It’s time for another roundup of the best Fallout 4 mods for every kind of player! Remember, we’ve marked all of the featured mods as “Xbox Compatible” if you can get them on Microsoft’s console. Unfortunately, most cool mods take some time to make their way to the console market, but don’t lose hope. We suggest you do a search for all these mods at home, or you can find all Xbox One mods listed right here.
Here are the best mods of 2017 so far for every type of player:
For the Roleplayer
Top Pick: Heather Casdin – A Unique Companion Experience
Finally a companion with some sort of depth. Heather is a custom companion that comes with 1200 custom lines of dialogue. Programmed without using much of Fallout 4‘s vanilla companion code, Heather is a truly unique. If you’re worried about losing any of the benefits from having a normal companion, you shouldn’t. Heather has several quests, her own passive abilities, and a deep background story that is arguably better than most other companions found. If you’re looking for a much improved companion experience, give this mod a whirl!
Honorable Mentions
For the Comedian
Top Pick: Crimes Against Nature
Look, I’m gonna be honest I’m not entirely sure what to think about this mod. Do the five races have some sort of connection? I tried to find out, but was hopelessly lost. It’s all too random for them to not be connected, right? Or perhaps the random, craziness of it all is what makes this mod so hilarious and special. I’m not so sure if I really need to explain why this is the best mod for 2017 in the comedy category… You can roam the wasteland as a buoy or a cat-in-a-box. What the hell?
Honorable Mentions
For the Graphics Geek
Top Pick: HD DLC Creature Textures Rework
For those who have, or perhaps plan to purchase any Fallout 4 DLC, this mod is ideal. All the creatures you’ll encounter, new and old have been given a makeover — giving them much more detail and higher definition. A lot of older mods will fulfill any needs you may have for general improvements to the vanilla game, however not much have been made in 2017 as it hasn’t been necessary. For anybody running a lower-end spec PC, look below for “Performance Textures” mod to improve your experience.
Honorable Mentions
For the Builder
Top Pick: Just Some Rods and Curtains
Something so simple, yet so necessary. Taken for granted, most homes have blinds or curtains on their windows. Without them, rooms and homes often feel void or naked. Enter this simple, yet elegant mod that can transform your settlement into something a little more homey. Kinda crazy that after the war all the curtains disappeared, huh? Regardless, your dream of becoming the wasteland’s best interior designer just got closer with this mod.
Honorable Mentions
For the Rulebreaker
Top Pick: Red Rocket Road Map
Ok, so this isn’t really that blatant of a rule breaker, but it definitely qualifies. The Red Rocket Road Map is an item found *somewhere* in the Glowing Sea. Once found, it will reveal all the locations of Fallout 4 map to you. There is a much easier way to do this by entering a console command, but this is a bit more fun, right?
Honorable Mentions
That covers our latest look at the best Fallout 4 mods for every kind of player. Looking for more? Check out all of our favorites from previous updates below!
PREVIOUS MOD SELECTIONS
September
For the Roleplayer
Top Pick: Outfit Switcher
Do you take the fashion of your characters seriously? Find yourself changing clothes to fit the situation? Look no further than Outfit Switcher. This mod allows you to save whole outfits as a hot-swap, allowing you to customize, save, and switch between them easily.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Comedian
Top Pick: Huge Weapons (Xbox Compatible)
For the melee weapon fans out there, look no further than the huge weapons mod. Ever wanted to beat your enemies with comically huge melee weapons? Now you can! The sheer size of these weapons is hilarious, especially during those killing blows in VATS.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Graphics Geek
Top Pick: True Storms (Xbox Compatible)
The Commonwealth can channel storms that will amaze you with their power. This mod now makes them awe-inspiringly beautiful as well. The mod includes new heavy and unique weathers, loads of new intense sound effects, interior sounds, particle effects, textures, and more. The mod works in both the Commonwealth and Far Harbor areas.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Builder
Top Pick: Scrap Everything (Xbox Compatible)
For builders in the Fallout community, this mod is a must-have. Scrap Everything allows you to completely clear out every element within the borders of a settlement. If you’re looking to completely overhaul a location, this mod makes it easy. You can start from scratch without having to waste time finding and disassembling everything in the environment.
Honorable Mentions:
- The Castle Revamp (Xbox Compatible)
- USS Quincy – Premium Player Home
- Renovated Furniture (Xbox Compatible)
For the Rule Breaker
Top Pick: Longer Power Lines (Xbox Compatible)
Is there anything worse than attempting to line power through a settlement and having to constantly bridge the connection? This mod increases the distance of power lines when building settlements. Not only is it easier to wire up your whole settlement, but the extra length of the lines makes settlements look a lot less cluttered.
