Fallout 4 might be approaching its decade anniversary, but it still remains a popular game among the Bethesda faithful. Whether players are just getting into it for the first time due to the Fallout TV show or replaying it once again, the best Fallout 4 mods can make the experience infinitely better. Community modders have had nine years to develop mods for Fallout 4, so there is no shortage of available add-ons to improve the game.
However, with so many mods to choose from, it can be daunting to go through them all and pick which ones you want to download. Fortunately, we have combed through the thousands of available Fallout 4 mods to find 50 that we think you should prioritize over all the others. Below, you can see what those mods are, what they do in Fallout 4, and where to download them.
Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch (UFO4P)
Created by: The Unofficial Patch Project Team
We’re starting off with a mod that you need to download whether you’re a first-time player or weathered veteran. The Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch does too many things to mention, but it essentially gets rid of hundreds of bugs in Fallout 4 that were never fixed by the developers. Whether it’s a bug with a certain quest, something gameplay-related, or an issue with an object’s placement in the world, UF04P likely fixes the problem. It’s compatible with just about every other mod on this list, so it’s the best one to begin with in your modding journey.
Armorsmith Extended
Created by: Gambit77
Next, we have the most-downloaded Fallout 4 mod on Nexus Mods, sitting at over 10 million installs. Armorsmith Extended completely overhauls the weapon and armor systems for your character as well as your companions. It also allows you to craft Power Armor as well as every other possible armor in the game. That brief description doesn’t even scratch the surface of what the mod specifically does, though. Your in-game weapon and armor modding experience won’t ever be the same after using Armorsmith Extended.
Looks Menu Customization Compendium
Created by: AGodComplexPikachu, CurioNC, EmissaryOFWind, JTesmer, ANiceOakTree, Kirse10, imAarwyn, Robberfox, RoboAsimov, TrophiHunter, Wendera
Another highly popular mod is the Looks Menu Customization Compendium, which adds hundreds of new customization options to the character creator in Fallout 4. This includes tattoos, makeup, hair colors, face paint, and more. While the vanilla character creator in Fallout 4 is decent, this mod allows you to completely tailor-make your character to your exact preferences. You’ll certainly stick out from other NPCs in the Wasteland, that’s for sure.
SIM Settlements
Created by: kinggath
While the settlement feature in Fallout 4 is one of the best aspects of the game, it can get tiresome to build houses, farms, and other features for each individual settler. SIM Settlements aims to rectify that issue by making your settlers build their own structures. This frees you up to construct whatever you want for yourself and play Fallout 4 without having to worry about where your settlers are going to sleep at night or how they’re going to get food.
Place Everywhere
Created by: TheLich
Continuing on with the settlement-themed mods, we have perhaps one of the most useful ones you can download in Fallout 4. Place Everywhere does exactly what the title says: It allows you to place a settlement item anywhere you want. No longer do you have to see the dreaded red outline appear over an item when you’re trying to place it. This gives you so much additional freedom to design your settlement exactly how you want.
Homemaker – Expanded Settlements
Created by: bombasticmori
Homemaker is another incredibly useful mod for your settlement needs in Fallout 4. The mod adds over 1,000 new craftable objects for your settlement, including cars, lights, building sets, workstations, and more. Updates to the mod have also made it easier to snap objects in place and even change an object’s texture. As a note, you do need all of the extra DLC mods in addition to the base Homemaker mod for it to work.
Scrap Everything
Created by: shadowslasher410 and VIitS
Whether you’re just arriving in Sanctuary or you find a new settlement location in Fallout 4, one of the most dreaded aspects about starting a settlement is having to manually get rid of every single junk item. Sanctuary is particularly frustrating, as there are so many tiny objects that provide valuable resources, but they’re incredibly tedious to find. With the Scrap Everything mod, you can get rid of every junk item with a single click across all settlements in the game.
Atomic Radio and Tales from the Commonwealth
Created by: Kris Takahashi
This single mod technically has three different mods that encompass it. First, there’s the Atomic Radio mod, which adds a fully-functioning radio station in Fallout 4. You can even download custom tracks for the radio station. Next, the Tales from the Commonwealth mod adds new quests and companions to the game, deeply expanding the replayability of Fallout 4. Finally, the Settlers of the Commonwealth mod adds 31 fully voiced settlers to the game, all with specific locations across the map.
