To start everything off, I'm going to describe the most basic and necessary mod of this list; FOSE.

FOSE would be better described as a plugin. It's function is to add new script functions to the code of Fallout 3, creating new paths for mod creators to go through. With it, you'll be able to mod through your game's deeper mechanics.

Unlike most people seem to think, there is absolutely no danger in installing it. Everything is neatly packaged into a single .zip file.

Ultra Realistic Wasteland Lightning (jeez, what a mouthful!) is a mod similar to Project Reality, it's also the Fallout 3 equivalent of the Nevada Skies mod for New Vegas.

You have two versions to choose from if you're interested on it. One requires ENB and the other one doesn't, so if you don't have the greatest machine I personally recommend getting the latter.

Download Link

Download Link (ENB)

Before his famous texture pack for New Vegas, Neil Mc worked on a similar project for Fallout 3. The results were stunning, with the textures showing much more grit and detail than the vanilla ones even in their low resolution counterparts. This one is definitely a must-have for anyone looking to play Fallout 3.

This mod has 3 different variations:

• Large
  
  
• Medium
  
  
• Small

With the the last variation having the same resolution as the regular Fallout 3 textures.

Download Link[www.nexusmods.com]

After 200 years, you'd expect for some trees to grow around a place like the capital wasteland. Radiation doesn't last forever, and plants are more adaptable than you'd imagine.

Flora Overhaul is made by the same fellow who made a couple mods with the same name for Skyrim and New Vegas, however, for Fallout 3, he added a few more options for you to choose from when it comes to the flora.

Dead Edition: There are plenty of trees in most of the empty spots, however, they're dark and dead. Still prettier than no trees at all, though.

Forested Edition: For those who simply don't like to wander around a place thats been hit by a nuclear bomb, we've The Forested Edition. The world has plenty of trees and they're all green and healthy.

Devastated Edition: Like the former option, this one doesn't make much sense from a lore standpoint, as the bombs fell, y'know, 200 years ago. It makes your game look very desolate and depressing, though. So if that's your thing, go for it!

Download Link[www.nexusmods.com]

But why should we stop at improving just the game's environment?


Fallout 3 Redesigned tweaks the facial design of each and every NPC on the game to give them a more realistic, natural look.

Download Link[www.nexusmods.com]

Dynamic Weather is the most faithful weather mod out there, renewing Bethesda's original style with brand new weather effects. Recommended for all of you purists out there.

Download Link[www.nexusmods.com]

By far the biggest gameplay overhaul for Fallout 3. It changes underlying game mechanics and adds new features to the game. The aim of the mod is to add more challenge, give you a better sense of immersion and increase the depth of the gameplay. It adds a multitude of content of other mods, complete with simple installation procedures.

You'll find the wasteland to be a more dynamic but far less forgiving place.

Download Link[www.nexusmods.com]

Note: This mod comes with FWE.

Mart's Mutant Mods adds an incredible variety of new enemies for you to kill on the Capital Wasteland. From Wanamingos to Iguanas andWild Boars, this mod will not let you down if you're looking to freshen up your enemy count.

Download Link[www.nexusmods.com]

Note: FOOK is not compatible with FWE.

FOOK (Fallout Overhaul Kit) is a complete overhaul of Fallout 3, adding hundreds of new items, high quality retextures, and many new gameplay features to the base game. All of the items are completely rebalanced and fully integrated into the game. The mod supports all of the DLCs.

Download Link[www.nexusmods.com]

An essential mod for those into exploration. DC Interiors opens up dozens of building interiors for you to explore, full of detailed shops and houses for you to investigate.

Download Link[www.nexusmods.com]

A World of Pain mod aims to add new and detailed interior locations populated by enemies, with many new ones being added.There are several main quests, new companions and a good amount of collectible items.

The new interiors take advantage of the hardware of PC's to have big and heavily cluttered environments in a realistic and lore-friendly manner. They are also designed to scare the crap out of you, especially if you already have Mart's Mutant Mod installed.

Download Link [www.nexusmods.com]

Stuter Remover[www.nexusmods.com]
Makes your game much smoother, removing those pesky stutters as you move around the wastes.

CASM[www.nexusmods.com]
A more stable way to save your game, that is much less likely to cause crashes or corrupt your save files.

LOOT[loot.github.io]
Automatically optimizes your load order to prevent conflicts and crashes.

