Highlights

• Total conversion mods drastically change the gameplay or setting, providing players with a fresh experience.
• The Republic of Maslea, Shumer and the Fall of Allagard, Legacy of the Dragonborn, Beyond Reach, Vigilant, Middle-Earth Redone, Beyond Skyrim: Bruma, Wyrmstooth, Skyrim Redone, and Enderal: The Shards of Order are all impressive total conversion mods that offer new quests, locations, and gameplay features.
• The upcoming mod, Apotheosis, is highly anticipated and will allow players to explore the 16 realms of Oblivion and face off against the Daedric Princes. It promises a unique and exciting experience filled with eldritch horror.

It would be an understatement to describe The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim as a long game. Hundreds of hours are required to witness every last bit of content, and that's not even taking into account all the DLC. Even veteran players can find something new to do in the vanilla game, but that's only the tip of the iceberg.

A neat collection of total conversion mods awaits to be experienced. These types of mods radically change either the gameplay or setting to such an extent that it almost feels like playing a different game altogether. Although some of these mods may still need some polish, they're worth checking out sooner rather than later.

Updated on March 29, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The mod support for Skyrim is nothing short of legendary, and it's easy to see why Bethesda's magnum opus has received a wealth of quality mods that change each and every aspect of the gameplay. Despite Bethesda's attempts to try and monetize these mods, most people are happy to see a wealth of free modifications that players can download to tweak this game in new and interesting ways. While there's something to be said about mods with a smaller scope that retain the game's vanilla aesthetics and let players enjoy a wealth of QoL fixes, the real fun in Skyrim stems from the many total conversion mods that add new lands to the game and change things up in new and interesting ways.

13 Falskaar

Downloads: 1,553,915

• Creator: AlexanderJVelicky
• Download Link

It takes a lot of effort to make a brand-new world to explore in Skyrim's engine, but Falskaar doesn't stop there. Aside from a world that is massive and packed with things to do, the content is also fully voiced and can last players for up to 20 hours with ease. This makes for a great time as players get to enjoy a fresh experience in Skyrim once again with the advent of an ambitious mod that shows why the Skyrim modding scene is so impressive.

The mod aims to be as lore-friendly as possible, which is an effort that players will appreciate. With the player character being dubbed as the Traveler, gamers can unlock a wealth of new abilities and tackle many interesting threats as they try to save the land of Falskaar from being obliterated by forces unknown. The high production values of this mod will stand out for players who want to check out total conversions that don't feel amateurish.

12 The Gray Cowl Of Nocturnal

Downloads: 1,092,747

• Creator: MannyGT
• Download Link

The sheer number of unique total conversion mods for Skyrim can boggle the mind, and it can be hard to pick out a great one that's worth a player's time. After all, sinking many hours into a mod that may not be well-produced is the last thing players want to deal with, which is why mods like The Gray Cowl of Nocturnal are so beloved by the masses.

Players need only engage in the act of stealing a few times to open the gateway to a brand-new world developed by passionate modders who love Skyrim with all their hearts. The sheer amount of love and adoration present in The Gray Cowl of Nocturnal makes it clear why this mod became such a huge hit, with many players still taking some time out to check this mod out despite the many years that have gone by since its full release.

11 The Shire

Downloads: 116,010

• Creator: TheBawb
• Download Link

Not all total conversion mods need to tackle original concepts and fresh ideas. Sometimes, focusing on existing IPs and tried-and-tested concepts can work just as well, and The Shire is a great example of the same. The Lord of the Rings is one of the greatest fantasy series of all time, and it's easy to see why a mod that replicates one of its most iconic locations in Skyrim would be such a tantalizing prospect to check out.

The fact that this conversion mod is fully voiced makes it an even more tantalizing prospect to check out for any fan of good fantasy media. Even if players aren't all that familiar with The Lord of the Rings, the sheer dedication put into making the Shire and its surroundings come to life is so impressive that some Skyrim vets may just check out Tolkien's fantasy epic and realize why it shaped an entire genre and is still talked about favorably to this day.

10 The Republic Of Maslea

Downloads: 58,588

• Creator: anthelius
• Download Link

An ambitious mod that has only launched its first episode for now, players who want to enjoy a tropical adventure in Skyrim will love what The Republic Of Maslea brings to the table. The size of this new area is roughly the size of the Dragonborn DLC, which is pretty impressive and goes to show how much love and care was put into this mod.

With a great main quest and many side quests scattered across the world, The Republic of Maslea will keep players occupied for many hours as they appreciate the tropical vistas crafted by the mod author. It's an impressive title that shows the power of total conversion mods that don't play it safe.

9 Shumer And The Fall Of Allagard

Downloads: 26,554

• Creator: agerweb
• Download Link

The sheer amount of things already on display in the Shumer and the Fall of Allagard mod is quite impressive. The realm of Shumer is packed with content, compelling players to explore these vast worlds and see what's on offer.

Along with the mainland of Shumer, players can also explore the islands of Barbella and Althira, which are also part of this WIP mod. To add the cherry on top of this loaded cake, most of the NPCs in this mod are fully voiced, too, adding to the authenticity of this new adventure that the Dragonborn can get lost in. Sure, saving the world from Alduin is important, but there are so many things to accomplish in Shumer that one can't be blamed for getting sidetracked.