You can download each of these mods from the “Files” tab of the Atomic Radio and Tales from the Commonwealth page on Nexus Mods.
Fallout 4 Texture Optimization Project
Created by: torcher
The Texture Optimization Project mod is for PC players only, but it’s one of the most helpful mods on this list. It reduces individual texture sizes across the board, allowing you to gain free FPS without seeing a drop in visual quality. You’ll see the same art style you’re used to in Fallout 4 as well. This mod is primarily useful for players with older PCs, but if you find yourself struggling with FPS at all, this should be the first mod you download.
Vivid Weathers – Fallout 4 Edition
Created by: Mangaclub
If you’re growing tired of the gray and brown colors present throughout much of the Wasteland, then you need to download Vivid Weathers. This mod adds dozens of lore-friendly weather effects, including sounds for rain and thunder and a snow effect. It also works with all DLCs for Fallout 4, so you don’t have to worry about any compatibility issues.
We Are The Minutemen
Created by: TheFirstEnD
If you’re a fan of the Minutemen faction in Fallout 4, this mod is tailor-made for you. We Are The Minutemen gives the faction a much larger presence in the Wasteland while removing many of the quirks associated with the faction. Minutemen soldiers also arrive faster when using a Flaregun, their weapon pool has been increased greatly, and other Minutemen outside of Preston Garvey wear the faction’s uniform. It’s a great mod to download if you have never sided with the Minutemen or if you simply enjoy the faction.
Craftable Ammo
Created by: kr1ck
From the start of Fallout 4, players asked a specific question: “Why can’t you craft ammo at a Workbench?” It seemed like such a simple addition to the game, but it was never officially added by the developers. Enter the Craftable Ammo mod. With it, you can craft any possible piece of ammunition in the game for a specified amount of resources. You craft it the same way you craft mods in Fallout 4, so you’ll need to chase down all the necessary resources required for certain ammo.
Enhanced Lights and FX
Created by: Anamorfus
The Enhanced Lights and FX mod is a simple, but sophisticated fix to the dreary and dark interiors present across the Wasteland. The mod overhauls the lighting system, adding new effects and ambient light to interiors as well as making lights brighter overall. It’s not the most useful or stunning mod on this list, but it adds a layer of realism to Fallout 4.
Weaponsmith Extended
Created by: Gambit77
While this mod sounds like Armorsmith Extended, it’s quite different. Weaponsmith Extended adds a collection of all the best individual weapon mods directly into Fallout 4. This means you don’t have to download individual mods for weapons. Instead, you have access to a plethora of new weapons right from the start of the game. The new weapons all come from Nexus Mods and include the most popular ones in addition to adding new features as well.
Higher Settlement Budget
Created by: GrimTech and PatrickJr
Do you want to build a mega city in Sanctuary or another location, but your settlement budget is already maxed out? Well, the Higher Settlement Budget fixes that problem directly, giving you a budget of up to three times bigger than the original one. The mod allows you to build more structures and objects, but you have to remember all of those extra textures can cause your performance to suffer.
NPCs Travel
Created by: skyquest
While you will meet a variety of NPCs across different locations in Fallout 4, the Wasteland can seem a bit empty at times. The NPCs Travel mod completely rectifies that, adding over 300 new NPCs who travel the map. This breathes new life into the game, making the world seem much more lived-in and giving you new people to meet. These NPCs also appear in Far Harbor and Nuka-World as well, for those of you who have the DLC packs.
Diamond City Expansion
Created by: Statsmakten
Diamond City is arguably the most iconic location in Fallot 4, but the Diamond City Expansion mod increases its presence in downtown Boston to a new level. The expansion mod adds new locations outside of the stadium as well as inside, giving you plenty to explore. The one issue with this mod is its size, which can cause performance issues in and around Diamond City. You might notice flickering and stuttering with mod, so downloading extra mods, such as the Texture Optimization Project, can help your frame rate.
The Beantown Interiors Project
Created by: Chucksteel
If you have ever wondered what’s inside a locked building in Fallout 4, then downloading the Beantown Interiors Project should be one of your first priorities. This mod opens up most of the locked locations across the Wasteland, letting you explore never-before-seen interiors. The mod is still adding new locations, but there are hundreds of new interiors for you to peek your head inside. While the interior of a building isn’t always exciting, you won’t know until you go in.
