The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim offers players plenty of things to do and see. This myriad collection of activities, however, doesn't have to be experienced alone. Plenty of recruitable followers are willing to tag along with the Dragonborn in their adventures. Nevertheless, most players by now have likely traveled with just about every vanilla follower in the game.
Fortunately, that's where mods come into play. Follower mods in Skyrim range drastically in their quality. The best ones are typically those with custom dialogue and associated questlines. Among these, a handful of them are really quite impressive and tend to stand out from the rest. Players can't go wrong sharing their exploits with these faithful companions.
Updated February 18, 2023 by Mark Hospodar: Elder Scrolls fans are still holding their breath when it comes to a solid release date for the highly anticipated sixth entry in the franchise. In the meantime, players can still get their fix through Skyrim, thanks largely to the gargantuan collection of mods that keeps the game fresh.
Many of Nexus' most popular Skyrim mods deal with followers. Here, mod authors can really let their creativity shine with custom dialogue, behaviors, and questlines. This list has been expanded to include a few more worthwhile entries that fans shouldn't ignore.
18 Vilja, The Wandering Bard
Vilja is one of the most highly-regarded follower mods on Nexus. Some fans may even remember her from Oblivion, where she was also a downloadable companion. Vilja is an aspiring bard with her own detailed backstory, one that players may certainly find interesting.
A tremendous amount of work has been put into making Vilja a dynamic character. She possesses over 9,000 lines of unique dialogue, over 28 custom music pieces, and her own quest chain. Vilja's combat tactics are also very detailed and customizable. Players won't run out of things to do with Vilja for quite some time.
17 Auri, The Wood Elf Archer
The majority of the vanilla followers in Skyrim aren't terribly interesting. In addition, not too many of them are Bosmer, one of Tamriel's most prolific elven races. Mods that add characters that are actually interesting to learn about can really break up the monotony of an otherwise familiar playthrough.
Auri is a fully-voiced Bosmer archer that can more than hold her own in a fight. She possesses her own approval system regarding the player's actions as well as a small questline. Auri's even compatible with a few other follower mods on this list, such as Lucien and Inigo.
16 Xelzaz, The Telvanni Argonian
Players can always use a few more Argonian followers in Skyrim. They're one of the most interesting races in The Elder Scrolls lore, so installing a few mods that add several more of these reptilian rogues is worth it. Fortunately, fans don't have to look far when it comes to excellent Argonian follower mods.
Xelzaz is yet another fully-voiced follower, complete with over 5,000 lines of dialogue. In addition to his own unique questline, Xelzaz will also comment on various goings-on in the game. He can cook meals, brew potions, and even read books aloud to the player while traversing the map. This intrepid Argonian even has a personalized theme and combat music. Best of all, he also will interact with other follower mods on this list, including Nebarra, Remiel, and Lucifer.
15 Aurlyn Dawnstone, The Reclusive Philosopher
High Elves aren't the most welcome race in Skyrim, at least from the perspective of the Nords. However, that doesn't mean they can't be helpful as the Dragonborn's companions. Players looking to have some magical firepower at their backs should consider Aurlyn Dawnstone.
Aurlyn is an Aldmeri sorceress with an extensive backstory. With thousands of lines of custom dialogue, fans can spend a lot of time with Aurlyn before running out of things to discuss. She's a very powerful mage capable of delivering devastating ranged attacks that can smite enemies with relative ease.
14 Shirley, Skyrim's Grandma
It's fair to assume that many Skyrim players have probably heard of Shirley Curry. She's an 85-year-old Youtuber whose content revolves around Skyrim playthroughs. The Elder Scrolls community has bestowed upon her the affectionate nickname "the Skyrim Grandma."
Now, through the efforts of the modding community, Shirley herself can be recruited as a follower in Skyrim. She even recorded lines of dialogue specifically for the mod, which is a nice touch. When looking to explore with a more lighthearted companion, Shirley is a safe bet.
13 Geralt Of Rivia, The Witcher
Fans that don't mind breaking Skyrim's immersion will find plenty of material to work with on Nexus. Case in point, what better companion is there to have the Dragonborn's back than Geralt of Rivia? This match made in heaven, although not lore-friendly at all, is satisfying to behold.
Players can recruit this legendary witcher at the Winking Skeever in Solitude. Fans can expect Geralt to utilize his signature swords in combat as well as his witcher Signs. He also possesses his own custom dialogue, commenting on various locations and objects around the world. Needless to say, Skyrim's monsters won't stand a chance.
12 Remiel, The Breton Engineer
Longtime Skyrim players are no doubt familiar with the various Dwemer ruins scattered throughout the map. They're arguably The Elder Scrolls' most mysterious race, having gone extinct thousands of years before any of the games. When looking for new followers, why not bring along someone with a keen interest in the Dwemer?
Remiel is a Breton engineer from Wayrest who has come to Skyrim to explore the Dwemer ruins. She possesses about 2,500 lines of dialogue, so fans can look forward to plenty of interactions with her. Although not a competent warrior, Remiel can construct an upgradable Dwemer Spider to aid the player in combat. She's also handy with a lockpick. As with other followers on this list, getting to know her better is an entertaining endeavor.
11 Inigo, The Khajiit Sneak
Inigo is perhaps one of the most popular and recognizable follower mods out there. Vanilla Skyrim contains disappointingly few Khajiit followers. Inigo, however, more than makes up for that deficiency with his well-crafted and likable persona.
