Fallout 4 Sim Settlements 2

Sim Settlements is widely known as the largest settlement overhaul for Fallout 4, turning the build-intensive minigame into a Fallout twist on Sim City. This massive mod just received a sequel named Sim Settlements 2, now incorporating over a hundred new building plots, fully-voiced quests, and a few additions to the mod's core systems such as settler S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats.

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The core of Sim Settlements is letting settlers build their land. Players create plots that serve different purposes, such as housing or power. Settlers are then assigned to the plot of land and will work on constructing it while the player is away. These buildings can then be upgraded and taxed to provide additional resources and income. It turns the settlement system from mundane micro-management into a city builder that encourages players to frequent their settlements to see how they evolve.

3 All Settlements Extended

Downloads: 404,581

Fallout 4 All Settlements Extended

Due to the number of mods that add new items to the settlement system, the border space Bethesda gives players with every settlement can sometimes prove to be just a little bit too small. With the help of mods, though, that need no longer be the case.

Neeher's All Settlements Extended mod addresses this by extending the border wall of all settlements, increasing the build area players have to work with. Pair this with Homemaker or Sim Settlements to make settlements that rival Diamond City or Megaton in size and scope.