Highlights

  • Mods enhance gaming experience by adding new content, tweaking gameplay, and improving visuals.
  • The modding community breathes new life into old games, creating standalone experiences.
  • From simple cosmetic changes to total game overhauls, mods offer endless possibilities for gamers.

Mods in gaming can elongate certain games with countless amounts of extra hours of playtime or even revive some games from the dead. There are genuinely numerous mods out there, and each one could change a fundamental aspect of the games they are for. Some mods might only change the aesthetics, but a few might improve aspects of the gameplay. A number of mods were created to add quality of life to the title, which the creators think should have been in the base game when others have created massive expansions.

Related
20 Mods That Make Minecraft Feel Like A Completely Different Game
Using these awesome mods on your copy of Minecraft can help transform it into a game that feels completely different!

The modding community is easily one of the best parts of PC gaming, and this can be seen in the fact that fully-fledged video games with massive fanbases have arisen out of these mods! It's a truly remarkable achievement, and even the mods that haven't attained a standalone release for a variety of issues (such as licensing, copyrights, finances, and anything else along the same lines) can still end up providing unforgettable experiences in their own right!

Updated on March 17, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Most video games on PC with mod support and a dedicated fanbase end up wowing the masses when a group of passionate modders decide to develop an ambitious project in the form of unofficial patches, new content, or total overhauls that are impressive in every way. There are many great games lucky enough to receive mods that elevate their quality in a special way, attracting a lot of positive attention and letting players enjoy brand-new experiences with their favorite video games. There is an endless catalog of games with fantastic mods, and a few more of them have been added to this list.

28 New Threat/Randomizer

Downloads: N/A

Final Fantasy 7 New Threat mod
Final Fantasy 7

Platform(s)
PlayStation (Original) , PC , iOS , Android , Nintendo Switch , Xbox One , PS4
Released
January 31, 1997
Developer(s)
Square Enix
Genre(s)
RPG

The new Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is here, but what about scratching that itch with a fresh take on the original? There is a mod called New Threat created by SegaChief, which adds an array of stuff to Final Fantasy that everyone knows and loves – New bosses, new conversations, two types of difficulty, plus tons more. This mod uses what players know about the original title and uses it against them. It indeed is an outstanding mod.

Or how about a randomizer? Randomizers have gotten massive over the last few years. Some change the contents of the chests, and a few can change the enemies that appear, plus more. Well, SegaChief has made a Final Fantasy 7 Randomizer, and it looks fantastic. One of the best features of it is enemy model swapping; Cloud and company are going to get into some hilarious battles.

27 Calamity Mod

Downloads: N/A

Terraria Calamity Mod New Content
Terraria

Platform(s)
PC , PS3 , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , Xbox Series S , Xbox Series X , Switch , Vita , iOS , Android , macOS , Linux , 3DS , Stadia
Released
May 16, 2011
Developer(s)
Re-Logic
Genre(s)
Action , Adventure , Sandbox

Most people write off Terraria to be nothing more than 2D Minecraft, which is doing a huge disservice to the allure of this title. Despite releasing more than a decade ago, a stream of content patches and post-release support has led to a dedicated fanbase that simply can't get enough of this title.

Of course, it helps that ardent players of Terraria can enjoy all the benefits that arise out of the Calamity Mod too! This incredible mod has been made solely to make the endgame of Terraria more engaging than ever before, featuring an immense amount of content that effectively doubles the time players can spend in the game, if not more! The list of additions includes new biomes, enemies, weapons, music, difficulty modes, recipes, leveling mechanics, and a wealth of other tweaks.

26 Roleplay Servers

Downloads: N/A

GTA V Roleplay mod
Grand Theft Auto 5

Released
September 17, 2013
Developer(s)
Rockstar North
Genre(s)
Open-World , Action

GTA has been out since 2013, and it's still one of the most popular games played at present, especially since GTA Online is continuously updating with a plethora of new content. But for those who want a unique experience, why not try one of the many GTA Roleplay servers, known as FiveM?

These servers host a heavily modded version of GTA, where role-playing is necessary to play. Players become that character, they have to voice that character, and traffic laws are a thing that needs to be obeyed. Since there are role-playing police on every server, jail time is also a real thing. It's a very immersive experience.

