Skyrimis easily one of the most modded (and obviously moddable) games of all time. Tens of thousands of mods have been made across both the originalandSpecial Editionreleases, with several billions of downloads shared between them. Among this sea of fan-created content, some of these mods have gained widespread notoriety for being high-quality expansions on the base game. One mod in particular calledTheForgotten Citywas so well received by both fans and critics that it was eventually remade into a standalone game with the same name.
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The Forgotten City,however, is just one of several mods that could be translated into a full release.Skyrimhas manyDLC-sized modswith their own game worlds, stories, enemies, items, and much more that have yet to be remade as a full game. Here are just of fewSkyrimmods that deserve a full game release.
5Falskaar
Falskaarwas one of the first huge, DLC-sized mods made forSkyrim.It was initially released in 2013 for both the original andSpecial Editionversions of the gameand received updates until 2015. The mod takes place on the island of Falskaar to the north of Skyrim. It’s an area that takes up roughly the size equal to that of three Skyrim holds, and features a story that centers around an ancient prophecy that involves the player coming to the island.
While it’s a bit dated by today’s standards, taking the basic premise of the mod and recreating it as a straightforward fantasy game would be the perfect opportunity to modernize it. It could improve upon its ideas and themes and make it feel like a more unique experience in the process.
4Beyond Reach
The Reach is one ofSkyrim’smost volatile holds due to the struggles between the different groups of people living there.Beyond Reachputs the player directly in the middle of this conflict as they travel tothe province of High Rock. Here they will encounter a much darker and morally gray world design and story, to the point where the mod almost feels like an attempt to inject a little bit ofFalloutintoSkyrim.
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Much like other “new lands” mods, such asFalskaar,Beyond Reachadds an entirely new world space for the player to explore that is roughly the same size as three ofSkyrim’sholds. The story therein is the real treat of this mod, however, as it’s strong enough that it would work in a standalone fantasy game with only a little bit of reworking of factions and certain lore details.
3The Grey Cowl Of Nocturnal
The Grey Cowl of Nocturnalis a massive “new lands” mod that takes the player on a long and winding journey to the Alik’r Desert in Hammerfell. Here they will encounter new enemies, explore never-before-seen dungeons, and uncover centuries-old mysteries as they pursue the infamous Grey Cowl of Nocturnal. The experience is geared more towardsstealth and puzzle solvingthan other large-scale mods and features a large desert area for the player to explore at their own pace.
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Though it relies heavily on pre-establishedElder Scrollslore to tell its story (specifically, lore established inOblivion), the mod could be reworked into a standalone experience, although it would also be interesting to see it adapted into a futureElder Scrollsgame set in or around Hammerfell.
2Enderal - The Shards Of Order
Enderalis an interesting DLC-sized mod that uses the base game ofSkyrimto create a different experience with all new lore, story, locations, and characters.Enderalis one ofSkyrim’s best total conversion mods. The mod doesn’t take place in theElder Scrollsuniverse, which means it’s probably the most straightforward one to remake as a standalone game.
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Enderalitself is a sequel to theObliviontotal conversion mod,Nehrim: At Fate’s Edge.Enderalalso has an expansion available calledEnderal: Forgotten Storiesand even a spin-off novel written by Nicolas Lietzau entitledDreams of the Dying, which expands the universe and further explores some of the mod’s main characters.
1Wyrmstooth
As far as the biggerSkyrimmods go,Wyrmstoothis considered to be a classic. Relying on spectacle,Wyrmstoothfeatures some of the most exciting dragon battlesSkyrimmodding has to offer and a brand-new island world space from which the name of the mod derives its title. In addition to featuring a sizable new game world, the mod features a famously long and complex dungeon quest that will test even veteranSkyrimplayers.
Given the ensemble nature of the story, this is a mod that could theoretically be turned intoa co-op fantasy adventure game, with different players occupying the team of mercenaries as they travel to the island of Wyrmstooth to fight the dragon. It could work as either anElder Scrollsspin-off game or as a standalone fantasy RPG experience (assuming the lore is changed to reflect this, of course).
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim - Anniversary Editionis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
