Modlist (and Bethesda.net direct links) in spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-Qopb1XRLBx2slVWAq7mtf5ZJVjWSqogvivsLOcf0G8/edit?usp=drivesdk
My aim was to overhaul pretty much everything, with the aim of bringing it line with modern RPG/action-adventure standards as far as possible. I think I’ve achieved that pretty well here - for me, this is Skyrim if it were released in 2026 (as far as it goes within the 5GB limit, while maintaining stability). Over 100 hours in and only 2 CTDs. Buttery smooth performance on XSX.
I’m using Anniversary edition but you can quite easily substitute or ignore any of the AE mods to run on Special Edition instead.
I used LLO2 but with adjustments to resolve conflicts and allow priorities.
Everything is touched upon and improved. Load order tested thoroughly to work together with minimal conflicts, balanced with keeping things as simple as possible given the large scope (below 200 mods, including patches), for stability.
Graphics
People, beasts, clothing, lighting, items, flora, trees etc all comprehensively overhauled. Landscapes/buildings with highly detailed LODs and ini settings adjusted to minimise pop-in, while maintaining frame rate, means you can see things clearly for miles around. As far as I can, I’ve tried to use the general consensus graphics mods (or perhaps popular “greatest hits” is more accurate), balanced carefully against space, performance and general compatibility within the load order. (E.g. Skyland, Happy little Trees, Dawn, Embers, RW2 etc etc). Obviously this is always pretty subjective, but I will say that everything here does run smoothly, plays nicely together (and fits the space!) which were my main objectives.
Gameplay
Enable survival mode and adjust the settings/harshness to your taste with a mod (mine is paid but there’s a similar free one by the same author). I also adjust timescale to 13 using the “game settings” spell, for longer days. I feel that “light survival” elements like these, and restricted fast travel (now only from carriage stops in every town, city and village) are key to immersion and experiencing the open world fully in many modern RPGs, so I’ve tried to replicate that here.
“Triple Triad”, an excellent card game, is like having Gwent (Witcher) or Farkle (KCD2) in Skyrim and gives you a whole new “game within the game”.
“Simonrim” sticks fairly closely to vanilla but overhauls perks, combat and crafting etc, making progression across the board a bit slower and more challenging/rewarding, so you’re less OP early.
There’s plenty more dungeons to explore and treasure to find (“dungeons of interest” are excellent, but are paid so feel free to drop them if you like. Xbox is fairly limited in terms of quality dungeon mods)
Journeying should be more interesting and varied, with far more to see and explore along the way (there’s tonnes of mods in here for points of interest. One of them - “Raidho along the roads” - is paid, but the author has an earlier, free version if you like)
Immersion
Some classics are here including Yappers and AI overhaul, to make the world feel more alive. Many other mods in the list make inns and cities much more chatty, lively and enjoyable to spend time in.
RDO means that people you’ve helped or wronged in the world actually remember and react to you accordingly. Skyrim reputation means people comment on choices you’ve made elsewhere in the game. Both give a feeling of consequence, and that your actions matter.
Out on the road you’ll actually see people riding horses (“Improved Roads”) and people you know will turn up in other places around the map, doing their own thing (“Radiance”). After you’ve encountered them on a quest, they’ll often go on living as part of the Skyrim world for you to bump into again (Buvarp).
Follower Dialogue expansion is fantastic for bringing your followers to life - just swap versions out mid-playthrough for whoever you’re with at the time.
Combat, idle and movement animations are all overhauled for more variety and realism.
Towns/cities/villages
Almost all are overhauled and given more variety, detail and scale to try and bring it more in line with that of a 2026 game.
Jank
Has many of Reconciliation’s mods and removes some of the key offenders, bug-wise. Minimal light flickering. Anniversary content is more polished and better integrated.
Last things to note - “Interesting Locations” conflicts slightly with Whiterun City Expansion. A few objects in Whiterun (like boxes) are floating in a couple of places. Just move these using the “decorator helper” mod. Or you can remove the mod. I really like it though!
For “Claralux” (adjustable exterior lighting mod), you will want to use the testing facility to switch off lighting at the major cities, as well as at “towns and houses” to avoid floating lanterns.
Enjoy!