25 SA-MP

Downloads: N/A

Carl Johnson walking away from car

San Andreas is the personal favorite of many GTA fans, even if there's no denying that the scope of Grand Theft Auto 5 blows this game completely out of the water. The game has a loyal community that is still extremely active to this day, with the SA-MP mod allowing players to engage in multiplayer shenanigans in this title.

Related
Amazing Tomb Raider Mods That Make The Games Even Better
The Tomb Raider series features a ton of diverse entries, and these mods improve the base game experience through visuals and mechanics.

San Andreas' multiplayer tweaks are a thing of beauty, with these serves encouraging everything from following the law to rampant chaos and destruction. The role-playing servers are especially impressive, with players being encouraged to live a proper virtual life where they do jobs, adhere to the police, and fulfill a wide range of realistic activities using their virtual avatars.

24 Portal Stories: Mel

Downloads: N/A

Portal Stories Mel
Portal 2

Platform(s)
PS3 , Xbox 360 , Switch , PC
Released
April 18, 2011
Developer(s)
Valve
Genre(s)
Puzzle , Platformer

Portal 2 is one of the greatest games of all time, and it also features a great modding community that has created some amazing levels and experiences as well.

Out of all the community mods that have been released for this game, Portal Stories: Mel is perhaps the best of the lot. Featuring full voice acting and some challenging yet fun puzzles, this free community expansion mod is the best thing that people can try out after finishing Portal 2.

23 Community Flavor Pack Official

Downloads: N/A

Crusader Kings 3 Characters
Crusader Kings 3

Platform(s)
PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC
Released
September 1, 2020
Developer(s)
Paradox Interactive
Genre(s)
RPG , Grand Strategy

Given the potential for great mods in Crusader Kings 3, it's quite impressive that a simple cosmetic mod is one of the most popular ones for this game. Such is the case with the Community Flavor Pack Official mod, which adds many trinkets in the game for players to mess around with.

This pack goes a long way in ensuring that every character in the game looks unique, which helps when it comes to the game's immersion. It's a simple mod, but a must-have for players who want more visual flavor in Crusader Kings 3.

22 OpenRCT2

Downloads: N/A

aerial view of a theme park in rollercoaster tycoon 2
RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Platform(s)
PC
Released
October 15, 2002
Developer
Chris Sawyer Productions
Genre(s)
Simulation

The RollerCoaster Tycoon series used to be one of the greatest amusement park simulators, before the latest release tarnished its legacy for good. As a result, most people opt to experience the good old days of RollerCoaster Tycoon by playing the second game in the series, which is easily the best 2D park simulator around.

Related
Total War: 18 Best Total Conversion & Overhaul Mods
The Total War games always have amazing modding communities — today, we're showcasing the talent they've fostered with some of the games' best mods.

With OpenRCT2, various tweaks and fixes are made to improve the engine of RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, make it more playable on modern systems, and even change the gameplay without making too many major tweaks! It's the definitive way to enjoy the golden age of the RollerCoaster Tycoon series.

21 Enderal: Forgotten Stories

Downloads: N/A

Skyrim Enderal Forgotten Stories mod
Skyrim

Platform(s)
PC , PS3 , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , Xbox One X , Xbox Series S , PS4 , PS5 , Switch
Released
November 11, 2011
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Genre(s)
RPG , Action , Adventure

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is the biggest game that has been modded. According to NexusMods, the original version of Skyrim has a whopping 62.6k mods created for it. These mods can change every aspect of the game, from graphics to the creatures inhabiting the land, to weapons and magic. Some add new quests and even massive expansions.

One of the biggest and best is called Enderal: Forgotten Stories, which is a total conversion mod. It is set in its own world, offers its own story, and completely overhauls the skills systems and gameplay mechanics. It's completely free and available on Steam, and only the base game is required.