He possesses over 7,000 lines of unique dialogue, commenting on a wide range of topics. Inigo is a stealth-centric companion who avoids clumsily blundering into traps. He'll even whisper when the player speaks to him while sneaking, which is a cool little detail. It's definitely the quintessential Khajiit follower mod for Skyrim.
10 Hoth, The Grizzled Bounty Hunter
As far as companions go, Hoth is certainly one of the more intimidating. A gruff, experienced bounty hunter, Hoth never walks away from a fight. He's fully voiced, containing thousands of lines of unique dialogue. As a two-handed weapons expert, Hoth is perfect for plunging into the fray with a fury.
Visually, Hoth's appearance is also unique. His clothing and body textures are custom-made, which makes him stand out from most other followers. Interestingly, he's also able to give the player radiant bounty quests an infinite number of times. Never charge into battle without this grizzled veteran by the Dragonborn's side.
9 Arissa, The Wandering Rogue
Arissa is a rebel at heart, possessing no qualms about flaunting the law. She's the type of companion who's in it for the long haul. Getting to know her extensive backstory is a huge part of her appeal as well. With over 600 lines of custom dialogue, players can spend quite a bit of time getting to know Arissa. Her voice acting is one of the mod's high points, feeling like a natural extension of the vanilla game.
Arissa also possesses a unique loyalty system known as "Regard." Improving Arissa's Regard unlocks new abilities for her as a companion. It's worth noting, though, that players using the Special Edition of the game will have to port the mod using Bethesda Archive Extractor.
8 Familiar Faces, Traveling With Oneself
This mod represents an interesting take on the follower mechanic. Why travel with a stranger when players can explore Skyrim with themselves? The Familiar Faces mod allows the player to port characters from other save files into their current game.
These ported characters will maintain their old playstyles and equipment. Fighting alongside a fellow Dragonborn can really come in handy after all. The Special Edition version of this mod can be downloaded for free on Patreon. Players using the older, Legendary Edition version of Skyrim can find it here.
7 Kaidan, The Romantic
For players who enjoy a little romance along with their questing, the Kaidan follower mod is a good choice. Like other companions on this list, players need to spend time with Kaidan to learn his backstory. His and the Dragonborn's relationship will play out organically through conversations and dialogue decisions.
As far as combat is concerned, Kaidan is a satisfactory tank. He can withstand as well as deal respectable amounts of damage in a fight. Getting to know Kaidan, either platonically or romantically, is something worth considering when choosing interesting follower mods.
6 Lucifer, The Cagey Argonian
Although Xelzaz will keep players busy for a while, fans who want another Argonian to tag along on their adventures should consider adding the intimidatingly-named Lucifer as well. This intriguing companion has over 6,000 lines of dialogue and will gradually open up about his past as players gain his trust.
Lucifer is a competent warrior and archer who will stick by the player's side through thick and thin. Even though he may disagree with the Dragonborn's actions from time to time, Lucifer is a companion worth learning more about.
5 Lucien, The Imperial Scholar
Follower mods with well-crafted character arcs are hard to come by. Lucien is one of the few who possesses such an arc and is one of the most popular mods on Nexus for this reason. Lore-friendly and containing over 5,000 lines of custom dialogue, getting to know Lucien's story is a rewarding experience in itself.
Although inept at combat at first, Lucien will learn from the player, becoming more competent as time goes on. The player can also train Lucien to expedite the process. He even has special interactions with other followers on this list, such as Inigo, Hoth, and Kaidan, and also reacts either positively or negatively to the player's decisions. It's definitely a mod that deserves serious attention.
4 Sofia, The Free Spirit
Sofia is one of the most highly endorsed follower mods on Nexus. Her popularity stems mainly from her humorous (and often lewd) lines of custom dialogue. Traveling with her tends to brighten Skyrim's dreary atmosphere considerably.
The voice acting for Sofia is also top-notch. Listening to her jokes and comments doesn't get old easily, and breaks up the humdrum routines of exploration. Players looking for another lighthearted companion should certainly consider Sofia on their next playthrough.
3 The Followers Of Interesting NPCs
When discussing essential Skyrim mods, it's hard not to mention Interesting NPCs. Longtime veterans of the game probably know most of the vanilla NPCs by heart at this point. The Interesting NPCs mod injects some much-needed freshness to the proceedings by adding over 250 fully-voiced characters.
Along with these additions come 25+ followers that players can recruit. Their backstories, personalities, and motivations are all unique, and thus there simply isn't enough time to thoroughly examine each one. Players should install the mod and discover their interesting stories for themselves.
2 Nebarra, The Altmer Mercenary
As with the Khajiit, there's a startling lack of High Eleven followers in vanilla Skyrim. Nebarra, an Altmer mercenary, is something of an underrated mod. He's fully voiced, and often incorporates unique interactions with other NPCs.
Nebarra's personality is described as rude and gruff. As a veteran of the Great War, he doesn't suffer fools lightly. Nebarra even possesses his own personal quest players can undertake off the coast of Solstheim. It's certainly not a bad mod for fans who want to experiment with different follower add-ons.
1 Khajiit Will Follow
If Inigo fails to satisfy one's need for more Khajiit companions, then the Khajiit Will Follow mod may be of some interest. This particular mod adds four additional Khajiit companions, along with over 5,000 lines of unique dialogue.
Each follower has their own personality and play style. The mod also adds a few new weapons, armor, and a hidden quest that goes along with their backstories. If ever Skyrim needed more cats, Khajiit Will Follow gets the job done admirably.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch.