8 Video Game Mods That Changed Everything | MojoPlays
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VOICE OVER: Riccardo Tucci
WRITTEN BY: Jarett Burke
Welcome to MojoPlays! Today we're looking at the best mods that changed video games forever. From the birth of the survival genre, the MOBA, the battle royale and beyond…
Welcome to MojoPlays! Today we’re looking at mods that changed the way we play video games. From the birth of the survival genre, the MOBA, the battle royale and beyond… These mods rocked our world!
Garry’s Mod
“Half-Life 2” (2004)
This mod is named after the man who invented it, self-taught programmer Garry Newman, who worked as a website programmer while dabbling in game development. It sprung from Valve’s Source game engine (mainly accessed from “Half-Life 2”) and was initially released to the public in December of 2004 before being acquired by Valve and given an official release two years later. Garry’s Mod is a sandbox quote/unquote “game” with no set objectives, but at its core is a powerful tool with the ability to spawn objects and manipulate them using an incredibly realistic physics system. The reason it’s so important is because it allowed gamers to essentially test and hone their development skills without needing too much programming knowledge to do so; and, with creativity as the only limit, there have been some astounding creations like a fully 3D version of “Ocarina of Time.”
Skyrim Script Extender
“The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” (2011)
“Skyrim” is no stranger to mods, considering it’s up there as one of the most modded games ever. And, in hindsight, it’s hard to imagine the game without a lot of the additions added by the community over the years, such as deeper and more interesting NPCs, and the addition of survival elements. There are some much larger additions that needed more than just the original game code to run, however, such as the massive “Legacy of the Dragonborn” expansion and the revamped in-game user interface dubbed “SkyUI.” In these cases, you’ll need a mod for a mod: aka the Skyrim Script Extender. Its importance is hard to overstate, considering it took one of the greatest RPGs of all time (that already had many cool mods) and allowed gamers to experience quality DLC-like expansions made by die-hard fans and other unthinkable additions that really brought the Skyrim community together.
DayZ Mod
“ARMA 2” (2009)
It would be pretty hard to make this list and not include the mod that’s basically responsible for the gritty survival genre that we can’t get enough of. “DayZ” is a multiplayer open-world survival game that takes place in a post-Soviet Russia after the outbreak of a deadly disease starts turning people into zombies. It got an official standalone release on PC in 2018, but the mod itself has been around (officially at least) since 2013 – though it was playable slighter earlier than that. It was so incredibly popular that it actually revived sales of the then-three-year-old game “ARMA 2” in 2012 – hitting top seller status on Steam – and received the Mod of the Year Award from PC Gamer that same year. Today’s plethora of survival titles owe their gratitude to this one…
Desert Combat
“Battlefield 1942” (2002)
Once “Counter-Strike” became a huge success at the end of 1999 and into the 2000s, it spurred many developers-in-training to experiment with source codes and create new re-imaginings based on their favorite original titles. The Desert Combat mod for “Battlefield 1942” was one such creation that transported gamers from the battlefields of Europe during World War II to the modern-day Middle-East during the Iraq War. It quickly became one of the most played PC multiplayer games – and was one of the very few mods outside of “Counter-Strike” to actually become as popular as the game it was created from – and it gave gamers an early taste of modern day combat that they would soon come to crave (“Modern Warfare” and “Black Ops” anyone??). All in All, Desert Combat earned its praise and was even gifted with Best Mod of 2003 from FilePlanet.
Team Fortress
“Quake” (1996)
Despite having helped introduce the wildly popular concept of online death matches in the Late 90s, “Quake’s” multiplayer mode was turned up to 11 with the addition of the “Team Fortress” mod in 1996. It’s really hard to overstate how amazing it was to see Capture the Flag come to life before your very eyes for the first time, or how cool it was to be allowed to choose from different classes who all provided unique roles. The mod was so popular that the team behind it was hired by Valve to help create a standalone version of the game called “Team Fortress Classic” for “Half-Life” in 1999, and work on a “Team Fortress 2” began almost immediately – although it was continually delayed until 2007. Yeah, it’s crazy to think that one of Valve’s most popular titles started off as a Quake mod!
PlayerUnknown’s Battle Royale Mod
“ARMA 3” (2013)
It’s hard to believe that the ARMA franchise launched another game-changing trend in video games – the battle royal mode – after it saw such massive success with “DayZ” and the birth of the survival genre. Inspired by such film franchises as “Battle Royale” and “The Hunger Games,” developer Brendan Greene pioneered the now-famous last man standing mode using ARMA 2 and 3, and eventually was able to help develop a standalone version of the game for PUBG Corp in 2017. The idea of desperately searching for randomized gear as the world closes in around you and forces you to kill or be killed, essentially, set the gaming landscape on fire; and, PUBG become one of the most-played games of 2018. It’s also led to countless spin-offs and recreations, and the mode itself has even worked its way into many mainstream Triple-A games as well. Safe to say, it’s here to stay.