20 Farewell Of The White Wolf

Downloads: 27,687

Farewell Of The White Wolf
The Witcher 2

Platform(s)
PC , Xbox 360 , Linux , macOS
Released
May 17, 2011
Developer(s)
CD Projekt Red
Genre(s)
Action RPG

The Witcher 2 is a great game, and people who want to experience more of Geralt's stories in the same engine can download the Farewell of the White Wolf mod. This fan expansion serves as an epilogue to The Witcher series, with the story focusing on Geralt's marriage to Yennefer.

While this mod lacks voice acting, people who can overlook this one particular gripe can install the Farewell of the White Wolf mod to enjoy another well-made chapter in the life of Geralt of Rivia.

19 Kung Fu 3.0

Downloads: 35,994

Max Payne – Kung Fu 3.0 mod
Max Payne

Released
July 23, 2001
Developer(s)
Remedy Entertainment
Genre(s)
Third-Person Shooter

The original Max Payne is one of the most enjoyable narrative action games ever made. Controlling this grizzled cop in this quest for revenge is a blast that pays off every single time.

With the Kung Fu 3.0 mod, Max Payne can essentially turn into an action fest like The Matrix as players pull off amazing moves, with the mod adding melee combat as well. Running up and over walls to shoot enemies is always entertaining, with the fluidity of the animations being pretty impressive given the obvious limitations this mod had to deal with.

18 The Dark Mod

Downloads: 72,879

The Dark Mod village at night, lit by windows and lanterns
DOOM 3

Platform(s)
PC , PS1 , Switch , Xbox (Original)
Released
August 3, 2004
Developer(s)
id Software
Genre(s)
FPS

Thief is one of the most beloved stealth titles around, and players decided to use the engine of Doom 3 to create a mod that would celebrate this title in the best way possible.

Related
10 Immersive Sims To Play If You Love The Thief Franchise
If you love the Thief franchise, you might find that you alo love these other amazing immersive sims.

The Dark Mod is an excellent stealth video game that uses the id Tech 4 engine to craft an experience that serves as a great homage to the Thief series while simultaneously being a great experience in its own right.

17 The Nameless Mod

Downloads: 128,777

Nameless Mod for Deus Ex
Deus Ex

Platform(s)
PC , PS2
Released
June 23, 2000
Developer(s)
Ion Storm
Genre(s)
Action RPG , FPS , Stealth

The original Deus Ex is nearing its 25th anniversary of release, as it was released in June 2000. Deus Ex is a first-person action game cyberpunk game that really boosted that niche genre. If players have checked out this game multiple titles and know pretty much everything about it, why not play a Deus Ex mod called the Nameless Mod?

The Nameless Mod is a total conversion mod released in 2009, and it's still being updated today. It adds a new story, new items, weapons, and enemies, and it's not set in the Deus Ex universe. This mod is created around humor, so take everything lighthearted.

16 Item Randomizer, Irregulator, & StraySouls

Downloads: 135,622 (Item Randomizer), 13,495 (Irregulator), & 16,724 (StraySouls)

Dark Souls 3 StraySouls mod
Dark Souls 3

Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox One , PC
Released
March 24, 2016
Developer(s)
From Software
Genre(s)
Action RPG

Dark Souls 3 is a notoriously hard game by FromSoftware, many players have raged eternally over attempting to beat this game. But is there any way to make it even harder? There are three ways, in fact, and when combined, altogether will create an entirely different run-through entirely but keeping the vanilla game the same.

First is an Item Randomizer mod, where every item in the game is randomized. Second is the Irregulator, which changes the stats of all equipment in the game, but also the moveset of said weapons – a club could have the attacks of a rapier. And lastly, StraySouls can randomize enemy placement and the amount that appears, so that the first enemy in the game could be an endgame one.

15 Europa Barbarorum

Downloads: 192,677

Europa Barbarorum Mod For Rome Total War
Rome: Total War

Platform(s)
PC , Android , iOS
Released
September 22, 2004
Genre(s)
Strategy , Tactical

The Total War series features some great grand strategy games with a focus on warfare. One of the more popular titles that contributed to the immense popularity of the game is Rome: Total War.

A group of modders has created a mod solely focused on realism, called Europa Barbarorum. The sheer amount of work put into accurately reflecting the time period is quite impressive, making this mod one of the more notable ones out there.

