Fallout 4 remains a beloved title nearly ten years post-launch, continually revealing new layers of depth and enjoyment with every session. While the game features an array of captivating quests, memorable companions, and immersive locations, avid fans often seek ways to enhance their gameplay further. As a dedicated member of the Fallout community, I utilize mods to enrich my experience. While I may rotate some mods based on different playthroughs, a select few have become integral to my gaming load order.
Modding Fallout 4 is a user-friendly process, especially with the help of mod managers like Mod Organizer 2 or Nexus Mods’ dedicated Vortex. However, it’s essential to review the requirements for each mod you intend to install, as some may clash with others or necessitate additional tools like F4SE (Fallout 4 Script Extender) for full functionality. Once everything is configured, the real fun of tailoring Fallout 4 to your liking begins, thanks to a plethora of mods that cater to everything from aesthetic changes to essential bug fixes.
10. Scrap Everything: Enhance Your Settlements
Clear Out Unwanted Debris
When you seize a new settlement in Fallout 4, your initial instinct is often to scrap any unwanted items around the area. Unfortunately, certain objects, like trash piles and skeletal remains, cannot be dismantled, which can be quite frustrating. The mod Scrap Everything by shadowslasher410 effectively resolves this issue by significantly expanding the range of items that are scrapable during build mode.
This mod transforms the rebuilding process into a more enjoyable venture by allowing players to clear away excess clutter entirely. It’s important to note that once an object is scrapped, it cannot be restored, so I recommend exercising caution when selecting items to dismantle. For those who prefer added security, the add-on mod Scrap (Not Quite) Everything by Duchess1 limits the scrapping capability to certain objects, providing peace of mind.
9. LooksMenu: Revamping Character Creation
Enhanced Character Customization Features
Character customization is a vital part of any RPG experience, and in Fallout 4, it carries its unique challenges. While the base game provides a satisfactory character creator, it can feel somewhat cumbersome. The LooksMenu mod by expired6978 enhances this feature by making it easier to identify and modify facial features, ensuring a more precise personalization process.
This mod is particularly advantageous when utilizing hair mods, as it allows for easier navigation through a comprehensive list of available hairstyles. Perhaps my favorite aspect of LooksMenu is the ability to save and manage presets of character designs, granting players the opportunity to explore various appearances without starting from scratch each time. With countless presets created by other players, the options are endless.
8. Better Settlers: Energizing Your Communities
Diverse and Capable Settlers
The settlers in Fallout 4 often fall flat, appearing repetitively due to a limited set of character presets. I’ve encountered scenarios where multiple similar-looking characters populate a single settlement. Thanks to the Better Settlers mod by Thom293, this issue is alleviated with the addition of over 240 unique settler designs, bringing diversity to the communities.
This mod also allows players to customize changes to settlers, including clothing styles, hairstyles, gender ratios, and item availability like Stimpaks. I prefer modifying their toughness to enhance their defense capabilities, providing them with better gear and ensuring they can fend for themselves during attacks.
7. Functional Displays: Showcase Your Achievements
Creativity at Its Best
While there are various display cases available to craft in Fallout 4, they usually serve a decorative purpose without functionality. However, the Functional Displays mod by SecretAgent99 changes all of that by introducing numerous cases, shelves, and weapon racks for easy item display.
These displays are thoughtfully categorized according to weapon sizes, adding a level of organization that players will appreciate. Furthermore, the mod introduces new collectible models similar to the existing in-game collectibles, including items like miniature Dogmeat. The addition of these display options not only enhances creativity but simplifies organization within settlements.
6. Improved Map: Navigating the Wasteland
Visual Enhancements for Better Navigation
Not every mod introduces dramatic changes to Fallout 4; sometimes, simpler modifications can yield significant improvements. The Improved Map with Visible Roads by mm137 exemplifies this concept by enhancing the Pip-Boy map with clear representations of roads, paths, and train tracks, thereby facilitating better navigation.
The Commonwealth is vast, teeming with hidden treasures and quest locations that can easily leave players feeling disoriented. This mod simplifies locating quest markers and offers optional features such as numbered grid lines to improve orientation. I particularly enjoy the adjustable brightness settings for road visibility, making it less intrusive while adapting to my chosen Pip-Boy color scheme.
