It's hard to believe The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is ten years old. The title has held up incredibly well despite its time on the market, as the popularity of this pivotal Elder Scrolls title continues to endure. Granted, part of that is due to the frequent re-releases and ports to different consoles.

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However, the role-playing game's longevity also comes from mods. Skyrim has developed one of the most dedicated modding communities in gaming. It seems there are always new players seeking to change the game to suit their desires. Sometimes these simply fix the infamous glitches standard in any Bethesda game, but other mods are more subjective, shifting certain elements to resemble other genres or franchises. Considering the countless caves and monsters already present, is it any wonder some players have turned Skyrim into a horror game?

10 Deadly Dragons

Deadly Dragons Mod in Skyrim

Dragons were the big draw for Skyrim. They offered random enemy encounters which quickly turned into cinematic set-pieces. Sadly, these epic battles eventually blended together. Not only did all these flying lizards have similar designs, but defeating them boiled down to the same strategies every time.

This mod prolongs these creatures' lifespan. Players can now customize dragons' health, damage, and appearance to their heart's content. Instead of mundane pests, the aerial adversaries can become the legendary terrors they were always meant to be.

9 Run For Your Lives

A dragon attack in Skyrim

How about a mod that instills the right level of fear to go along with the enhanced dragons? This little tweak sees citizens of a village dash inside during a dragon attack. Among the most effective ways to enhance the sense of dread is to see how the situation affects one's peers.

That feeling was undermined by the NPC AI, which wasn't always up to snuff. Running in circles was more comical than scary. In an airborne attack, people naturally take cover. That relatable response is now part of the game, making every dragon attack more realistic as a result.

8 Enhanced Lights And FX

Lighting and Shadows in Skyrim

Essential to any horror experience is lighting. The use of shadows and light sources can create an immensely chilling atmosphere, and filmmakers and game developers have taken advantage of these tools time and time again.

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A mod improving Skyrim's lighting was well worth the wait. Not only does it make the existing environments look infinitely more exotic and picturesque, but it infuses the exploration with a more foreboding sense of dread. The realistic shadows set a malevolent mood for the spooky caves and haunting tombs akin to Dark Souls. Simply entering these places will now be a test of courage.

7 Sneak Tools

Sneak Tools mod in Skyrim

Despite sneaking having its own skill tree, it feels a bit unpolished. The stealth gameplay in Skyrim has always been somewhat lacking in complexity. It mostly boils down to crouching and slashing for a one-hit kill, practically indistinguishable from a standard melee attack. That's why mods like Enderal tweak the regular combat.

Is it any wonder, then, that someone created a mod featuring a more specialized stealth system? Players can now hide their identities, attack people from behind, knock them out, fire rope arrows, and perform other sneaky feats. They'll be like wraiths in the night, putting even the Dark Brotherhood to shame through their merciless methods.

6 Deadly Mutilation

Deadly Mutilation mod in Skyrim

Occasionally, melee combat will culminate in cinematic animations showing the Dragonborn going in for a flashy kill. The problem is that these are few and far between, and they're often the only visible signs of damage that an enemy displays.

Those looking for more realistically gruesome visuals will be thankful for this mod. Enemies struck by weapons will scream as their gory wounds bring them down. In addition, spells have much more visible effects on targets, burning or electrocuting them beyond recognition. Some will see this enhancement as exploitative, but others will embrace it as authentically unpleasant.

5 Undeath

Undeath necromancer and mod in Skyrim

Humanoid enemies are sometimes scarier than the most imposing beasts. This extensive mod sets out to prove that, presenting a new storyline about a necromancer gathering artifacts and followers for a forbidden ritual. The search for Satanic secrets takes players across the mountains as they work to thwart these mysterious foes' plan for immortality.

The stylized, skeletal visuals would be creepy enough, but the cult mentality creates an uncomfortable tension, one that permeates the whole tale and trumps any of the Dragon Priests. With the amount of work that went into Undeath, it's like a slow-burn horror flick hidden within a game.

4 Into The Depths

Into The Depths mod in Skyrim

Most horror fans love a good haunted house. That's essentially what they find upon returning to Riverwood with this mod. Villagers report strange noises from a nearby mine, and the Dragonborn must embrace his/her inner witcher: descend into the mine, fight a shadowy wraith, and lift the curse.

It all sounds like fairly standard stuff, but the execution is what elevates it. The red lights make the mine look like the pits of Hell. Plus, the traps leading to further passageways instill a sense of paranoia not present in most other locales. As soon as players enter the mine, they'll want nothing more than to leave.

3 Better Vampire Fangs And Eyes

Vampires in Skyrim

Among the oldest and most elemental horror icons is the vampire. While these blood-sucking beasts were present in the Elder Scrolls games prior, the ones in Skyrim had a few shortcomings in the fear department.

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The mod in question amplifies certain vampiric traits while dialing others back. The fangs aren't quite as long, but they're now actually visible on females. On top of that, the creatures' eyes can now glow red like Dracula himself. Throw in some updated texture work, and vampires are once again the pillars of fright, even amongst Skyrim's myriad of other monsters.

2 Moonlight Tales

Moonlight Tales and werewolves in Skyrim

Werewolves are right up there with vampires in the pantheon of iconic horror figures. Although players can transform into one of these oversized mutts, not much differentiates them from Tamriel's other creatures.

To prevent these creepy canines from losing their luster, a mod exists to make lycanthropy a more specialized and immersive experience. Werewolves now transform during a full moon, recruit followers, and combat hunters. Added music and sound effects improve the presentation of these elements. All in all, werewolves now sport the supernatural scares one would expect.

1 Immersive Creatures

Immersive Creatures in Skyrim

Skyrim is already filled with several fantastical creatures. Many of these come from Norse myths and other legends, making them feel familiar to audiences yet fresh within the realm of Elder Scrolls. Why stop there, though?

The game has a mod offering dozens of new monsters. Not only that, but it also introduces fresh variants of old creatures. It's hardly the only monster mod for the game, and the description even says these fiends fit right into the world of Skyrim. However, some of them are horrifically Lovecraftian in design. With these things running around, any hopeful Dragonborn will be too afraid to go outside.

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