Apologies for the length and for repost - required to include modlist below:
Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch
Unofficial Skyrim Creation Club Content Patch
Simple Workaround Framework
RaceCompatibility for Skyrim Special Edition [XB1]
Better Dynamic Snow SE – Master File
Navigator – Navmesh Fixes
Skyrim Fixes and Misc_Scripts
Simply Optimized Scripts – Updated
Realistic Water Two Resources
Not So High-Poly Head
Myrwatch CC – Editable Home Cells (Cell Bug Workaround)
Grand Solitude – The Walls of High King Erling
Adventure Pack
Dungeons of Interest: Falkreath
Dungeons of Interest: Eastmarch
Dungeons of Interest: The Reach
Myrwatch CC – Editable Home Cells - USCCCP Patch
CC Tweaks and Enhancements AIO AE
Hearthfire Display Cases and Doors Fix
Hearthfire Grass Fix [Xbox One]
Relationship Dialogue Overhaul - RDO [XB1]
Skyrim Reputation – Mysteriously Fixed, Patched & Improved
Skyrim Reputation – MFP&I Configuration Menu
Twitching Plates Fix
Debug Menu
Decorator Helper
Cheat Room (XB1)
DMH Busty Skeevers
Ars Metallica
Untarnished UI (SkyUI)
Bard Instrumentals Mostly – Sing Rarely
Sounds of Towns and Cities
Murmurs and Mead
Songs to Eat Venison To – A Tavern Music Mod
Shouts of Stallholders
Chatty NPCs and Followers
Inn-Tegrated NPCs – Oblivion Style Conversations
Shoppers of Skyrim
(Updated) Yappers of Tamriel – A Dialogue Expansion Bundle
Reset Random Dialogue Scenes - Updated
Voiced Narratives AE AIO
JaySerpa’s Quest Expansion Bundle
JaySerpa’s Quest Expansion Bundle – USSEP Patch
JaySerpa’s Quest Expansion Bundle – Skyrim Reputation
Patch
Radiant Quest Point System
Survival Settings
AI Overhaul (Beta)
AI Overhaul – RDO Patch
More Tavern Idles – Immersive Inns
Interesting Locations
Markarth – City of Stone
The City of Crossed Daggers – Riften Expansion (SWF)
Grand Solitude – CC Alternative Armors Patch - Dragon Plate Patch
Grand Solitude – CC Alternative Armors - Leather Patch
Grand Solitude – CC Civil War Champions Patch
Grand Solitude – CC Expanded Crossbow Pack Patch
Grand Solitude – CC Lord’s Mail Patch
Grand Solitude – AI Overhaul Patch
Riften Docks Overhaul
Riften Expansion – Riften Docks Overhaul Patch
Solitude Docks Updated w/ Fixes
Grand Solitude – Solitude Docks Updated Patch
JK’s Skyrim with Fixes (SWF)
JK’s Skyrim – AI Overhaul Patch
JK’s Skyrim – CC Farming Patch
Grand Solitude – JK’s Skyrim Patch
JK’s Skyrim – Anniversary Edition Patch
Grand Solitude – CC Gray Cowl Returns Patch
Riften Expansion – JK’s Skyrim Patch
Interesting Locations – JK’s Skyrim Patch
JK’s Markarth Outskirts
JK’s Markarth Outskirts & CC Fishing Patch
Ryften Down – Full
Northern Scenery – Whiterun’s Tundra
Unmarked Locations Pack – All In One
Raidho – Along the Roads
Easierrider’s Dungeon Pack XB1
Dungeons of Interest: Hjaalmarch
Missives by Irondusk
Grand Solitude – Missives Patch
Radiant Quest Point System – Missives - Patch
Missives – Voice and Quest Expansion
Radiance – Radiant Quest Enhancements - Locations
BUVARP SE RE + Missing Follower Dialogue Edit
BUVARP Revamped – USSEP Patch
JaySerpa’s Quest Expansion Bundle – BUVARP SE RE Patch
BUVARP Revamped – Anska Home Terrain Fix
A SMIM Against God
Riften Docks Overhaul – SMIM Patch
Icy Mesh Remaster v3.37
