Note that, from now on, you’ll need to launch Skyrim with the script extender, not through Steam. It’s been updated since then, thankfully, and now works with both editions. When Skyrim Special Edition launched, the script extender’s absence meant that a lot of mods couldn’t be used or ported over, so the original Skyrim remained the best version for anyone looking to spice up their game. Several important mods won’t work at all without the Skyrim Script Extender.

Before you test anything in-game, run LOOT.

LOOT solves this and myriad other problems, checking your load order, hunting for errors and directing you to naughty mods that aren’t playing nicely. Here’s a tutorial from mod guru Gopher to get you started.Ī lot of the mods in this list can be used in tandem, but even compatible mods can have a falling out when they’re not put in the correct load order. If you’ve modded Fallout 4, you’ll already be au fait with the manager, and you can use it for several other games, including The Witcher 3. It looks a bit intimidating at first, but once you’ve got it set up, you won’t need to worry about it at all. There are several good ones, but Nexus Mod Manager is your best bet. You can hop directly to the kind of mod you want via the links below.Įven if you’re just planning on using a few mods, grabbing a mod manager will skip so much hassle. We've only picked the very best Skyrim mods, but there are so many available that we've had to break them down by category.

The fewer mods you’ve installed, the easier it will be to pinpoint any problems or conflicts. You don’t need to fire up the save after every mod, but it’s worth checking a few times during the process to make sure everything’s working.

What I like to do is create a new, unmodified game, get somewhere like Riverwood and then create a save that I can use for testing. It’s also recommended to do a clean install of Skyrim and start a new game, especially if you’re going to be throwing a lot of mods into the mix. Before you start turning dragons into 'Macho Man' Randy Savage, there are a few things you’ll want to install first.

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