When it comes to new location mods for the ultra-popularSkyrim, all eyes are fixated on the upcoming Skywind and Skyblivion mods which seek to painstakingly recreateThe Elder Scrolls 3: MorrowindandThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivionwithin theSkyrimengine. Both ports are incredibly ambitious and have been in development for years at this point. Meanwhile,Skyrimplayers can sate their desire for expanded content by diving into the current crop of mods that add new locations to explore, and that goes far beyond just simpleplayer home mods.
Not all of these mods are necessarily lore-friendly, but veterans ofSkyrimwon’t mind. After all, these titles do a great job of justifying their existence as either standalone experiences or extensions to the world of Skyrim, both of which are appealing in their own way. Regardless of whether players are okay with ambitious mods that aren’t vanilla-friendly, there’s no denying that the sheer amount of love and effort put into these mods is something truly remarkable.
Unless specified otherwise, all mods support The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Edition.
Updated June 19, 2025, by Hamza Haq:Skyrim modding continues to amaze 14 years after the game’s initial release and shows no signs of winding down any time soon. One of the most popular categories of mods players can get their hands on are land mods which add brand new areas to explore, often alongside new NPCs, weapons, armor sets, quests, and a lot more. Undertaking such a massive project, however, is no easy task. Only the mod authors who can sacrifice hundreds, if not thousands, of hours on their hobby projects can hope to deliver. Luckily, thanks to the thriving community and support network, making land mods for Skyrim is easier than it would be in almost any other game of its kind. Two new land mods have been added to the article.
23Chanterelle
Downloads: 170,249
Players who want to explore a particularly savage world inSkyrimwill have a blast exploring Chantarelle. This area is full of Nordic barbarians who are a little rough around the edges, but are still pretty endearing in their own right when they’re not actively gunning for the Dragonborn’s head.
This unique landscape is full to the brim with unique enemies, locations, and loot, making it another fun distraction to add to the many ways that players can completely sidetrack themselves from the main quest ofSkyrim. Players can join the side of good or evil, either saving Chantarelle from the evil Tribals, or dooming the land with their actions.
22The Realm Of Merentif
Downloads: 52,143
It takes something really impressive for a mod that already adds a new world to explore to be graced with yet another mod that adds another original landscape for players to get lost in. It’s mod-ception, and as such, players should download the mod that adds Vominheim to their game before downloading The Realm of Merentif.
This mod adds a wealth of tough enemies for players to deal with, making it important that their levels are very high to tackle the many threats that stand in their way. Taking down the Disciples of Vuldur in this mod is no mean feat, which is why the well-constructed dungeon present in this fan-made piece of content is so impressive.
21Northpoint
Downloads: 35,432
A wintry world perfectly in line withSkyrim’sicy landscapes, Northpoint is a fun area for players who want to explore a world full of snow, dungeons, enemies, and a bunch of new NPCs to interact with. While there aren’t any quests to complete per se, the sheer magic of the game’s exploration makes this area worth wandering through.
The amount of love and effort put into recreating this world is magical, and fans will be surprised to know that this mod would’ve been abandoned had it not been for the love of fans who appreciated the effort being put into it. Now, with the passion of fans and the amazing work they’ve put in here, players can finally explore this frigid landscape that is full to the brim with secrets to uncover.
20Wyrmstooth
Downloads: 2,268,495
When people talk about ambitious mods forSkyrim, it’s only a matter of time before Wyrmstooth is mentioned. This popular mod adheres to the lore of theElder Scrollsand lets players enjoy a wondrous world that is packed to the brim with content. There are a lot of tasks players can accomplish in Wyrmstooth, with the island featuring a castle players can buy anda new shout to discover as well.
The effort put into Wyrmstooth is admirable and makes it worth checking out for any fan of good-qualitySkyrimmods. It’s easy to see why this is one of the most popular mods forSkyrimand a great place to jump in if players want to check out a well-made custom land to explore before experimenting with other such mods.
19The Republic Of Maslea
Downloads: 61,498
Players who want to explorea tropical area inSkyrim’s enginewill be well-serviced by The Republic of Maslea. This ambitious mod lets players explore the eponymous location that is roughly the size of the Dragonborn DLC, making it a pretty impressive feat.
With a compelling main quest, numerous side quests, and a wealth of new content to explore in this vast world, it’s easy to see why fans who download The Republic of Maslea will find themselves hopelessly enamored by its content. With the success of this mod, Episode 2 is going to be a reality sooner rather than later.
18Shumer And The Fall Of Allagard
Downloads: 32,964
A massive and detailed area with two additional islands to check out, Shumer is a great place for the Dragonborn to get lost in for hours on end. Many people find it hard to believe that this lore-friendly area was actually made by a passionate fan.
Players can easily spend around 30 hours in this area, which is around the same length as an entire game. It’s easy to see why so many people find this mod to be impressive and a worthy addition for players to check out if they’ve memorized the map of the base game and its official DLCs.
17Unmarked Locations Pack
Downloads: 475,068
There’s no denying thatSkyrimis jam-packed with a wealth of locations to explore, but there are times when the copy-paste nature of these areas becomes a bit too overbearing. Players have been spoiled by the many innovations that have taken place in the open-world landscape following the release ofSkyrim, and a bit of innovation would most definitely be welcome.
This is where the Unmarked Locations Pack comes into the picture, adding fifty unique areas all around the world for players to explore. Players who have a great time with this mod can download theSovngarde edition of this mod, which gives players a lot of things to do in the Nordic afterlife and fleshes out an area of the game that most people find to be a bit too brief for their liking.
16Olenveld
Downloads: 147,572
Olenveld is a huge lands mod forSkyrimthat stands out among the rest thanks to its brilliant execution and polish. Olenveld adds a new island off the coast of Winterhold whose inhabitants are isolated from the events ofSkyrim, the call of the Dragonborn, and the civil war between the Empire and the Stormcloaks.
Instead of run-of-the-mill dungeons and towns that make up the majority of the base game, the main gameplay loop in Olenveld revolves around saving the island itself from hostile forces by gradually retaking parts of it piece by piece. In Olenveld, players will find new enemy types, new weapons, and a huge new location filled with fully-voiced NPCs to explore.
15Warden Of The Coast
Downloads: 188,273
Players who found the storytelling and companion mechanics ofSkyrimto be a bit too lacking will love what Wardens of the Coast brings to the table. The mod is inspired by BioWare’s RPG systems and has a ton of effort put into it, featuring an enthralling main quest and many lines of voiced dialogue that bring this adventure to life in the best way possible.
The story has different endings and lasts for around 15 hours, which is a testament to how incredible this mod is. Fans looking for a mod thatlets them explore a brand new worldwith unique companions and a lot of heart will love what Wardens of the Coast brings to the table, making it one of the best new mods (relatively speaking) for this game.
14Elden Root - A Tale Of Valenwood
Downloads: 12,160
Players who loveThe Elder Scrollsand want to explore numerous locales set in this world will have a great time in Elden Root. The location added by this mod is truly beautiful and does great justice to the established lore of the franchise.
However, as impressive as Elden Root may be, fans should be aware of the fact that this mod is solely meant for exploration purposes. There aren’t any quests to speak of, which can be rather disappointing, but the effort put into making such a well-realized world should be lauded regardless.
