4: Frostfall
If you want to add another layer of realism to your experience, then look no further than Frostfall. Skyrim is located in the northern part of the Tamriel continent, which means that it has most areas blanketed in snow, although some southern sectors are warm enough to feature rain instead. As you make your way throughout the region, you’ll have to keep your eye on your exposure to the cold climate. If you eat warm food, wear enough armor, or wield a torch, you can stay warm as you travel outdoors. However, walking in the rain or swimming in the river can increase your exposure, which leaves you vulnerable to the elements. In most cases it’s best to layer up when you travel. Otherwise, you can pass out from hypothermia and wake up in a random city.
MORE: Best GPU-Melting Games
MORE: Best Replayable Games
MORE: Best Games With The Most Playable Hours
3: Ordinator - Perks of Skyrim
Because Skyrim is a RPG, you’ll get points to spend on perks every time you level up. However there isn’t much in terms of character specialization. If you install Ordinator, you’ll have to play for months to completely obtain all perks for a specific skill. For instance, you can obtain advantages while using a mace in combat or taking enemies out with a bow at long distances. If you prefer to sneak around, you can get the ability to be more effective at close range behind a foe or be nearly invisible to enemies if you stand still in one spot. With enough time and perks at your disposal, you can create a highly specialized character.
MORE: Best GPU-Melting Games
MORE: Best Replayable Games
MORE: Best Games With The Most Playable Hours
2: Skyrim Flora Overhaul
The scenery in Skyrim is breathtaking, but it hasn’t held up to today’s graphical standards. Thanks to the modder “vurt,” you can find beauty in the details again. Skyrim Flora Overhaul doesn’t just give new textures and meshes to existing plants and trees, but it also adds new variations of plants. This makes your surroundings more appealing and closer to their real-world counterparts. If you have this mod, make sure you admire the scenery the next time you hunt deer or emerge from a cave. You won’t be disappointed.
MORE: Best GPU-Melting Games
MORE: Best Replayable Games
MORE: Best Games With The Most Playable Hours
1: Static Mesh Improvement Mod
Creating a massive world like Skyrim means that Bethesda made some compromises during development. One such area is 3D models, and you’ll notice it on paved roads, wooden pillars, and even on ingots where features are not fully fleshed out. With this mod from “Brumbek,” you can add more depth and detail to many items and surfaces throughout the world. Fences that initially look like wallpaper will have a more three-dimensional shape, and objects such as chains and skeletons are well-defined. These changes might seem small, but they make gameplay more enjoyable and immersive. It’s visual enhancement mods like these that make the 2011 game still appealing to fans six years after its release.
MORE: Best GPU-Melting Games
MORE: Best Replayable Games
MORE: Best Games With The Most Playable Hours
Cast Your Vote!
We have new categories available in our ongoing Tom's Hardware Definitive List of PC Games threads in our forums. Be sure to head over to our PC Gaming forum page and contribute to the conversation.
MORE: Best GPU-Melting Games
MORE: Best Replayable Games