The absolute best Dark Souls 3 mods on PC
So, you finally finished Dark Souls III, but you still want to play more. The game has reached its conclusion, but you just want to play some more, but in a way that you will not get tired of it anytime soon.
Ultimately, you can either: play PVP with other players, or maybe Co-op with those new to the game; you can either play it through again, this time using different weapons and stats; or, if you’re on the PC, you could make use of mods which will definitely give your playthrough a much-needed breath of life.
If you’re interested in modding the game, then here are some of the best Dark Souls III mods available on the internet (all for free, by the way) today.
10. Item Randomizer and Auto-Equip (by Coinsworth)
Dark Souls III Randomizer gameplay
A staple for Souls mod runners, the Randomizer mod will randomize the items found throughout the game, from items on the ground, to chest loot and even enemy drops. This ties into a challenge called the “Use What You See”, popularized by Twitch streamer LobosJr. The challenge involves completing the game with the equipment you currently have, and changing it every time you see a drop or another item, if possible. Gameplays in general are RNG-heavy; who knows if the Estoc you carry now will be replaced by a broken long sword, or even worse, something unusable, before a difficult boss fight. This mod comes with an auto-equip feature even, in order to make sure that what you pick up goes straight into your loadout.
This mod is amazing for players looking for a very particular and masochistic kind of challenge. You are almost guaranteed to have dead runs (e.g. getting heavy armor very early into the game and slowing you down to a crawl) and it becomes a very frustrating game of Russian roulette. It does make for great streaming content, though, and by the end you will feel the reach of your limits, especially if you managed to beat a boss like Champion Gundyr by beating him with a basic staff because you lack the intelligence to actually cast spells with it.
Get the Randomized and Auto-Equip mod here.
9. Size Modifier (by ZullieTheWitch)
Dark Souls III Tiny Souls gameplay
Featured in a set of Challenge Mods, the Size Modifier mod allows you to change your character size into either a gargantuan behemoth that can barely fit a single area, to an insect-like creature that would undoubtedly be crushed under enemies’ feet if the game were slightly more realistic. What’s even better is that the change in size affects hitboxes, so the game can sometimes range from incredibly easy to unbeatable. One thing’s for sure though, fighting enemies a hundred times your size gives the game a feel eerily similar to Shadow of the Colossus. On the other end of the spectrum though, it is fun laughing at enemies when they’re only as tall as your knees, or better yet, can be crushed with your foot.
The Size Modifier is great for players looking to just fool around with the game and experiment with the power of hitboxes. I have tried this out and managed to get my character to the size of a small child, which was a hilarious playthrough up until some of the bosses with attacks that have hitboxes larger than me. I did try the opposite and myself larger, with most of the enemies looking like children, which seemed wrong yet at the same time felt amazingly cathartic.
Get the Size Modifier here.
8. First Person Cam (by ZullieTheWitch)
Dark Souls III First Person Cam gameplay
Ever wondered what it would be like if the game featured a first-person mode much like Skyrim? Wonder no further with the First Person Cam mod, also found in the set of Challenge Mods. To put it simply, you would be able to play the entirety of the game in the eyes of your character, adding another layer of immersion to your playthrough. It also niftily hides the player’s body, and the updated iterations keep getting better with added arm animations, as well as subtle details that really makes you feel that the game has a first-person mode.
This mod is a must-have for players who wish to play as if the game is a first-person RPG, such as the Elder Scroll series. The mod amps up the challenge significantly, especially during areas infested with enemies, as you can get ambushed by enemies from behind before even figuring out where they are located. For added immersion, a version compatible with VR is also available, although as the game is not really VR-optimized, you will eventually get motion sickness.
Get the First Person Cam here.
VR workaround for Oculus Rift is available here.
7. Lighting Modifier (by ZullieTheWitch)
Dark Souls III Lighting Modifier gameplay
Taking the name ‘Dark’ in Dark Souls III way too seriously, the Lighting Modifier mod changes the strength of some of the values of ambient light sources in the game, with special focus on a preset called ‘Darkest Souls’. Using this preset, the game turns into a scene akin to a horror title like Silent Hill 2; corridors turn pitch black, and visibility drops to almost zero within a few meters of your character’s view. With the exception of some really well-lit open areas, you will wander in almost total darkness, and if you don’t know the game map really well, expect to get lost.
This mod is amazing if you’re looking to play the original without changing much of the gameplay mechanics. You’d be surprised at how a simple change in lighting affects how the game is played; Dark Souls III turns from action high fantasy RPG to a survival horror game in which you fend of forces of evil from the shadows. Farron Keep will most certainly get you confused, especially if you wander to far into the swamp areas, and you will most certainly increase your fall-related deaths unless you know the game map pretty well. For an even more horrifying experience, combine this mod with the First Person Cam to turn your game into Resident Evil 7.
Get the Lighting Modifier here.
6. Aggression Mod (by ZullieTheWitch)
Dark Souls III Aggression mod gameplay
Have you ever reached a point where you feel like you are so hardcore in playing Dark Souls III that the enemies don’t present a challenge anymore outside? Are you a fan of Dark Souls II, where the game’s idea of difficulty is throwing you multiple enemies at once? Are you a masochistic fiend that revels in challenge that you feel mere mortals cannot appreciate or comprehend? If you’re answer is yes to all of these, then the Aggression mod is probably for you. Simply put, this mod increases the range in which enemies can detect you, while also manipulating their AI to be more persistent in chasing you for longer.
