Mods are changes to the game’s code that players make. Mods can be slight aesthetic or UI changes or complete overhauls of the game. We will break these top 15 mods into three categories: Quality of Life Changes, Additional Content, and Game Overhauls.
Quality of Life Changes
These are small changes to the game that either enhance the game’s aesthetic or generally make the game more user-friendly.
1. Community Flavor Pack
This mod adds fantastic clothing and hairstyles as options for your characters. It expands upon the barbershop that is already in the game for your pre-existing characters as well. All the clothing and items are based on historical artifacts for high accuracy!
Check out the mod in action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ7H1kCf6xg
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=22200989192. Brighter Text Colors
If you’re having trouble with the low contrast of text to background colors, then this mod is for you! It will increase the brightness of the text so that there is a higher contrast between the text and background. This will make the game easier to read.
Check out the mod in action - https://youtu.be/_tu-bTnXQ14?t=203
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2234245906
3. IR Terrain
This mod adds more enhanced terrain to the game. The new terrain is more vibrant and detailed for the game. It will add a new life to your CK3 experience!
Check out the mod in action - https://youtu.be/_tu-bTnXQ14?t=393
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2438882835
4. Strategic Arrows
When you move troops to a location, an arrow shows you how they will get there. Sometimes this arrow is hard to see, and you don’t realize the actual path your troops will take. This mod makes those arrows more visible to reduce confusion on why the heck your troops are going left when you thought you told them to go right!
Check out the mod in action - https://youtu.be/_tu-bTnXQ14?t=478
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/workshop/filedetails/?id=2300148028
5. Title-Ranked Portrait Borders (Ironman)
Want to pretty up character avatar icons? Use these title-ranked portrait borders to help you quickly identify who is who when looking at multiple character avatar icons on the same screen.
Check out the mod in action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpEDboWyg2w&t=287s
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2234706894
Additional Content
You can think of these mods like DLC packs. They add some extra modes or flavor to the existing game but don’t fundamentally change it.
6. Sunset Invasion
In this mod, the Aztecs invade Europe! Once you trigger the invasion, you will see Aztecs taking over the map. You can either improve your relationship with the invading forces to become allies or fight them off and out of Europe.
Check out the mod in action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8LTtywiSQc
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2216735054
7. More Game Rules
This mod lets you customize various aspects of the game, such as AI aggression, succession, and even cooldowns on some decisions. You can make the game harder or easier based on which options you choose to change.
Check out the mod in action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj9nbvla1Mg&t=521s
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2216850785
8. Pantheon of the Gods
This mod adds some additional religion, culture, and decision flavor to the game. You can become a God with this mod or just utilize the new religion, culture, and traits that are introduced. You can also recruit angels or demons to the field for your armies!
Check out the mod in action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUi1R3zkdS0
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2218562682
Game Overhauls
As the heading suggests, these mods completely change the game. They are built on the game’s base code but can be considered a completely different game.
9. LotR: Realms in Exile
The defining characteristic of a good game is that it has a Lord of the Rings mod, right? Crusader Kings 3 has a mod for that. You can play as various leaders in the story, including the Dark Lord Sauron!
Check out the mod in action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g5of-kfemg&list=PLhyXr90pJTrlem5EqArg2ykqZzkoBSiMi
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2291024373
10. Godherja: The Dying World
This mod is set in a dark fantasy near the world’s end. With the world in shambles, the only way to save it is to become a God yourself! The Godherja mod has many unique aspects and profound lore that goes along with it so you can become completely immersed in the world.
Check out the mod in action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkTTB2eQrrE&list=PLKHS5gZnUCTyHZ1WYNtgYbkkLeZdB_pZs
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2326030123
11. The Bronze Age: Maryannu
This mod takes you back to the Bronze Age in various points of European history. You can explore new religions, innovations, and an urbanization concept added to the game. The mod is still being worked on but already has a ton of content!
Check out the mod in action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwqNlV_2F2o&list=PLvQFRapmLLCOPvpeOJeYTNl51iOsJE9VC
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2216525506&searchtext=
12. The Fallen Eagle: The Dawn of the Dark Ages
This dark ages mod allows you to play in historically accurate settings across Europe, Africa, and Asia. There is a focus on the Roman empire’s collapse that you can either help on its way or try to fight against and reform.
Check out the mod in action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4KGNoqgM68
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2243307127
13. Tales of Ireland
The map is trimmed down to just Ireland, with more than 1,000 counties to play with this mod. Irish mythology is built into some of the characters, including magic and dark creatures! Play through Ireland’s rich history with a mythical twist in this mod.
Check out the mod in action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrzKyrG_YuQ
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2453915294
14. Shogunate of Japan
This is another mod that completely changes the map. It creates a map of Japan to play on and focuses solely on Japan. There are many historically accurate characters, and the mod also introduces some new clothing and facial generation.
Check out the mod in action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ql-yQc7gqI&list=PLvQFRapmLLCNWBMAQgAku9x_x_tJe_6Nj
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2253278582
15. Princes of Darkness
Play as an immortal vampire with the Princes of Darkness mod! You can play as a vampire or an inquisitor hunting the vampires. Not dying to age or disease is a massive plus in the CK3 game; however, inquisitors will hunt you!
Check out the mod in action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_YOgK5INxQ&list=PLNn7c31H7NjlbWJyotjCZ8hAnpzdoJn29
Get the mod from Steam - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2216659254