Honorable Mentions:
- Easy Hacking
- Salvage Beacons (Xbox Compatible)
-
No Negative Affinity and No Affinity Cooldown (Xbox Compatible)
August
For the Roleplayer
Top Pick: Singing Settler
It’s time to get down and dance with the Singing Settler mod! This mod adds a new job in your settlements: the club singer. Assign any settler to the position, and you can add up to 33 unique songs. For true immersion, be sure to dress those singing settlers in formal attire.
Honorable Mentions:
- Armor of the Storyteller (Xbox Compatible)
- Blood Rose – Voiced Companion
- Dauntless (Xbox Compatible)
For the Comedian
Top Pick: FCOM: Fallout Commander (Xbox Compatible)
Why charge into battle when you can send your minions? Fans of XCOM will find a lot to love in a mod that lets you manage a squad of troops navigating the Wasteland, killing on your behalf.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Graphics Geek
Top Pick: Vivid Weather (Xbox Compatible)
We’ve had a few weather mods in our list before, but this is one of my favorites. The heavy fog and snow looks gorgeous, and the new cloud textures add a subtle but immersive effect. It even adds some great sound effects.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Builder
Top Pick: Do It Yourshelf – Clutter (Xbox Compatible)
Sometimes homes in Fallout 4 can look too manicured and well organized. A real home is full of random junk, haphazardly set about on your shelves. This clutter mod lets you bring a little mess into your life. Turn that house into a home!
Honorable Mentions:
For the Rule Breaker
Top Pick: Beast Master (Xbox Compatible)
Beast Master is an upgrade of a previous creature mod that lets you have Deathclaws by your side. This latest overhaul now lets you tame, command, name and even decorate your pets. Build a relationship with a giant crab! You know you’ve always wanted to.
Honorable Mentions:
July
For the Roleplayer
Top Pick: Singing Settler
It’s time to get down and dance with the Singing Settler mod! This mod adds a new job in your settlements: the club singer. Assign any settler to the position, and you can add up to 33 unique songs. For true immersion, be sure to dress those singing settlers in formal attire.
Honorable Mentions:
- Armor of the Storyteller (Xbox Compatible)
- Blood Rose – Voiced Companion
- Dauntless (Xbox Compatible)
For the Comedian
Top Pick: FCOM: Fallout Commander (Xbox Compatible)
Why charge into battle when you can send your minions? Fans of XCOM will find a lot to love in a mod that lets you manage a squad of troops navigating the Wasteland, killing on your behalf.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Graphics Geek
Top Pick: Vivid Weather (Xbox Compatible)
We’ve had a few weather mods in our list before, but this is one of my favorites. The heavy fog and snow looks gorgeous, and the new cloud textures add a subtle but immersive effect. It even adds some great sound effects.
lHonorable Mentions:
For the Builder
Top Pick: Do It Yourshelf – Clutter (Xbox Compatible)
Sometimes homes in Fallout 4 can look too manicured and well organized. A real home is full of random junk, haphazardly set about on your shelves. This clutter mod lets you bring a little mess into your life. Turn that house into a home!
Honorable Mentions:
For the Rule Breaker
Top Pick: Beast Master (Xbox Compatible)
Beast Master is an upgrade of a previous creature mod that lets you have Deathclaws by your side. This latest overhaul now lets you tame, command, name and even decorate your pets. Build a relationship with a giant crab! You know you’ve always wanted to.
Honorable Mentions:
May
For the Roleplayer
Top Pick: LooksMenu Customization Compendium
Our top pick this month is actually the result of the combined efforts of several modders, compiling their best customization mods into one helpful suite of tools. Find new tattoos, scars, hair, and more, all compatible with each other.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Comedian
Top Pick: Squid Follower
Look, Fallout 4 has some great followers, but you have to give a hand (or eight) to this Squid Follower mod. This friendly giant squid can wear armor, claws, and boxing gloves! The mod also includes adorable baby-squid armor and weapons. This is a truly fantastic… cephalo-mod.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Graphics Geek
Top Pick: Weapons of Fate
This month’s best Fallout 4 graphics mod isn’t a visual overhaul per se, but it will resonate for those looking for a realistic Wasteland experience. The Weapons of Fate mod adds painstakingly detailed adjustments to the game’s ballistics system, giving each bullet type its own tracer, weight, speed, and drop in altitude over set distances.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Builder
Top Pick: Build Your Own Pool
What’s one thing the Commonwealth is missing? A massive heart-shaped swimming pool to lounge around with your favorite companions of course! Grab a towel and a mint julep, it’s time to relax.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Rule Breaker
Top Pick: Cheat Menu
Who needs a Game Genie when you’ve got your handy Pip-Boy loaded up with this robust cheat mod. Unlock all achievements on the fly, give yourself some ammo or load up on caps. Access to God Mode has never been so easy.