Outcasts and Remnants
Created by: Thuggysmurf, Recluse, and Formado721
Outcasts and Remnants is one of the best mods you can download in Fallout 4. It adds over 20 hours of gameplay to the game and acts as a separate DLC for the game. You can experience new quests, factions, and locations as well as interact with fully voiced NPCs, including some fresh companions. If you’re looking for something to do after beating Fallout 4 and its official DLCs, this mod is perfect to continue your journey.
Robot Home Defence
Created by: TheTalkieToaster
The defense options at a settlement are somewhat lackluster, so if you want to truly protect your home from raiders, you want to download Robot Home Defence. This mod adds new craftable robotic guards that you can place around your settlement. The robots can also act as companions, following you around the Wasteland in Fallout 4. Possible robots include Protectrons, Mister Gutsies, Assaultrons, and Sentry Bots, among others.
Horizon V1.9
Created by: Zawinul
The Horizon mod in Fallout 4 is a ground-up alteration to everything in the game. It features thousands of changes that aim to rebalance and enhance the gameplay. The main focus of the rebalance is to make Fallout 4 a more challenging experience, leaning on the Survival Mode difficulty. Some of the changes the mod makes to Fallout 4 include: a new skill system, more aggressive and smarter enemies, overhauled weapons and armor, companion stats, balanced loot, scalable NPCs, and much more.
I don’t recommend mixing mods with Horizon, so if you want to experience this particular mod, you should go in with it as your only installed add-on.
Rich Merchants
Created by: OverClocked56
Rich Merchants is one of the simpler mods on this list, but it’s also extremely useful for any type of playthrough. It gives vendors access to more Caps, allowing you to sell as many items as you want to them. You no longer have to worry about going from vendor to vendor to sell your entire inventory. The mod allows vendors to have access to 2,000 Caps, 10,000 Caps, or 30,000 Caps, depending on your preference.
Survival Options
Created by: Jekod
Are you looking to add a new layer of replayability to Fallout 4? Well, look no further than the Survival Options mod. This gives you access to a variety of new features, which essentially turn the game into a survival-crafting experience. With every feature enabled, you suddenly have to worry about elements such as fatigue, hunger, thirst, disease, and more. You can turn off each feature individually through your Pip-Boy, but I suggest having them all enabled at first to experience the mod in full. If you thought Fallout 4 was difficult before, you’re in for an entirely new experience with Survival Options.
NewDialog
Created by: shadwar
You might not think about dialogue options when it comes to customizing your character in Fallout 4. However, the NewDialog mod allows you to completely change what dialogue options your character has for any conversation. By default, the mod gives you access to a flurry of new dialogue options and a more pleasing UI menu for the dialogue options. If you go deeper into the mod, though, you can change your dialogue options to whatever you want.
Brighter Settlement Lights
Created by: Elvani
The Wasteland in Fallout 4 is dark by default, but this goes double when you’re at a settlement. Even with light bulbs, lamps, and street lights installed, you can still find it difficult to see anything when roaming around Sanctuary or somewhere else. The Brighter Settlement Lights gives your lights a new brightness setting, allowing you to make your previously dark settlement a vibrant hub at night.
CROSS Jetpack
Created by: Niero
You’re lying to yourself if you don’t think it’d be cool to fly around the Wasteland with a jetpack strapped to your back. The Jetpack mod from CROSS acts like another standard weapon mod, but instead of a melee weapon or gun, you get a jetpack. You’re able to fly around the map, but you still have a limited capacity as to how high you can get and how long you can fly for.
FallUI – Map
Created by: m8r98a4f2
The default map in Fallout 4 is fairly primitive, so the FallUI – Map mod installs a much better-looking version with more features. There’s even a text search so you can manually search for locations without having to scroll over the map looking for them. Other features include a favorite fast-travel list, more locations on the map, and better zooming.
Easy Lockpicking
Created by: The Iron Rose
While the lockpicking system in Fallout 4 is a part of the core gameplay, it can get extremely annoying if you’re replaying Fallout 4 for the second, third, or fourth time. Easy Lockpicking allows you to completely bypass the lockpicking system so you can access any locked door with ease. There’s an also Easy Hacking mod that does the same thing for hacking computers, so you’ll truly never be blocked from accessing anything ever again.