14 Enhanced Edition/Ghost Mode

Downloads: 56,286 (Enhanced Edition) & 207,070 (Ghost Mode)

Witcher 3 Enhanced Edition mod

Players who want to replay The Witcher 3 but have completed the game before can opt for an overhaul of the game. Two mods do this exceptionally well, Witcher 3 Enhanced Edition and Ghost Mode.

Related
14 Mods That Make The Witcher 3 Feel Like A Completely Different Game
PC is the best way to play Witcher 3 for 1 reason: mods that enhance the game completely! From more Gwent to better graphics, here are the best mods.

Enhanced Edition is an overhaul mod that focuses on immersion; not only does it change combat, but it changes most things from alchemy, the level system, to how the loot works. It changes a lot of stuff utterly different from the vanilla game. Ghost Mode is an overhaul that tweaks the vanilla game, so it keeps as close to the base game as it can, but provides enough changes to make it a new experience.

13 Moguri Mod

Downloads: 217,598

final fantasy 9, moguri mod, new graphics improvements

Final Fantasy 9 is easily one of the greatest games in the series. It's a tale that harkens back to the classic era of Final Fantasy games, with a charming cast of characters and excellent writing driving this game and its events forward.

With the Moguri Mod, Final Fantasy 9 can now be visually enriched and enhanced to make it more playable on modern systems. This mod makes several small yet notable changes that make it crystal clear that the people behind this mod's development knew exactly what they were doing!

12 NeoTokyo

Downloads: 252,180

NeoTokyo
Half-Life 2

Platform(s)
PC , Xbox 360 , Xbox (Original) , PS3 , macOS , Linux , Android
Released
November 16, 2004
Developer(s)
Valve
Genre(s)
Shooter

A tactical multiplayer mod for Half-Life 2 that ends up being wildly enjoyable in every way, shape, and form, NeoTokyo is an excellent mod that is quite a blast to play through for several reasons.

The multiplayer face-offs that occur in this mod are quite intense and entertaining, with the cyberpunk setting and backstory of the game also being quite amazing in their own right. Recently, a demo for a single-player campaign set in the NeoTokyo universe has been released.

11 Portal: Prelude

Downloads: 275,329

Portal Prelude mod
Portal

Platform(s)
PC , PS3 , Switch , Xbox 360
Released
October 10, 2007
Developer(s)
Valve
Genre(s)
Puzzle

Before Portal 2 was a thing, fans were hard at work making custom levels of their own to satiate the fanbase till then. One particularly impressive mod that explored the history of Aperture Science before the inception of GLaDOS is Portal: Prelude.

This unofficial prequel to the Portal series features several great and tough puzzles that are a blast to play through. Fans of the series who want to play through another tightly-paced and engaging chapter in the Portal universe should definitely check this mod out!

10 New California

Downloads: 294,280

Fallout New California mod

Fallout: New Vegas is one of the best Fallout games released, and there are a plethora of mods to make it different from the base game. But what about a new campaign? Well, it's possible with Fallout: New California, though it had a different name before the beta release, Project Brazil.

Related
Fallout 4: 5 Mods That Change Everything (& 5 That Are Ridiculously Hilarious)
Fallout 4's modding community is ambitious and thriving, leading to some mods that drastically alter Bethesda's game. Others are just hilarious.

Fallout: New California adds a whole new place to explore, new missions, new enemies, and everything else along the same lines. But what's special about this mod is that it's possible to play as the Courier, but only when the California mod is finished, but twenty years have passed since players were last in New Vegas.

9 The Sith Lords Restored Content Mod (TSLRCM)

Downloads: 523,602

Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was a great title, and fans couldn't wait to play the sequel in the series that would allow fans to play out another chapter in the series. However, Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords ended up being somewhat of a disappointment, in no small part due to the fact that Obsidian Entertainment wasn't able to integrate everything it wanted into the overall experience.

Thankfully, TSLRCM integrates most of this cut content into the overall game while polishing the experience as well. It's a must-have for anyone who wants to enjoy KOTOR 2 without any compromises.

  • Created by: Zbigniew "zbyl2" Staniewicz and DarthStoney
  • Download Link