8 Legacy Of The Dragonborn

Downloads: 4,060,449

• Creator: icecreamassassin
• Download Link

As one of the most popular Skyrim mods on Nexus, Legacy of the Dragonborn adds such an immense amount of content that it can't help but change the way players experience the game. If fans are ready to sink a few hundred more hours into Skyrim, then this is the quintessential mod to do so.

Legacy of the Dragonborn allows the player the opportunity to become a museum curator. With room for over 3,500 items to be displayed, almost anything can be showcased as a museum piece. In addition, a plethora of new items and quests are also incorporated in the mod that promises to keep the Dragonborn busy for a long time.

7 Beyond Reach

Downloads: 820,564

• Creator: razorkid1
• Download Link

Skyrim modders tend to be pretty talented when it comes to introducing new lands for players to explore. Beyond Reach is one such example, taking place east of High Rock in a land that the mod authors describe as spanning 3 Skyrim Holds. Unsurprisingly, the Breton homeland turns out to be a dangerous place all its own.

Like other total conversion/overhaul mods that drastically alter the setting, the attention to detail in Beyond Reach is impressive. Fans can expect to encounter brand-new factions, collect unique weapons, armor, and spells, and explore dozens of outlandish dungeons to occupy their time.

6 Vigilant

Downloads: 3,495,892

• Creator: Vicn
• Download Link

The Vigilants of Stendarr are a common sight in Skyrim as they patrol the length and breadth of the land, on the hunt for anything undead or Daedric. Players can join a lot of factions in the game, but the Vigilants of Stendarr isn't one of them. Luckily, the aptly named Vigilant mod fixes that problem.

Fans who are keen on making a career out of ridding the world of foul creatures in the name of Stendarr should definitely check out Vigilant. A wild and intriguing series of main quests await those brave enough to be a Vigilant. There are also side quests and new craftable weapons/armor for players to experience alongside the primary slew of content.

5 Middle-Earth Redone

Downloads: 32,808

• Creator: Maldaran
• Download Link

Perhaps exploring Tamriel has become tiresome? Maybe a completely different fantasy setting would do the trick. Few fantasy worlds come close to matching the splendor and beauty of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The Middle-earth Redone mod allows players to explore various famous locations from Tolkien's universe with Skyrim's game engine.

The Shire, Moria, Rohan, Bree, and several other destinations are available for fans to visit. Although there are no quests, important events from the books and films can be reenacted, such as the Battle of Helm's Deep. New spells can also be crafted that better reflect the setting. Skyrim plus The Lord of the Rings? What could be better?

4 Beyond Skyrim: Bruma

Downloads: 6,522,626

• Creator: The Beyond Skyrim - Cyrodiil Development Team
• Download Link

Fans who wish to relive the glories of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion should check out Beyond Skyrim: Bruma. Although there is a massive ongoing project to port Oblivion using Skyrim's game engine, known as Skyblivion, it hasn't been released yet.

Beyond Skyrim: Bruma recreates the county seen in Oblivion with stunning detail. With over 24,000 lines of unique dialogue, players can take part in new quests, explore additional dungeons, and discover distinct locations. New weapons and armor are included as well. Best of all, traveling to Bruma is as simple as crossing the border to Cyrodiil.

3 Wyrmstooth

Downloads: 1,921,230

• Creator: Jonx0r
• Download Link

Wyrmstooth is a rather old mod, but one that's experienced a bit of a revival. The premise is simple enough: The East Empire Company commissions the player to hunt down a dangerous dragon that's been plaguing the trade routes.

Nevertheless, the task proves to be anything but simple. The mod adds the land of Wyrmstooth, an island to the north of Skyrim. A new home can be purchased in the form of a castle, which periodically needs defending from pesky enemies. Additional weapons, armor, and spells are also included to help meet this new threat.

2 Skyrim Redone

Downloads: 107,387

• Creator: T3nd0
• Download Link

Not every total conversion mod necessarily has to incorporate new fantastical lands. Skyrim Redone keeps the experience grounded within the franchise's lore. However, almost every aspect of the vanilla gameplay is altered in some way, resulting in a truly impressive enterprise.

Skyrim Redone turns the game into an RPG lover's dream. Perks, combat, racial bonuses, enemy scaling, and almost everything in between are all given attention to some extent. Those curious can visit the mod page and peruse the guide that goes along with it to get a full breakdown of its extensive features.

1 Enderal: The Shards Of Order

Downloads: N/A

• Creator: SureAI
• Download Link

No list regarding total conversion mods for Skyrim would be complete without mentioning Enderal: The Shards of Order. This mod, in terms of quality, scope, and attention to detail, tends to stand out from the rest.

The mod, also known as Enderal: Forgotten Stories, incorporates unique lore. The gameplay is given a total revamp, utilizing more RPG elements and a steeper learning curve. Players can expect about 125 hours of additional content with this steller mod. Those looking for a complete rundown of Enderal: Forgotten Stories should check out this helpful guide.

Honorable Mention: Apotheosis

• Creator: SureAI
• Mod Page

Apotheosis can't be installed yet because it hasn't been released at present. Nevertheless, this mod looks to be an absolute beast in terms of scale. When completed, the mod will allow the player to travel through the 16 realms of Oblivion as part of the questline. Along the way, fans will tangle with the malevolent Daedric Princes inside their domains.

Besides new locations and quests, fans can also expect to make use of unique equipment to aid them in their dangerous travels. The whole experience promises to drip with eldritch horror. It's certainly not a mod gamers won't want to miss. Those who plan to play it when it is released should keep an eye on the Apotheosis mod website and YouTube channel for further updates.