The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimoffers players plenty of things to do and see. This myriad collection of activities, however, doesn’t have to be experienced alone.Plenty of recruitable followersare willing to tag along with the Dragonborn in their adventures. Nevertheless, most players by now have likely traveled with just about every vanilla follower in the game.
Fortunately, that’s where mods come into play. Follower mods inSkyrimrange drastically in their quality. The best ones are typically those with custom dialogue and associated questlines. Among these, a handful of them are really quite impressive and tend to stand out from the rest. Players can’t go wrong sharing their exploits with these faithful companions.
Updated June 22, 2025, by Hamza Haq:Follower mods introduce new companions to accompany the Dragonborn in their journey across the snowscape of Skyrim, introducing new characters, new stories, and new interactions that would be impossible to experience in vanilla. As Skyrim has one of the most active modding communities in all of gaming, there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of follower mods for Skyrim, which makes picking and choosing the ones worth adding a difficult task, but not an impossible one.
24Xelzaz, The Telvanni Argonian
Players can always use a few more Argonian followers inSkyrim. They’re one of the most interesting races inThe Elder Scrollslore, so installing a few mods that add several more of these reptilian rogues is worth it. Fortunately, fans don’t have to look far when it comes to excellent Argonian follower mods.
Xelzazis yet another fully-voiced follower, complete with over 5,000 lines of dialogue. In addition to his own unique questline, Xelzaz will also comment on various goings-on in the game. He can cook meals, brew potions, and even read books aloud to the player while traversing the map. This intrepid Argonian even has a personalized theme and combat music. Best of all, he also will interact with other follower mods on this list, including Nebarra, Remiel, and Lucifer.
23Aurlyn Dawnstone, The Reclusive Philosopher
High Elves aren’t the most welcome race inSkyrim, at least from the perspective of the Nords. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t be helpful as the Dragonborn’s companions. Players looking to have some magical firepower at their backs should considerAurlyn Dawnstone.
Aurlyn is an Aldmeri sorceress with an extensive backstory. With thousands of lines of custom dialogue, fans can spend a lot of time with Aurlyn before running out of things to discuss. She’sa very powerful magecapable of delivering devastating ranged attacks that can smite enemies with relative ease.
22Shirley, Skyrim’s Grandma
It’s fair to assume that manySkyrimplayers have probably heard of Shirley Curry. She’s an 85-year-old Youtuber whose content revolves aroundSkyrimplaythroughs.The Elder Scrollscommunity has bestowed upon her the affectionate nickname “the Skyrim Grandma.”
Now, through the efforts of the modding community,Shirleyherself can be recruited as a follower inSkyrim. She even recorded lines of dialogue specifically for the mod, which is a nice touch. When looking to explore with a more lighthearted companion, Shirley is a safe bet.
21Geralt Of Rivia, The Witcher
Fans that don’t mind breakingSkyrim’s immersion will find plenty of material to work with on Nexus. Case in point, what better companion is there to have the Dragonborn’s back thanGeralt of Rivia? This match made in heaven, although not lore-friendly at all, is satisfying to behold.
Players canrecruit this legendary witcherat the Winking Skeever in Solitude. Fans can expect Geralt to utilize his signature swords in combat as well as his witcher Signs. He also possesses his own custom dialogue, commenting on various locations and objects around the world. Needless to say,Skyrim’s monsters won’t stand a chance.
20Pandorable’s Heroines
Pandorable’s Heroinesadds 8 brand-new female followers toSkyrim, each one located in a separate section of the map. Each has a custom body made using UUNP, meaning they can be modified quite easily and work with body physics mods like CBBE Bodyslide.
The mod also reuses existing voice lines for followers, meaning players will only hear theSkyrimvoice actors they’re already familiar with. Additionally, the mod is compatible with follower overhauls and the author recommends players use a follower framework to get the most out of the new followers. The goal here is to add brand new NPCs to the game to make it feel more lived in and immersive. All of Pandorable’s Heroines are marriable.
19Familiar Faces, Traveling With Oneself
This mod represents an interesting take on the follower mechanic. Why travel with a stranger when players can explore Skyrim with themselves? The Familiar Faces mod allows the player to port characters from other save files into their current game.
These ported characters will maintain their old playstyles and equipment. Fighting alongside a fellow Dragonborn can really come in handy after all. TheSpecial Editionversion of this mod can bedownloaded for free on Patreon. Players using the older,Legendary Editionversion ofSkyrimcanfind it here.
18Lucifer, The Cagey Argonian
Although Xelzaz will keep players busy for a while, fans who want another Argonian to tag along on their adventures should consider adding the intimidatingly-namedLuciferas well. This intriguing companion has over 6,000 lines of dialogue and will gradually open up about his past as players gain his trust.
Lucifer is a competent warrior and archer who will stick by the player’s side through thick and thin. Even though he may disagree with the Dragonborn’s actions from time to time, Lucifer is a companion worth learning more about.
17Sofia, The Free Spirit
Sofiais one of the most highly endorsed follower mods on Nexus. Her popularity stems mainly from her humorous (and often lewd) lines of custom dialogue. Traveling with her tends to brightenSkyrim’s dreary atmosphere considerably.
The voice acting for Sofia is also top-notch. Listening to her jokes and comments doesn’t get old easily, and breaks up the humdrum routines of exploration. Players looking for another lighthearted companion should certainly consider Sofia on their next playthrough.
16The Followers Of Interesting NPCs
When discussing essentialSkyrimmods, it’s hard not to mentionInteresting NPCs. Longtime veterans of the game probably knowmost of the vanilla NPCsby heart at this point. The Interesting NPCs mod injects some much-needed freshness to the proceedings by adding over 250 fully-voiced characters.
Along with these additions come 25+ followers that players can recruit. Their backstories, personalities, and motivations are all unique, and thus there simply isn’t enough time to thoroughly examine each one. Players should install the mod and discover their interesting stories for themselves.
15Gore - A Companion Mod
Gore is a standalone followerwith hundreds of lines of fully voiced custom dialogue, a detailed storyline with multiple lengthy quests, and custom commands unique to the character. Players can even direct Gore to set up camp, hunt, and cook, with the details changing depending on the region. This is a self-contained feature that doesn’t conflict with dedicated survival mods like Campfire and Simple Hunting Overhaul.
The campsites Gore sets up change and evolve as his quests progress and the story unfolds. It’s an immersive way to introduce a sense of bonding between the player and Gore. Best of all is a rechargeable flask players can get from Gore that heals 50% of the player’s HP and comes with 5 charges, sort of likeSkyrim’sversion of the Estus Flask. It can be recharged at Gore’s camps once the charges run out.