5. Full Dialogue Interface: No More Surprises in Conversation
Be Fully Informed Before Speaking
Another valuable adjustment that enhances gameplay is the Full Dialogue Interface by Cirosan. In my early playthroughs, I found myself often frustrated by the unclear dialogue options, where the Sole Survivor’s actual response would differ from expectations. Coming from previous Fallout titles where full text was displayed, discovering this mod was a game changer.
This modification revamps the dialogue interface, closely resembling the format used in Fallout 3, while also providing several visual customization options. I appreciate this enhancement as it adds immersion to conversations, moving beyond vague paraphrasing that fails to capture the context. A ‘lite’ version is also available, preserving the original dialogue aesthetics but featuring complete text visibility while keeping optional sarcastic responses hidden.
4. Everyone’s Best Friend: Dual Companionship
Bring Dogmeat and a Companion Along
Dogmeat stands out as one of the most cherished companions within Fallout 4, providing assistance in both exploration and looting. Interestingly, mod files indicate that the developers originally intended for players to have both Dogmeat and another companion travel with them. The Everyone’s Best Friend mod by valdacil reestablishes this feature, allowing Dogmeat to accompany me while exploring alongside characters like Nick or MacCready, thereby making the vast Commonwealth feel less isolating.
Not only does this enhance the gameplay experience with increased carrying capacity and combat assistance, but Dogmeat also operates independently of the follower count, allowing him to continue exhibiting his exceptional item-finding skills. I favor this mod over others that allow multiple followers, as it significantly reduces routing problems and avoids overcrowding in tight spaces.
3. We Are The Minutemen: Expanding Faction Dynamics
Transforming the Minutemen into a Recognizable Faction
As one of the central factions in Fallout 4, the Minutemen fall short both in narrative depth and functionality. The We Are The Minutemen mod by TheFirstEnD elevates this faction to a proper status, equipping them with the capabilities needed to defend the Commonwealth against threats like raiders and the Institute. The core concept of the mod is straightforward: with more settlements comes improved resources and, in turn, enhanced weaponry and power.
This mod enriches the Minutemen questline, altering when Preston introduces the idea of retaking the Castle and leveling up the Minutemen alongside the Sole Survivor. Among my favorite modifications is the adjustment of radiant quests; they are significantly reduced, introducing a longer cooldown period which allows Preston to feel more like a companion than a perpetual quest-giver.
2. Sim Settlements 2: Reinvigorating Settlement Building
Engaging Storylines and Customization Options
As someone who has often expressed frustration with settlement building in Fallout 4, I must confess that Sim Settlements 2 by kinggath has become a staple in my mod library. This ingenious mod eliminates the tediousness of settlement construction, allowing the player to establish multiple new towns effortlessly.
The mod completely revamps settlement mechanics by implementing designated areas where settlers can autonomously build their homes, complemented by an array of unique building plans that ensure no two settlements are identical. Furthermore, Sim Settlements 2 boasts a captivating, entirely voiced storyline that doubles as a tutorial for how the mod works, significantly enhancing replay value alongside its various customization options.
1. Start Me Up: New Beginnings for Every Player
Breeze Past the Prologue
For veteran players looking for a streamlined experience in Fallout 4, the Start Me Up mod by TinyManticore is a game-changer. This mod introduces a plethora of options for starting a new game, eliminating the lengthy pre-war intro and allowing players to jump straight into the action upon waking in Vault 111. If you select the alternative start, you can even begin by waking from a dream disconnected from Shaun.
This mod is a favorite of mine due to its extensive roleplay potential, featuring a variety of starting locations, jobs, and character levels. Start Me Up also reinstates traits, offering benefits in specific areas while introducing corresponding drawbacks. The plot has been thoughtfully reworked to accommodate these new beginnings, ensuring that the narrative remains cohesive regardless of the chosen route, thereby enhancing the motivation to experiment with various character classes.
Sources:
ModOrganizerTeam,
NexusMods,
shadowslasher410,
Duchess1,
expired6978,
Thom293,
SecretAgent99,
mm137,
Cirosan,
valdacil,
TheFirstEnD,
kinggath,
TinyManticore