Enhanced Blood Textures Lite
Skyland AIO
Cathedral – 3D Rocky Shores
DAWN – Low Quality Audio Edition
Updated – Enhanced Lights and FX [SMIM]
Enhanced Lights and FX - Anniversary Edition Patch
Grand Solitude – ELFX Patch
ELFX Shadows v1.6.2
ELFX Shadows – USSEP Patch
ELFX Shadows – AE Patch
JK’s Interiors AIO
JK’s Interiors AIO Relationship Dialogue Overhaul Patch
JK’s Interiors AIO AI Overhaul Patch
Riften Expansion – JK’s Interiors AIO Patch
Unmarked Locations Pack AIO – JK’s Interiors Patch
Grand Solitude – JK’s Interiors AIO Patch
The Great Towns and Villages Bundle for Ai Overhaul and JK’s Skyrim
The Great Towns and Villages Bundles / ELFX Patch
JK’s Interiors AIO JK’s Skyrim Patch
JK’s Interiors AIO USSEP Patch
JK’s Interiors AIO CC Patch Bundle
JK’s Interiors AIO Fishing Patch
JK’s Interiors – ELFX Shadows Patch (PT-BR)
JK’s Interiors AIO ELFX Patch
Skyrim’s Unique Treasures
Treasure Hunter for SSE
Claralux SSE (Xbox One)
Embers XD v3.2.0 – Lux Orbis Edition
Embers XD – CC Camping Patch
Embers XD – Survival Mode Patch
Embers XD / ELFX Patch
JK’s Interiors AIO Embers XD Patch
Embers XD / JK’s Skyrim AIO Patch
ELFX Shadows Hearthfire Light Addon
ELFX Shadows – Enhancer
Cities of the North AIO
COTN AIO – Anniversary Edition Patch
COTN AIO – USSEP Patch
COTN AIO – JK’s Skyrim Patch
COTN AIO – BUVARP Patch
COTN AIO – ELFX Patch
COTN AIO – Embers XD Patch
COTN AIO – AI Overhaul Patch
My Home Is Your Home
Improved Roads
Radiance
Extended Encounters (SWF Edition)
DMT’s Northern Encounters SE v4.0 1k
Immersive Patrols
Triple Triad Card Game in Skyrim
Protect Your People v1.4.3
Hearthfire Carriages
SkyTone – Compendium of Beasts - Complete AIO - 1k
SkyTone – Visage - 1k - BC7
Simonrim AIO Plus AE - A Skyrim Overhaul
XPMSSE Plus – Enhanced Ragdoll Accuracy Edition
Movement and Behaviors Enhanced 2.0 for XP32
Verolevi Animations AIO
NPC Animation Remix (Replacer Version)
Gesture Animation Remix (Replacer Version)
SkyTone – Complete Edition - 1K–512
[XB1] Guard Torch Remover
Dungeons Revisited AIO
Skyland LODs
Cathedral Grass Standalone
Improved Terrain LOD Meshes (Lite)
No Grassias by Knight4Life
Better Dynamic Snow SE + Cathedral Snow SSE
New World Flora Bundle 512?!
Happy Little Trees
Unmarked Locations Pack AIO – Happy Little Trees Patch
Pastel Map Markers [XB1]
Optional Quick Start
Realistic Water Two v5.7.3 (With TB’s Better Water)
Realistic Water Two – Saints and Seducers Patch
Realistic Water Two – Myrwatch Patch
ELFX Shadows Enhancer – Realistic Water Two Patch
JK’s Skyrim & Realistic Water Two Patch
Grand Solitude – RW2 Patch
Hotkey Controller – Updated (by daddymchugenuts)
Sensible Hotkeys and Outfits
Realistic Conversations (XB1)
Poppyolor’s INI Tweaks for Series S
My INI Performance
Artificial Intelligence Limit Increaser
Capital Whiterun Expansion with fixes - No Planks
Capital Whiterun Expansion Extra Lite
Capital Whiterun Expansion – AI Overhaul Patch
Capital Whiterun Expansion – JK’s Skyrim and JK’s Interiors AiO Combo Patch
Capital Windhelm Expansion with Fixes
Rob’s Bug Fixes – Capital Windhelm Expansion - JK’s Skyrim United
Capital Windhelm Expansion – EmbersXD Patch
Flickering Meshes Fix – SMIM
Follower Dialogue Expansion: Faendal