Summary
It would be an understatement to describeThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimas a long game.Hundreds of hours are requiredto 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.
A neat collection of total conversion mods awaits 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 worth checking out sooner rather than later.
Updated August 04, 2025, by Hamza Haq:Few fanbases—if any—have managed to continue to breathe life into their favourite game to the same extent as Skyrim’s modding community has managed. Keeping Bethesda’s most successful title to date alive in a way that’s proven to be impossible to recreate, despite other game developers, and even Bethesda itself, trying to do so. Total conversion mods are meant to be large, all-encompassing additions or improvements to a game that transforms it into something entirely different. And as the biggest modding scene anywhere, Skyrim has more than enough of these mods for players to choose from.
17Shumer And The Fall Of Allagard
Downloads: 30,020
The sheer amount of things already on display in the Shumer and the Fall of Allagard mod is quite impressive. The realm of Shumer is packed with content, compelling players to explore these vast worlds and see what’s on offer.
Along with the mainland of Shumer, players can also explore the islands of Barbella and Althira, which are also part of this WIP mod. To add the cherry on top of this loaded cake, most ofthe NPCs in this modare fully voiced, too, adding to the authenticity of this new adventure that the Dragonborn can get lost in. Sure, saving the world from Alduin is important, but there are so many things to accomplish in Shumer that one can’t be blamed for getting sidetracked.
16Middle-Earth Redone
Downloads: 35,552
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 withSkyrim’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.SkyrimplusThe Lord of the Rings? What could be better?
15The Republic Of Maslea
Downloads: 65,065
An ambitious mod that has only launched its first episode for now, players who want to enjoy a tropical adventure inSkyrimwill love what The Republic Of Maslea brings to the table. The size of this new area is roughly the size oftheDragonbornDLC, which is pretty impressive and goes to show how much love and care was put into this mod.
With a great main quest and many side quests scattered across the world, The Republic of Maslea will keep players occupied for many hours as they appreciate the tropical vistas crafted by the mod author. It’s an impressive title that shows the power of total conversion mods that don’t play it safe.
14Skyrim Redone
Downloads: 118,370
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 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. Those curious can visit the mod page and peruse the guide that goes along with it to get a full breakdown of its extensive features.
13The Shire
Downloads: 120,416
Not all total conversion mods need to tackle original concepts and fresh ideas. Sometimes, focusing on existing IPs and tried-and-tested concepts can work just as well, and The Shire is a great example of the same.TheLord of the Ringsis one of the greatest fantasy series of all time, and it’s easy to see why a mod that replicates one of its most iconic locations inSkyrimwould be such a tantalizing prospect to check out.
The fact that this conversion mod is fully voiced makes it an even more tantalizing prospect to check out for any fan of good fantasy media. Even if players aren’t all that familiar withThe Lord of the Rings, the sheer dedication put into makingthe Shire and its surroundingscome to life is so impressive that someSkyrimvets may just check out Tolkien’s fantasy epic and realize why it shaped an entire genre and is still talked about favorably to this day.
12Summerset Isle
Downloads: 148,953
Summerset Isle is a highly overlooked expansion mod, adding a massive island nearly as large as one of the DLCs, taking players to the High Elf home in Tamriel, the Summerset Isle. The mod adds over 170 brand-new quests, more than 800 new NPCs (all fully-voiced), custom music, new creatures, new enemy types, and hundreds of discoverable locations, like cities and dungeons, to explore.
There is even a new, more immersive way to fast-travel in the mod, giving players an alternative to just point and click on the map. Of course, the mod also adds new weapons and armor for players to experiment with, most tailored toward the mage archetype. Players can only visit the Summerset Isle after completing theCollege of Winterhold questlineand becoming the Arch-Mage.
11Land of Vominheim - SE
Downloads: 393,572
Land of Vominheim - SE adds an absolutely massive DLC-sized area with over 30 sprawling questlines that span the course of the Vominheim, deep lore that’s developed just for this mod, and over 50 brand-new locations, including dungeons, to discover. Due to the sheer scope of the mod and the number of NPCs that inhabit the land, none of the characters are voice-acted, which is what holds this mod back from being counted among the best of the best.
But in terms of a sense of discovery and wonder of exploring a brand new location, just like back whenSkyrimfirst came out, it knocks it out of the park. The storylines, the locations, and the lore are all made with love and care, and it shows. Do note, however, that the Land of Vominheim is a strictly late-game area, which is meant to be tackled by at least a level 40 character at minimum. The enemies players will find within have their levels adjusted accordingly.
10Midwood Isle
Downloads: 626,088
Midwood Isle is another DLC-sized lands mod with new quests to undertake, new areas to discover, and new enemies to fight. The mod adds a brand new island map to Skyrim, inhabited by fully voiced NPCs with thousands of lines of dialogue.
Midwood Isle is the home of the Sun Elves, the Sonmer, and features 11 large main quests alongside a plethora of smaller ones to give players something to do. It also adds new shouts, enchantments, spells, custom armor sets, and weapons in the overworld. Even new books have been written and placed in various locations across the map to give this place a sense of history and a lived-in feeling.
9Beyond Reach
Downloads: 1,191,257
Skyrimmodders tend to be pretty talented when it comes to introducing new lands for players to explore. Beyond Reach is one such example, taking place east of High Rock in a land that the mod authors describe as spanning 3SkyrimHolds. Unsurprisingly, the Breton homeland turns out to be a dangerous place all its own.
Like other total conversion/overhaul mods that drastically alter the setting, the attention to detail in Beyond Reach is impressive. Fans can expect to encounter brand-new factions, collectunique weapons, armor, and spells, and explore dozens of outlandish dungeons to occupy their time.
8The Gray Cowl Of Nocturnal
Downloads: 1,222,361
The sheer number of unique total conversion mods forSkyrimcan boggle the mind, and it can be hard to pick out a great one that’s worth a player’s time. After all, sinking many hours into a mod that may not be well-produced is the last thing players want to deal with, which is why mods like The Gray Cowl of Nocturnal are so beloved by the masses.
Players need only engage in the act of stealing a few times to open the gateway to a brand-new world developed by passionate modders who loveSkyrimwith all their hearts. The sheer amount of love and adoration present in The Gray Cowl of Nocturnal makes it clear why this mod became such a huge hit, with many players still taking some time out to check this mod out despite the many years that have gone by since its full release.
