The humble mod is the best example of the endless possibilities that PC gaming offers. If a game’s developer leaves the game for digital pastures, or if it fails to meet its users’ expectations, then there is a chance that it will fade into infamy.
The magic happens when one or more skilled users step in, and then the magic truly begins to unfold. Games that have been completely redesigned into something entirely new. Games that were once lost but are now resurrected.
We look at PC mods that enhance the gaming experience of our favorite games as part of TechRadar’s PC Gaming Week 2018. You can find the 10 best total mods that have completely changed how games are played.
DayZ (ARMA2)
The mod that popularized a whole genre, one that is still dominated by streaming platforms and headlines today, would not be included on any list of the most influential mods.
Dean ‘Rocket Hall, creator of ARMA 2, created the engine and basic resources for ARMA 2’s military simulator. He also designed ARMA 2’s expansion pack ARMA 2’s Operation Arrowhead. Hall envisioned a survival simulation where a player could spawn on large maps with limited weapons.
It was designed to help players find gear and avoid or defeat AI-controlled zombies. DayZ was a hit with its realistic damage models and the ability to break bones.
Star Wars: Galactic Warfare (Call of Duty 4 : Modern Warfare).
EA and DICE had two excellent entries in Battlefront in 2015 and 2017, but PC gamer’s new trainer was still looking for a first-person multiplayer shooter in the vast, distant vistas of the galaxy.
Star Wars : Galactic Warfare was first released in 2009. It used Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare to be its base and includes a complete overhaul of all aspects, from weapon models to sound effects.
It’s still one the most popular fan-made projects, even though it was released almost a decade ago. It’s one the most immersive mods we have, with a lot of maps that are based on the iconic locations from the original trilogy.
Black Mesa (Half-Life)
There are mods and then there are mods. These fan-made projects are high quality and professional in content, execution and quality.
This is Black Mesa. The mod is a complete remake of Half-Life and takes eight years to create. It offers and uses the more sophisticated Source engine (well, it’s more advanced than the old GoldSrc one).
It is an amazing achievement and received the silent blessing of Valve, who also approved Steam’s inclusion in the Early Access program.
Defense of the Ancients (Warcraft III – Reign of Chaos).
Dota, much like DayZ and for its crucial role in popularising battle-royale games.
DotA was created as a mod to Blizzard’s RTS Classic Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. It combined the top-down strategy mechanics of an RTS with the character progression and levelling of a traditional RPG.
It was created using Warcraft III’s in-built World Editor tool, which allows players to share custom maps online and create scenarios. This quickly became a major player on the competitive scene.
NeoTokyo (Half Life 2)
NeoTokyo began as a Half-Life 2 mod. It took the core elements of Valve’s iconic shooter and made it one of the best multiplayer shooters available on PC.
This fan-made project was originally released in 2009 and added to Steam Greenlight in 2012.
NeoTokyo was designed as a single-life round-based FPS (similar in Counter-Strike). It is known for its intricate art style and the complexity of its mechanics. It feels and plays more like a military simulation, but has the speed of a modern shooter.
The Elder Scrolls Renewal Project is one of the most popular mods.
It is a multi-person effort that aims at remastering every entry of the action-RPG series. This has become a labor of love that continues its growth and evolution in 2018.
Skywind, the most popular of all the builds. It aims to remaster The Elder Scrolls III. Morrowind (which was released in 2002) in The Elder Scrolls V. Skyrim. More than 70 volunteers contributed to mods, including new textures, quests, and gameplay features. There were also over 70,000 lines re-recorded dialogue.
Counter-Strike (Half Life)
Although it might seem excessive to have three mods that are based on Half-Life, this just goes to show how important Valve’s shooter franchise was for amateur developers and how flexible its source code is.
As if mods were enough, we should not forget Counter Strike.
It is still a favourite of the esports community, but it was originally created in 1999 by Minh ‘Gooseman” Le and Jess Cliffe as a mod.
It was a simple concept of two terrorist teams and counter-terrorists working together to eliminate each other. It became an international hit, and Valve was so impressed that they hired them and Counter-Strike was remade as an independent game.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords are Restored
Many mods listed here offer improvements to the base experience. However, others are meant to “finish” a game that many feel was not cooked enough.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II was one such game. The original campaign had ended abruptly and a dedicated group of players worked tirelessly in order to restore the quests and locations that Obsidian had cut due to time limitations. The Sith Lords Revived was the result.
Additional content patches include longer questlines, alternate endings, additional dialogue, and many other features. The original version was plagued by bugs.
The original XCOM was a great tactical sim, and most modders didn’t want to overhaul it. They wanted to add more content and stakes.
Enter Long War to get a partial conversion that extends the game’s length and breadth in nearly every way.
The squad size has been increased to eight and customisation has been increased tenfold. Additionally, the ability to retake foreign countries by attacking multiple alien bases was added.
The core team was supported by 29 modders, voice actors, and even some developers from Firaxis. Firaxis hired the main modders to create a new studio for the sequel.
If you enjoy games that are full of stealth and humor, there is a good chance that you have played at least one of the Thief games in your life.
Although the original trilogy is still a great game, it’s not as good as modern graphics. However, a group of dedicated fans saw the need for a fourth installment and decided to make it happen.
This project used the Doom 3 engine to its base and became The Dark Mod. It introduced a revamped lockpicking system and brand new locations. There are also many denizens to steal and pilfer. It was originally released in 2009 and finally received a standalone version.