The mod will see you fight hordes of enemies during the first stages, mobbing you and making you feel like your character is in a zombie movie. You will never feel a dull moment with this mod, and as long as enemies are mobile you are sure to face each and every one of them. In terms of difficulty, this is probably the one of the hardest, and you will probably enjoy it more with some friends as summons as you all try to survive the onslaught. Definitely a must-play for those seeking a next-level challenge.
Get the Aggression Mod here.
5. Poise Mod (by yummy1)
Dark Souls III Poise mod gameplay
Described as more of a quality of life change rather than an actual mod, the Poise mod formally introduces back a core component of the series notably “changed” in Dark Souls III – poise. Poise is a form of character stat that dictates how many hits your character can weather in a span of time without being staggered. It is a decidedly important factor, especially in the original Dark Souls, as heavier armor provides better poise in addition to protection at the cost of additional weight which in turn directly translates into the quality of your ‘rolls’, or dodges. In theory, the heavier your armor, the harder you are to stagger, meaning you can play a kind of turtle defense game style and power through blows, as evidenced in the first game. However, this was changed in Dark Souls III, as poise no longer protect yourself from staggers, arguably making heavier armor useless.
The mod is useful for players who want to see what could’ve been if poise is properly implemented in the game. Dark Souls III’s poise system basically relies on weapon hits rather than armor values, which mean that there is no sure way to see if poise is indeed working or not; in general, this mechanic has been deemed all but useful by the community at large, especially those devoted to PVP. The Poise mod changes the values to reflect the armor ones, allowing players to utilize tank characters properly for the first time in the game.
Get the Poise mod here.
4. iGP11 (by S17L)
Dark Souls III iGP11 texture mods gameplay
A mod for the truly patrician Dark Souls III shitposter, iGP11 allows you to change all the textures in the game. When I say all textures, I do mean all the textures. You want to turn your game into a Shrek-themed nightmare plane of existence? Just slap this mod on your game and look for various Shrek fan art on forums to replace the original ones. Big fan of Nicolas Cage? Install this mod, and transfer all Nic Cage meme faces for an enlightening experience. Bonus points for throwing some Wicker Men effigies and bees in there as well.
The mod is perfect for some challenge runs as well. Turning down some values in order to see only silhouettes will make the game look like Limbo, following a similar mod to the OG Dark Souls. Challenge-wise, there isn’t really much that this mod changes, except for maybe the visual impact of some parts. The real beauty in this mod is the limitless possibilities that come with it, allowing players complete control over how their game will look like.
Get the iGP11 here.
3. Dank Random Weapon Mod (by xenopiece)
Dark Souls III Random Weapon mod gameplay
Have you ever wanted to feel like Green Lantern as he pummels enemies with various kinds of weaponry, switching them on the fly? Well now you can, albeit randomly, with the Dank Random Weapon mod for Dark Souls III. The mod works on a timer, which is customizable, and the time specified is the duration in between weapon swaps, all of which are randomized. This results in a gameplay like no other; you will be hitting enemies with different weapons, sometimes in the span as small as a second, for one of the most chaotic playthroughs you will ever experience.
This mod is perfect for players who want a challenge based purely on RNG. As you can set the time difference between each swap, it can make for playthroughs that are as interesting as they are challenging. The mod also randomizes weapon levels, which can either help or hinder you. This is also a good starting point to someone new to mods, and who wants to try out different weapons.
Get the Dank Random Weapon mod here.
2. Top Down Cam Mod (by ZullieTheWitch)
Dark Souls III Top Down Cam mod gameplay
Another perspective change mod, the Top Down Cam mod, another part of the Challenge Mods pack, changes the game into a top-down perspective similar to RTS and old-school style action adventure games. It makes for a relatively unique experience, to say the least; while it does increase your overall spatial awareness, it also makes for a very weird gameplay style since the perspective is reserved for point and click games.
This mod, however, is perfect for anyone looking for a different spin on the game’s camera mechanics, much like first-person Souls. The challenge comes from the uneven terrain of the game map, and since you play it from a precarious view, it may seem harder to assess the depth of the area unless you are aware of the game map as a Souls expert. Not a bad mod though, and is generally one of the most interesting ones as it puts you in an RTS-based world and your player character is one of the game’s ‘heroes’.
Get the Top Down Cam mod here.
1. Speed Modifier (by ZullieTheWitch)
Dark Souls III Speed Modifier gameplay
Here’s a crossover you probably thought you’d never hear: Dark Souls III and Sonic the Hedgehog. This scenario is now entirely plausible thanks to the Speed Modifier, also from the Challenge Mods pack and a little creativity with the character creator in order to create your very own Sonic-based abomination. The mod allows you to change the speed of every single character in the game globally, or just yourself for that sweet Sonic action. Also included in this mod is a Timestop script, which freezes both enemies and visual effects for set amount of time (for taking epic screenshots) as well as the Speed Randomizer preset, which switches between ‘Gotta Go Fast!’ to ‘Slowpoke!’ in real-time and at random, making for one of the more intentionally hilarious Dark Souls III mods out there.
The mod is perfect for those looking for a different kind of challenge, particularly that which is brought about by the need for faster reflexes. Setting the mod to go faster means that you have less time to dodge, block or parry enemy attacks, and you will almost certainly be killed in half the time as well. Using it on your character only, however, turns you into an almost omnipresent creature zooming in and out of the place, much like the Flash but much, much uglier – that is, depending on the character you created.
Get the Speed Modifier here.
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