Honorable Mentions:
April
For the Roleplayer
Top Pick: Ransacked Relays and Shuddersome Subways
At long last, the Fallout 4 modding community is getting around to creating robust story-focused mods, and I expect more to come now that the mod creation tool is in beta. The Ransacked Relays mod includes new missions and an entirely new era for you to explore. If you like it, be sure to check out Sparky’s Quantum Adventure in the Honorable Mentions.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Comedian
Top Pick: Batcave
Alright, this one doesn’t quite count since it’s not yet available to download. Even so, this Batman-inspired creation is too good to ignore. Just look at the bat signal! Now someone needs to create Stark Tower for all the Marvel fans out there.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Graphics Geek
Top Pick: Dynamic Depth of Field
Looking to take some stunning screenshots of your Fallout 4 adventure? This is the mod for you. Dynamic Depth of Field lets you control the auto-focus effect it creates, letting you capture the beauty of the Commonwealth like an expert photographer.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Builder
Top Pick: Conquest
Like the Campsite mod in the Honorable Mentions, Conquest lets you set up a camp while on the road, giving you a place to cook and sleep for the night. If you’ve found a place you love, you can upgrade your camp into a permanent settlement and build to your heart’s content. This is an especially great mod for the builders out there who still want to play survival mode.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Rule Breaker
Top Pick: Achievements
Achievements is the aptly-titled mod for the true rule breakers out there. See, Bethesda has deactivated achievements for anyone using a mod. If you’re hungry for those sweet “cheevos” but still want to improve the look or gameplay of Fallout 4, now you can. Simply download the Achievements mod and you can progress like normal without deactivating your mods.
Honorable Mentions:
March
For the Roleplayer
Top Pick: Lots More Facial Hair
The creator of the “Lots More Female Hairstyles” mod and its male equivalent chose not to stray too far from their successful formula of bringing the best hairstyles to the Commonwealth. Their new mod, “Lots More Facial Hair” adds over 100 new male facial hair options from which to choose. Why stop at a 5 o’clock shadow or a regular beard when there are so many other looks from which to choose?
Honorable Mentions:
For the Comedian
Top Pick: Be the Dog – Playable Dogs
Dogmeat may be one of the best parts of any Fallout game. As we noted in our Game Dogs of the Year 2015 round-up there are a ton of reasons why the Fallout 4 version of Dogmeat rocks. If you can’t get enough of the faithful companion, try the “Be the Dog – Playable Dogs” mod. It lets you equip dog gear like bandanas, and even gives you access to four unique bite attacks. After all, it can get pretty “ruff” out there. (instant rimshot)
Honorable Mentions:
For the Graphics Geek
Top Pick: Grasslands
“Grasslands” is a mod which adds grass and flowers to the Commonwealth, both out in the wasteland, and in the cities. The new textures and additions to the environment inject some life into the often dismal-looking landscape. Even though Fallout 4 takes place in a post-war nuclear wasteland, 210 years should hopefully be enough time for some flora to take hold again. I just wouldn’t advise eating it. For purists, there is an “Unhealthy” version of the mod that will retain the dead look of the original game’s plant life, and will simply add a lot more of it.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Builder
Top Pick: Build Your Own Vault
One thing that has always bothered me about the settlements in Fallout 4 is the question of why people would take the time to build shelter above ground, rather than using the existing vaults, or at least building their own underground shelter to protect against the harsh environment and creatures of the Commonwealth wasteland. With the “Build Your Own Vault” mod, you can take some of the most popular settlement areas underground. Feel free to keep growing your crops out in the sunlight, but when the Super Mutants or Deathclaws come calling, head underground and hunker down behind the safety of steel walls meant to withstand a nuclear blast.
Honorable Mentions:
For the Rule Breaker
Top Pick: Take Cover
The “Take Cover” mod replaces the clunky cover mechanics of Fallout 4 with a system more like those of The Division or Gears of War. With this new mod enabled, you can crouch or stand behind cover and lean out to shoot when you aim down your sights. You can even channel the roadie run from Gears and vault over low objects.
Honorable Mentions:
February
For the Roleplayer
Top Pick: Where Did I Put That?
The Wasteland is a cluttered place. Help make sense of the world with this simple but ingenious mod that lets you create labels. Keep forgetting which mailbox holds your prized Gatling gun? Never again!
Runners Up:
For the Comedian
Top Pick: Jedi and Sith Force Powers
We have the Darth Vader armor mod. We have the lightsaber mod. Now, at last, our Star Wars fantasy is complete. Download the Force Powers mode to shock your enemies with Force Lightning or just toss them aside with a Force Push.
