3 Games That Were Broken, Abandoned, or Forgotten Until Modders Saved Them

Many video games are far from perfect at launch. And while this used to be something that fans simply had to deal with, the modern era features plenty of post-launch patches after games release. However, sometimes the developers themselves aren’t the ones who fully fix a game, or at least not the ones who do it the quickest. Sometimes, it’s modders who swoop in to help with everything from bugs to lack of content, giving games a second life they might not otherwise have enjoyed.

Over the years, there have been quite a few games that fans felt were broken or forgettable without mods. Often, if a game is broken at launch, it will struggle to ever find its footing. Word of mouth spreads quickly, and games with buggy launches, like MindsEye, have an uphill battle to make a comeback. But for some games, even if the developers are still working on fixes, dedicated mod creators have stepped and helped bring broken games back to life. Whether mods added content to make a game feel fresh or helped bring players back, these 3 games wouldn’t be what they are today without modders stepping in.

3. Skyrim

Whether or not Skyrim is broken is a matter of opinion. But it’s hard to argue that Bethesda games don’t tend to be riddled with glitches. Skyrim is less plagued by game-breaking bugs than prior entries like the original Oblivion, but it still has its quirks. Despite that, the game has stood the test of time – and that’s at least partly to do with the sheer number of mods that exist for the game.

Though I personally love a vanilla Skyrim playthrough, many gamers won’t touch the Bethesda classic without mods. There are a staggering over 70,000 and counting mods available for Skyrim. This lands it among the most modded games of all time, and these potential changes to Tamriel run the gamut. Some simply make the UI more user-friendly or improve overall game stability and bugs. Others add new spells and armor or even add co-op to the game. While Skyrim is solid on its own, I don’t think it’d have nearly the staying power it has enjoyed without the rich modding community that’s grown up around it.

2. The Sims 4

Let’s be honest, The Sims 4 is a bug-riddled mess at the best of times. Though EA’s game is incredibly fun and whimsical, it is also highly prone to glitches. It also doesn’t necessarily have the depth and realism that some players want, leading it to be one of the most commonly modded games out there. In fact, it’s likely many people wouldn’t play The Sims 4 at all without their massive mod libraries.

Recently, the development team behind The Sims 4 released an update roadmap aimed at fixing longstanding issues in the game. This highlights just how often the Simmer community has asked for fixes for the base game, rather than new paid DLC. While the steps towards fixing the game are greatly appreciated, The Sims 4 is what it is today largely because of the mod creators who support it. From realism enhancements like Wicked Whims to the increased gameplay control offered by MC Command Center, mods have taken the foundation of The Sims 4 and turned it into a masterpiece. The game is still a little bit broken, but for many, mods are what make it all worth it.

1. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines

Unlike our prior two entries, which were at least basically playable and even enjoyable on their own, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines stands out. At release, the game was riddled with a number of bugs that could crash the game or even make it impossible to progress. In fact, for a long time, it was essentially impossible to actually complete Bloodlines without mods. These bugs were initially smoothed out, but the game likely wouldn’t have garnered its cult following without the mods that rendered it playable first.

Even now, most fans recommend playing Bloodlines with at least the Unofficial Patch mod, which many consider essential to the gaming experience. This mod helps repair the graphics glitches, crashes, and missing sounds that made the base game a struggle to play. Most importantly, it also fixes the game-breaking bugs that made the game nearly unfinishable. Along with this basic enhancement mod, there are several other mods for Bloodlines that further helped it reach cult classic status. Some add new Clans from the TTRPG, while others let you feed on fellow vampires. In all, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is likely the best example of a game that was truly saved by the modders who helped make it playable long before official patches did.

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