It would be an understatement to describe The Elder Scrolls V: 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.
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A neat collection of total conversion mods await 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 definitely worth checking out sooner rather than later.
8 Middle-Earth Redone
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?
7 Beyond Skyrim: Bruma
Fans who wish to relive the glories of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion should definitely 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!
6 Falskaar
Adding new lands to a base game while preserving the lore is a tricky endeavor to pull off. Falskaar, however, manages this feat rather well. It's perhaps one of the most popular total conversion mods out there, and for good reason.
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According to the mod authors, Falskaar includes over 20+ hours of added content. This comes in the form of additional lands, equivalent to about 2-3 of Skyrim's Holds. New quests, fully-voiced dialogue, and a plethora of unique items are thrown into the mix. The mod even comes with its own soundtrack, which is a nice touch.
5 Wyrmstooth
Wyrmstooth is actually 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.
4 Skyrim Redone
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 really 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. One must visit the mod page and peruse the guide that goes along with it to get a full breakdown of its extensive features.
3 Moonpath To Elsweyr
This is yet another old mod that received many subsequent upgrades over the years. Moonpath to Elsweyr takes players out of the familiar environs of Skyrim and into the unique land of the Khajiit. Experience lush tropical jungles and unforgiving deserts while battling strange enemies, such as the Sload.
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New quests, of course, accompany this mod along with its own recorded dialogue. Starting the adventure is as easy as going to Dead Man's Drink in Falkreath. There, the player will encounter two Khajiit preparing a caravan run. Simply talk to them to begin the new quest.
2 Enderal: The Shards Of Order
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 its own 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. Check out this helpful guide for a complete rundown on Enderal: Forgotten Stories.
1 Honorable Mention: Apotheosis
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 own 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 you want to miss. Keep an eye on the Apotheosis mod website and Youtube channel for further updates.
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