Fallout: New Vegas was a landmark for open-world RPGs, mostly for its player-driven world and extensive combat and DLC options. The game is more than a decade old in 2021, though, and some of the game's mechanics don't hold up compared to modern RPGs.
The modding community behind Fallout: New Vegas is massive and constantly putting out new content, even 10 years later. Thanks to these modders, some of the less savory aspects of Fallout: New Vegas can be remedied, and some lackluster gameplay systems can be improved.
10 Weapon Mods Expanded
The Weapon Mods Expanded mod for Fallout: New Vegas gives new levels of complexity to the weapons throughout the Mojave Wasteland. The mod adds dozens of attachments, sights, and other customizable addons to most of the weapons in the game.
There is a huge variety of unique guns in Fallout: New Vegas, but the combat complexity usually boils down to using V.A.T.S. and choosing the right damage. This mod brings some decision-making to putting together the perfect weapon.
9 More Perks...
The More Perks mod for Fallout: New Vegas adds a huge number of new perks to the game to complement the dozens of perks already available. Perks are extremely varied and bring new levels of depth to the upgrading system.
Many of these perks are centered around aspects of the game not already connected to a perk, especially survival-related activities like drinking and eating.
8 ...and Perk Every Level
The Perks Every Level mod fundamentally changes how the Perk system works in Fallout: New Vegas. Normally, players pick up perks at milestones and for in-game achievements, but this mod gives players a perk with each level up.
It pairs very well with the More Perks mod, but it does have the potential to make a player very overpowered much earlier than normal. It's a much nicer system than having to grind out rare monsters or hundreds of small pests, though.
7 Project Nevada
The Project Nevada mod for Fallout: New Vegas is an overhaul in the classic sense of the word as related to modding. Project Nevada adds new zones, weapons, mechanics, and other core elements to the game, making for an entirely fresh experience.
If you're looking for a mod that fundamentally changes Fallout: New Vegas, Project Nevada is your best bet. It's a great mod for a fresh playthrough, and it's compatible with other addons too.
6 Enhanced Camera
The camera in a first-person-oriented game is pretty important for establishing a role-playing mindset. Where third-person games have an advantage, though, is being able to see one's character for roleplaying purposes.
The Enhanced Camera mod both adds a physical body to the first-person camera and a lot of customization options not present in the base game. It's great for immersion, though the feet do sometimes get tangled together if paired with a Sprint mod.
5 Sprint Mod
Sprinting is something that players often take for granted in open-world RPGs. The gigantic world of Fallout: New Vegas can be tedious to trek through if one can't speed up their normal walking speed on a moments' notice, though.
The Sprint mod for Fallout: New Vegas remedies this by adding a simple sprinting mechanic to the game, which can be customized to the most comfortable keybinding.
4 The Strip Open
The Strip Open mod for Fallout: New Vegas changes something that many players complained about with the initial release: the lackluster New Vegas. New Vegas in the Strip Open mod makes the post-apocalyptic desert paradise feel more alive than ever.
New NPC patterns, activities, buildings, and other additions to the strip make it as lively and active as it appears in the original trailers. Say goodbye to robotic, straightforward casinos and city streets, and say hello to the vibrancy and variety that everyone thought New Vegas should have.
3 Increased Wasteland Spawns
One part of exploring the Wasteland in Fallout: New Vegas is the randomly generated spawns of the open world. Players can be approached by bandits, the NCR, monsters, and other creatures out of nowhere, but it doesn't happen that often.
The Increased Wasteland Spawns mod makes these Wasteland spawns far more common, making every trek across the Mojave much more dangerous and full of adversarial creatures, though it doesn't change the unique encounter rate.
2 Real-Time Settler
One aspect of the newer Fallout title Fallout 4 is the ability to construct a base of operations and establish a settlement. This functionality is added to Fallout: New Vegas with the Real-Time Settler mod.
The mod adds a variety of building options, settlement-related quest lines, and mechanics related to hashing it out in the Mojave with a ragtag group of settlers. It's a good way to lengthen the game by dozens of hours with its multitude of customizations and possible choices presented.
1 Random Encounters
The Random Encounters mod for Fallout: New Vegas is much like the Increased Wasteland Spawns mod, in that it increases the chance for unique encounters and creatures to be found while wandering the wasteland. This mod, though, adds some unique encounters and creatures not seen in the base game.
The Mojave Wasteland does have a few random encounters already programmed in the game, but none are especially spectacular or mind-boggling. Some of the encounters introduced with this mod include a Vertibird attack, enclave battles, and even an eyebot in an identity crisis.