Project Valkyrie
Created by: Thuggysmurf, Sybsidian, and Formado721
Project Valkyrie is another DLC-sized mod that adds a number of new quests and fully-voiced companions to Fallout 4. There are 20 quests and even some alternate endings to the base game to add tons of replayability. I recommend this mod more for players who have already beaten Fallout 4, as you’re able to see new endings and quests compared to the base game.
Fallout 4 – Point Lookout
Created by: The Capital Wasteland Team
While this is another DLC-sized mod, it’s not like the others on this list. Point Lookout is a recreation of the DLC of the same name from Fallout 3. The mod includes all of the quests and NPCs present in that DLC and they are all fully realized in Fallout 4. Whether you played the original Point Lookout or you’re just looking for a new DLC to explore, Point Lookout in Fallout 4 is certainly worth your time.
Carry Weight Modifications
Created by: The Iron Rose
You can likely figure out what this mod does from its name. Carry Weight Modifications allows you to fully customize how much weight you can carry in your inventory. You can customize your carry weight depending on your strength level as well as adjust it to an individual level. It’s a basic mod, but one that makes your life much easier in Fallout 4.
Repairable Sanctuary
Created by: Kentington
If you don’t feel up to the task of completely fixing Sanctuary by yourself, you can use the Repairable Sanctuary mod to do all the work for you. This mod restores all of Sanctuary’s houses and the main bridge to their previous states. The houses might not look as futuristic as they used to before the war, but they look clean, polished, and are functioning.
Clean Water of the Commonwealth
Created by: Feyawen
You might not have thought about customizing the water in Fallout 4, but the Clean Water of the Commonwealth mod does just that. You have the option to completely rid the water of all radiation and make it a crystal blue color or add more radiation to it. The latter choice is for those who want to add another layer of survivability to Fallout 4, making it harder to access certain locations. The mod also affects how much radiation is consumed when drinking the water.
Unique NPCs – Creatures and Monsters of the Commonwealth
Created by: Thirdstorm
Fighting mutants, ghouls, deathclaws, and other enemies in Fallout 4 can get boring after a while, so why not spice up the Wasteland with some new enemies? The Unique NPCs mod adds new variants of the existing enemies, giving them fresh names, appearances, and sizes. It’s not a massive overhaul of the enemies in the world, but it’s enough to keep things interesting when you’re playing through the game again.
Take Cover
Created by: registrator2000
Once again, a mod’s description is spelled out in the name. The Take Cover mod adds a new combat mechanic into Fallout 4, allowing you to take cover behind an object or structure, a la GTA V, Uncharted, The Last of Us, etc. This allows you to avoid enemy gunfire and breathes new life into stealth gameplay.
Another Life – Alternative Start Mod
Created by: Xylozi
Have you ever dreamed about playing Fallout 4 as a member of the Institute? Are you growing tired of the same opening sequence every time you begin a new playthrough? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then the Another Life mod is for you. In this mod, you bypass the default opening sequence and awake in the Institute instead. From there, you can choose from 36 different occupations, which determine your starting gear, faction allies, and the location where you begin the game. It’s a truly immersive mod that completely changes how you play.
Rebuild Mods
Created by: Various modders
There are only so many usable settlements in Fallout 4, but many of them are either too small or ruined beyond repair. However, with the many “Repair” mods, you can choose to completely restore any settlement that you’d like. This includes locations such as GrayGarden, Spectacle Island, Murkwater, and more. The mod itself simply cleans up these settlements beyond what you could do by just scrapping all of the junk items.
Alternate Settlements
Created by: Stuyk
Settlement building can get extremely frustrating at times, especially when it comes to placing everything exactly where you want. With the Alternate Settlements mod, you shouldn’t have any of those problems. The mod adds snapping to just about every placeable object in your settlement, from wallpapers to flags to windows and more.
Videos of the Wasteland
Created by: RazorWire, Dertspovor06, AGreatWeight
We already have a radio mod on this list, so why not download a video mod as well? Videos of the Wasteland make it so Holotapes, TVs, and even the Starlight Drive-In big screen can play custom videos. You’re able to download custom videos through Nexus Mods and even create your own to watch.