Runners Up:
- Craftable Customizable Buster Sword
- Craftable Taxidermied Creatures
- Witcher – Geralt’s Prologue Gear
For the Graphics Geek
Top Pick: Nuclear Weather
Our pick for the graphics geek this time goes to the Nuclear Weather mod. This brings in an assortment of neat conditions, from Nuclear Winter, which blankets the Commonwealth in radioactive snow, to a trippy Time Warp effect. Now someone just needs to mod in a Fallout umbrella.
Runners Up:
For the Builder
Top Pick: Place Everywhere
Several mods already let you place settlement objects into or onto other surfaces, but this is the best. Place Everywhere also fixes some critical bugs found in other object placement mods. Now you can finally build a house entirely out of floating Brahmin heads!
Runners Up:
For the Rule Breaker
Top Pick: Bullet Time
Do you remember Max Payne? What a great game. This Bullet Time mod brings Max Payne’s iconic time-slowing mechanic to Fallout 4, letting you slaughter your enemies in super slow motion.
Runners Up:
January
For the Roleplayer
Top Pick: Role Play Fallout
You’ve seen the wasteland as the sole survivor, but what does Boston look like from the eyes of Piper or Preston Garvey? Several mods let you play as one of Fallout‘s numerous companions. However, Role Play Fallout actually creates custom stats and different starting locations for each companion, giving you a truer sense of living in the Commonwealth.
Runners Up:
For the Comedian
Top Pick: Rip A Guy’s Arm Off And Beat Him To Death With It
It’s all in the name. This mod lets you literally rip a guy’s arm off and then beat him to death with it. What are you waiting for? You can attack Super Mutants. With their own arm. Download this already.
Runners Up:
For the Graphics Geek
Top Pick: Fallout 4 Seasons
This is easily my favorite graphical mod to date. If you’ve ever been to Boston in the winter, you know the landscape completely changes under a blanket of snow. It’s a gorgeous sight, only rivaled by the city in the spring. Fallout 4 Seasons brings the vibrancy of nature back to the wasteland.
Runners Up:
For the Builder
Top Pick: Snap’n Build
Bunkers, capsules, and more come packed in this excellent Fallout 4 mod for settlement builders. Snap’n Build is also optimized to allow snap-to assembly, easing the frustration that too often comes with construction.
Runners Up:
- Craftable Solar Panels and Fusion Reactors
- Craftable Bobblehead Displays
- Repairable Sanctuary
- Better Stores
- Colored Workshop Lights
For the Rule Breaker
Top Pick: Personal Jetpack
Why walk when you can soar? This Fallout 4 mod lets you take to the skies without having to craft a custom suit of power armor. Snipers will find this mod especially useful as it lets you reach otherwise inaccessible vantage points to rain death onto the battlefield.
Runners Up:
- Traits and More Perks
- Tasty Map
- Grenade Expansion Pack
- Minutemen Overhaul
- Advanced Settlement Turret Set
December
For the Comedian
Top Pick: John Cena Fat Man Mod
No one expects John Cena. Let your enemies know who’s boss by launching mini-nukes with the resounding triumphant cry of WWE Superstar John Cena.
Runners-up
For the Roleplayer
Top Pick: More Armor Slots
Just because you’re wearing protective armor doesn’t mean you can’t navigate the wastelands of Boston in style. This armor slot mod lets you wear full body outfits in addition to your regular armor, giving you a chance to flaunt the best attire on top of a complete suite of armor.
For the Graphics Geeks
Top Pick: Enhanced Wasteland Preset
The Commonwealth is a dark and dreary wasteland. Brighten it up a bit with this massive visual upgrade to Fallout 4. With so many texture and lighting options now available, Boston has never looked this good.
Runners-up
- Vivid Fallout – Landscapes
- Wasteland Salon
- Commonwealth HQ Landscape Overhaul
- Water Enhancement Textures
For the Builder
Top Pick: Unlimited Settlement Objects
Fallout 4 lets you play architect with their glorious settlement builder, but for the creative builders out there, the limit on settlement size can restrict your genius. Now with the Unlimited Settlement Size mod, you can achieve nearly anything… such as that enormous Rubik’s Cube below!
Runners-up
For the Rule Breaker
Top Pick: Creatures as Companions
So you want to break all the rules and dominate the wasteland, but don’t want to do it alone? With this Creatures as Companions mod, you can turn the mutated creatures of the Commonwealth into your best friends. Travel with a yao guai ally, or even have a deathclaw join the team!
Runners-up
This should cover the best of the best… so far. If you’re looking to download many or all of these mods, consider downloading the Fallout 4 Mod Manager tool to quickly and easily track your mods. Also, be sure to come back for more on Fallout 4 modding tools as they’re created.