Mod Organizer[www.nexusmods.com]
Makes installing mods much less of a hassle. Has the option to install your mods into separate folders, making things much cleaner and easier to fix in case something goes wrong.


EVE[www.nexusmods.com]
EVE is a mod meant to enhance the visuals of all energy weapons of the game.

Enhanced Night Sky[www.nexusmods.com]
There's no light pollution in the Wasteland. Nothing should be stopping you from gazing at the vast amount of high resolution stars in the sky.

MTUI[www.nexusmods.com]
General UI improvements like smaller fonts, larger item selection areas and improved conversation menus.

iHUD[www.nexusmods.com]
Hide your HUD when you don't need it.

Fellout[www.nexusmods.com]
A simple mod to remove the original's game green tint.

Atmospheric Sunglare[www.nexusmods.com]
Adds a subtle, cinematic effect to the sun.

D.C Moods[www.nexusmods.com]
Adds color to the Capital Wasteland without changing the game's weather system.

Project Reality[www.nexusmods.com]
Adds rain, snow, thunderstorms and a brand new lighting style to your game.

Realistic Death Physics[www.nexusmods.com]
This is for you who is tired of people cartoonishly flying across the room as you kill them.

Realistic Interior Lighting[www.nexusmods.com]
Makes the lighting more natural in indoor spaces.

Realistic Weapon Sounds[www.nexusmods.com]
Makes your guns sound much louder and more realistic.

NPC Height Randomizer[www.nexusmods.com]
Doesn't it strike you as odd that every single person in the Capital Wasteland has the exact same height? This mod aims to fix that.

Pip-Boy 2500[www.nexusmods.com]
For the fans of the classic Fallout titles. Or for those who want a different, more fresh Pip-Boy experience.

High Resolution Megaton[www.nexusmods.com] and Rivet City[www.nexusmods.com]
Replaces the Megaton & Rivet City textures and bumpmaps with real-world photograph-based equivalent textures. Much like NMC's Textures, you can choose 3 different resolutions to suit your computer.

Enhanced Blood Textures[www.nexusmods.com]
Makes the blood spatter textures much more realistic and pleasing to the eye.

Improved Terrain[www.nexusmods.com]
Replaces the terrain texture files and bumpmaps with higher resolution, more detailed counterparts based on real world photography.

High Resolution Weapons[www.nexusmods.com]
Adds more detail to your collection of killing machines.

High Resolution Skill Books[www.nexusmods.com]
Vastly increases the aesthetic quality of the game's skill books.


Re-Animated[www.nexusmods.com]
Changes and adds new, more realistic animations to the game.

Animated Sleep[www.nexusmods.com]
Doesn't this feel cozy?

Animated Stimpak[www.nexusmods.com]
Not for those with Trypanophobia.

Animated Food & Drink[www.nexusmods.com]
Eating three sticks of Iguana and two Nuka Colas in a second kind of breaks immersion, doesn't it? This mod fixes that.


Basic Needs[www.nexusmods.com]
Adds the necessity to eat, sleep and drink in order to stay alive. For the true survivors of the Wasteland.

Triage[www.nexusmods.com]
Makes crippled limbs a much more serious matter.

Realistic Headshots[www.nexusmods.com]
The title is pretty literal. Wipe out your enemies with a single headshot each, but be careful not to get a bullet through yours.

Classic Fallout Weapons[www.nexusmods.com]
Seamlessly integrates weapons from the first two Fallout games into Fallout 3.

Traits[www.nexusmods.com]
Traits were a staple of Fallout until Fallout 3 got rid of them. Bring them back for a more classic Fallout experience!

Iron Sights[www.nexusmods.com]
Adds iron sights to most vanilla weapons. Makes the gunplay much less clunky.

Sprint[www.nexusmods.com]
Adds the option for you to sprint like in newer Bethesda titles. Sprinting will cost your AP much like in Fallout 4.

Well... That's it. You have succesfully modded your Fallout 3 game!

Hope you enjoy the new stuff, and if you want to venture into the Mojave Wasteland and the world of Tamriel, don't forget to take a look at New Vegas: Enhanced and Skyrim: Enhanced!

If you have any issues or questions, don't be shy! Post a comment so me and my friend ~Jp will try to do our best to help you.

Having trouble? This will help you.