The Best Skyrim Graphic Mods That Make The Game Look Awesome

Bethesda released The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in November 2011. But, many players still enjoy the game. One reason is because of all the mods that fans have created and released over the years. You can make your own mods (there are plenty of good tutorials on the internet that will help you get started) or you can install the ones created by other users, and shared through Steam Workshop or sites like Nexus Mods.

Your imagination is the limit. Users can make bug fixes, tweaks, models, and textures, and even entire new worlds and quests. You can modify Skyrim to make it as you wish.

And, what do we wish to see in Skyrim in 2019? Damn good graphics! Here are the 15 best graphics mods to make Skyrim look like new:

15. Skyrim UI

With this new UI, bartering and enchanting will be faster, easier... and much less frustrating.

The original Skyrim user interface (UI) was planned around console controllers, and it’s a bit of a pain for PC users that use a keyboard and mouse. The Skyrim UI mod not only improves the UI visually, but it also makes the menus a pleasure to navigate on PC.

Please note, it’s also a requirement to use most of the other mods on this list because it includes a Mod Configuration menu that's needed to tweak them all.

14. ENB Presets for visual enhancements

ENB Presets

You can breathe new life into this awesome 7-year-old game by installing an ENB preset. There are tens of different presets that will make your game look more like a 2019 game. Just choose the one you like the most.

You can find the ENB tool here. Version 0.366 is the latest to date. Install it, and then dive into Nexus Mods to choose a preset that you like (just type in ‘enb’ in the search bar to see all the available options).

These are two of my favorite presets:

Suki's Preset- NLA-NLVA-SnowFall by TheForkOnTheLeft

RealVision ENB by SkyrimTuner

13. 2K and 4K textures

Skyrim HD – 4k/2K Textures

Skyrim was made for the average 2011 computer. But, today most computers can handle way better graphics. Once you have a stunning ENB preset, why not make the most of it with a 2k or 4k texture?.

You can update Skyrim with textures better than Bethesda’s own free Hi-res Pack DLC with this collection of textures: Skyrim HD – 4k/2K Textures, by Nebula.

Original textures vs. Skyrim HD textures

12. Skyrim Flora Overhaul

Skyrim Flora Overhaul

The Skyrim Flora Overhaul mod by Vurt is a must to make Skyrim’s already beautiful landscape gorgeous. The grass will be denser, more realistic, and with more flowers. The trees will be larger and will make the forests look darker and lusher.

You can combine it with other mods such as Verdant - A Skyrim Grass Plugin for an even better result. You’ll be in awe each time you venture into Skyrim’s wilderness!

Get Skyrim Flora Overhaul here.

Look at that!

11. Water: Pure Waters and Realistic Water Two

Realistic Water Two Vs. Pure Waters: Mod Comparison

Both Pure Waters and Realistic Water Two will make you want to plunge your feet into those refreshing rivers and lakes. But, once more, you’ll have to choose your favorite because you can only choose one Neither of them is better than the other, they are just different.

Pure Waters by Laast is more transparent and features slower currents.

Realistic Water Two by isoku makes water look deeper, faster, and more dangerous. It's my personal favorite.

10. Static Mesh Improvement

Static Mesh Improvement Mod – SMIM by Brumbek

As the name suggests, this mod improves the quality of static objects by adding improved meshes. You can get it here.

Even if they are small objects, it will bring your game closer to the present.

9. Better character customization: RaceMenu

Skyrim RaceMenu Mod

Have you always thought that Skyrim’s character customization was too limited? Do more than just picking through presets when you use the RaceMenu mod by Expired.

You’ll be able to edit every little detail of your character’s face, and even modify some aspects of their body. Combine races for someone with a mixed ancestry like a Bretons that looks a bit elven, or a Nord that is half Orsimer... It’s up to you!

There’s no need to start a new game to edit your character. Use the showracemenu cheat as seen at the start of the video above to go into character creation.

8. Better character models and textures

WSCO - Windsong Skyrim Character Overhaul by WindsongHS

You can find several mods that will change the models and textures of your characters, but I think that WSCO - Windsong Skyrim Character Overhaul is one of the best character mods out there. It improves the look of your entire character, from the character’s face to hair and body. You can find the full list of all its character texturing improvements on the Nexus Mods site.

It’s a standalone mod so you don’t need to worry about anything else. You can also choose between Occidental Type and Oriental Type before downloading it.

An improved Selena, from the Dawnguard DLC.

7. Better eyes: The Eyes of Beauty

The Eyes of Beauty by LogRaam

Now that your characters look more realistic, you can go even further by installing new HD eyes. The Eyes of Beauty will add tens of new HD eye textures.

The textures have been obtained from real eye pictures.

6. Better-Shaped Weapons

Review of Better-Shaped Weapons by LeanWolf

At this point, weapons are the only important thing left to enhance. But, this mod will take care of all the weapons seen in the game. And, they really need a bit of love.

LeanWolf's Better-Shaped Weapons improves the models and textures of every weapon in the game to look leaner and more realistic. Make the most of those blades, you’ll need them against that first snow troll when climbing up to High Hrothgar (kidding, please note that weapon stats are not affected by this mod).

So beautiful indeed! <3

5. Non-combat animations

Realistic Animation Project – Movement by Supertin

Your character may look now more alive, but they may still be a bit stiff. Realistic Animation Project – Movement  aimed to change that by developing more natural walking, running, sneaking, and idle animations.

Though, be careful because this one needs a trick to debug itself. You’ll need to install the tool FNIS and run it each time you install new animations so that they update accordingly, otherwise you’ll find that your character doesn’t move at all once you are in-game.

4. Combat animations

There aren’t many big animation overhauls that cover combat in Skyrim. But, these are two of the few mods out there that change the caster animations. Once more, pick your favorite, follow the installation instructions, and enjoy!

Magiska - Spell Casting Animations by Supertin

Magiska - Spell Casting Animations add many new hand gestures. It was originally intended for female characters.

Magic Casting Animations Overhaul by dualsun

Cast like a boss.

3. Better physics: Realistic Ragdolls and Force

Realistic Ragdolls and Force by dDefinder1

The Realistic Ragdolls and Force mod adjusts the physics applied to character animations so that they look more natural and realistic when falling. You’ll see that characters react much better to their weight and to the strength of the impact when being shouted off of a mountain, blasted with a spell, or slashed to death.

Even dead NPC’s are gonna look better now!

2. Better physics: HDT Equipment

HDT Equipment by IceKK

Some last touches. HDT Equipment adds new HDT physics to sheathed weapons so that they bounce as your character moves around. A little mod that adds more realism to the game.

Make a mad dash into battle. 1. Lighting

Mod Comparison: Realistic Lighting Overhaul Vs. Enhanced Lights and FX

Now that everything looks stunning and better than ever, there is only one thing left: lighting!

These two mods add more dramatism and greatly improve ambiance in both inside and in landscapes. There are different versions to adjust to fit your personal preference such as having darker nights and such. Choose one, follow the installation instructions, and enjoy the light show!

Enhanced Lights and FX by anamorfus

Realistic Lighting Overhaul by sydney666

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