CROSS_ Blades
Created by: Niero
CROSS_Blades is a mod that adds three energy melee weapons and throwing knives into Fallout 4. The three melee weapons are blades that pulse different colors and have different effects. The blades also have unique builds, making them suitable for different kinds of playstyles. As for the throwing knives, those are plasma-infused and deal massive damage if they connect with an enemy.
Load Accelerator
Created by: hippo
This is possibly the most basic mod on the list, but it will save you more time than you could know. Load Accelerator cuts down on the loading screen times when entering or exiting a building by “controlling VSync and CPU affinity.” For the mod to work, you need to have Fallout 4 downloaded on an SSD, which already helps with loading times. When that’s paired with Load Accelerator, you’ll hardly see any excessive time at a loading screen.
South of the Sea
Created by: Baerthe, Cryptdick, and SOTS Team
South of the Sea is a massive mod that adds completely new playable areas beyond and below the Glowing Sea in Fallout 4. There are over 65 new locations in the mod as well as fresh enemies to defeat and new loot to discover. However, one massive disclaimer with the mod is you need to own every DLC in Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition to access the new locations.
Subway Runner
Created by: Ghostfc3s
Speaking of going down into the depths of the map, Subway Runner establishes a totally fleshed-out underground map in Fallout 4. The subway stations have been connected all around the map, making it so you can travel all across the network of tunnels beneath the surface. Not only does this offer a new way to get around the Wasteland, but you can fight enemies and find loot in the tunnels as well.
Combat Zone Restored
Created by: Barbariccia
If you’re a true fan of Fallout 4, then you might know of a somewhat hidden location called the Combat Zone. This location was kept fairly secret for a while, but it was also revealed that the developers cut a solid amount of content from the location. With the Combat Zone Restored mod, you can access all of that cut content, which includes the ability to bet on NPC fights, a new introduction for Cait, and a way to make Caps from fights.
Maxwell’s World
Created by: Trainwiz and DarthVitrial
Maxwell’s World is yet another large-scale mod that introduces new locations, quests, NPCs, and more. With this mod, though, you’re taken to a haunted amusement park where there are multiple endings for the main quest and a full backstory. It leans more toward the horror side of things, so if that’s not your cup of tea, then maybe download one of the other DLC-sized mods. However, for fans of horror, there are few better mods to download and experience in Fallout 4.
Fourville
Created by: Seddon4494
Fourville is the last DLC-sized mod on this list, but it’s one you shouldn’t miss out on in Fallout 4. It adds a brand-new city to the Commonwealth that features roughly 10 hours of gameplay. During that time, you can complete a total of 46 quests (main and side), hear over 5,000 lines of fresh dialogue, and team up with a fully voiced companion.
See Through Scopes
Created by: henkspamadres
Aiming through a scope in the base version of Fallout 4 is extremely clunky, so See Through Scopes allows you to simply aim in through a custom scope as you normally would with a gun. It’s a simple fix that can have a profound impact on the way you play the game. The mod also adds customizable reticles and differently-sized scopes, ranging from 2.5x-8x zoom.
Companions Can Sneak
Created by: TAJocelyn
Stealthy gameplay is almost rendered useless in Fallout 4 due to your companions not crouching when you do or going where they’re not supposed to. The Companions Can Sneak mod makes it so your followers don’t impact your personal sneaking abilities. Your followers are removed from the equation, giving you full responsibility on remaining stealthy.
Unlimited Followers
Created by: Amoveve
While one follower might be enough for some players, you might want a different kind of experience in Fallout 4. Perhaps you’re yearning to replicate a game like Dragon’s Dogma or Baldur’s Gate where you have multiple followers with you at all times. You can have a similar experience like that in Fallout 4 with the Unlimited Followers mod, which doesn’t put a cap on how many companions you’re allowed to have at the same time.
Star Wars – Lightsaber
Created by: DMagnus
Rounding out the list is a goofy, yet enjoyable mod that makes you feel like a true Jedi (or Sith). With the Lightsaber mod, you can wield one of the famous Star Wars weapons in any color you want. You’re also free to customize the blade length, hilts, and sound of the saber. I suggest mainly fighting synths with the Lightsaber if you want to truly replicate the feeling of being a Jedi.
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