The Best Skyrim Special Edition Mods
By John Jacques 04 November 2016
Game Rant takes a look at the best modifications for the Skyrim Special Edition, ranging from unique quests and new content to gameplay enhancing adjustments.
Almost 5 years after its original release, Skyrim has returned as the apparent gift that keeps on giving. Now that the Skyrim Special Edition has released, gamers are returning to the land of Skyrim en masse to relive the return of the Dragonborn and enjoy the graphical enhancements. One of the largest differences between the Special Edition and the original game, though, is that those playing on the Xbox One or PlayStation 4 now have the opportunity to install modifications, allowing the Dovahkiin to experience a modded playthrough on console for the first time ever.
While the Special Edition isn’t without its own problems, console gamers have been enjoying many fan-made creations which were previously only available to PC gamers. While Xbox One gamers have a numerical advantage when it comes to the modifications offered, we’d like to take a look at the best modifications currently available for the Skyrim Special Edition. While new modifications are popping up everyday, every modification on this list has stood the test of time on PC, and we think any console gamer who can download these Skyrim Special Edition mods should certainly consider doing so.
Without further ado, here’s the best modifications that the Skyrim Special Edition has to offer:
Falskaar
We’ve written about Falskaar before, so it should be no surprise to see it included on a list of the best Special Edition modifications. On a scale of size and scope, Falskaar is unmatched by any other creation, and those who install the landmass mod can prepare themselves for an unprecedented 20 to 30 hours of new gameplay content to enjoy. The modification adds an entire new landscape beyond the scope of Skyrim, and this new location plays host to 26 different quests, 9 of which revolve around a brand new central storyline.
The inhabitants of Falskaar are all fully voiced thanks to a combined effort from around 30 different voice actors recruited specifically for the modification, and Falskaar also boasts around 60 minutes of original music to help give the adventure a unique feel. To trigger the quest the leads to Falskaar, players must go to Riften and speak with Jalamar. Shortly after, players will be able to enter the Nord-settled land as ‘the traveller’, triggering a massive lore-friendly series of events in their wake.
The Falskaar modification is available on Xbox One and PC.
Frostfall
Survival enthusiasts who haven’t partaken in one of Skyrim‘s most popular mods of all-time have been missing out, so those returning to the unforgiving landscape for the Special Edition should certainly download the Frostfall survival modification. The Dovahkiin may be able to shrug off sword cuts and spells alike, but the Frostfall modification adds another component to watch out for: temperature and wetness. Those who install the modification must keep themselves warm, lest they succumb to the harsh and cold environment of Skyrim. Treading through water makes the player wet, which can turn a damp situation into a life or death experience, requiring adventurers to dry themselves off before hypothermia sets in.
Of course, one of the best ways to keep dry is with a campfire, so the Frostfall modification integrates an entire camping system into the game. Players travelling across the land can set up camp in spots they’d like to hunker down, and can then craft torches and campfires to keep themselves warm through the night. Frostfall is without a doubt one of the best immersive survival modifications one can hope to find for Skyrim, and it’s a must-have for anyone seeking an entire new kind of challenge from the game.
The Frostfall modification is available on Xbox One and PC.
Alternate Start – Live Another Life
Many gamers can recall the first time they booted up Skyrim and found themselves in a wagon slowly trotting towards an Imperial execution. While the introductory sequence for Skyrim was a great way to introduce players to the civil war that played along concurrently with the appearance of dragons, many roleplayers didn’t want to put themselves in the boots of The Dovahkiin, and others simply didn’t want their characters to start off being unlikely survivors from a dragon attack.
To give options for role-playing enthusiasts, the Alternate Start – Live Another Life modification was created. Starting out in a dungeon, players pray to the Gods for another chance in life, and receive an answer: they can now choose a brand new life to slot themselves into. Players can start off as a traveler at a variety of inns and docks around Skyrim, or choose a more dramatic storyline like a shipwreck survivor or a Warlock’s Thrall. With the long Helgen introduction out of the picture, players can finally be whoever they want to be.
The Alternate Start – Live Another Life modification is available on Xbox One and PC.
The Forgotten City
With so many modifications available for Skyrim, it takes a lot to get noticed, so when one modification adds almost 10 hours of game time and wins multiple awards for its craftsmanship, gamers take note. The Forgotten City sends players on a murder/mystery quest filled with time traveling and interrogation.
The winner of the Australian Writers Guild Award for Interactive Media (2016) boasts a non-linear storyline with fully voiced characters and an original orchestral soundtrack, setting this modification far above the reach of a typical quest addition. Gamers interested in downloading The Forgotten City should expect more than just combat, too, as both the interrogation scenes and the environment itself feature many logical puzzles to solve.
The Forgotten City modification is available on Xbox One and PC.