Defense of the Ancients
“Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos” (2002)
Like how the DayZ and battle royale mods led to the birth of new genres, the Defense of the Ancients mod (or DotA, for short) led to the creation of the multiplayer online battle arena genre. Made from the world editor in “Reign of Chaos,” the Defense of the Ancients mod basically played how it sounded: it’s a team-based scenario where each side must protect their ancient from the other. It quickly became one of the most popular mods of any game, ever; and, once again, Valve swooped in to pick up its IP in 2009 to make it a standalone title and later released a sequel. Its importance is hard to overstate, as it became a favorite in competitive gaming at a time when Esports was rising, and the pro scene for “Dota 2” is still one of the top draws in the world.
Counter-Strike
“Half-Life” (1998)
When we look at the multitude of team-based, tactical multiplayer shooters now-a-days, it’s good to remember that the Counter-Strike mod for “Half-Life” helped get us to where we are today. As one of the Era’s most popular multiplayer shooters, Counter-Strike cleverly split players into teams of terrorists and counter-terrorists –
thus adding an increased sense of urgency and tension to its scenarios – while also upping the skill necessary to handle its weapons and gear. Also, seeing as it was 5-on-5, it required strategic play to pick off opposing team members one by one rather than just run around guns blazing. Its immense popularity led to Valve picking up the IP and turning it into a standalone title (and eventually into a series). In fact, it’s still popular thanks to “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive,” and still has a strong competitive scene after nearly two decades.
Garry’s Mod
“Half-Life 2” (2004)
This mod is named after the man who invented it, self-taught programmer Garry Newman, who worked as a website programmer while dabbling in game development. It sprung from Valve’s Source game engine (mainly accessed from “Half-Life 2”) and was initially released to the public in December of 2004 before being acquired by Valve and given an official release two years later. Garry’s Mod is a sandbox quote/unquote “game” with no set objectives, but at its core is a powerful tool with the ability to spawn objects and manipulate them using an incredibly realistic physics system. The reason it’s so important is because it allowed gamers to essentially test and hone their development skills without needing too much programming knowledge to do so; and, with creativity as the only limit, there have been some astounding creations like a fully 3D version of “Ocarina of Time.”
Skyrim Script Extender
“The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” (2011)
“Skyrim” is no stranger to mods, considering it’s up there as one of the most modded games ever. And, in hindsight, it’s hard to imagine the game without a lot of the additions added by the community over the years, such as deeper and more interesting NPCs, and the addition of survival elements. There are some much larger additions that needed more than just the original game code to run, however, such as the massive “Legacy of the Dragonborn” expansion and the revamped in-game user interface dubbed “SkyUI.” In these cases, you’ll need a mod for a mod: aka the Skyrim Script Extender. Its importance is hard to overstate, considering it took one of the greatest RPGs of all time (that already had many cool mods) and allowed gamers to experience quality DLC-like expansions made by die-hard fans and other unthinkable additions that really brought the Skyrim community together.
DayZ Mod
“ARMA 2” (2009)
It would be pretty hard to make this list and not include the mod that’s basically responsible for the gritty survival genre that we can’t get enough of. “DayZ” is a multiplayer open-world survival game that takes place in a post-Soviet Russia after the outbreak of a deadly disease starts turning people into zombies. It got an official standalone release on PC in 2018, but the mod itself has been around (officially at least) since 2013 – though it was playable slighter earlier than that. It was so incredibly popular that it actually revived sales of the then-three-year-old game “ARMA 2” in 2012 – hitting top seller status on Steam – and received the Mod of the Year Award from PC Gamer that same year. Today’s plethora of survival titles owe their gratitude to this one…
Desert Combat
“Battlefield 1942” (2002)
Once “Counter-Strike” became a huge success at the end of 1999 and into the 2000s, it spurred many developers-in-training to experiment with source codes and create new re-imaginings based on their favorite original titles. The Desert Combat mod for “Battlefield 1942” was one such creation that transported gamers from the battlefields of Europe during World War II to the modern-day Middle-East during the Iraq War. It quickly became one of the most played PC multiplayer games – and was one of the very few mods outside of “Counter-Strike” to actually become as popular as the game it was created from – and it gave gamers an early taste of modern day combat that they would soon come to crave (“Modern Warfare” and “Black Ops” anyone??). All in All, Desert Combat earned its praise and was even gifted with Best Mod of 2003 from FilePlanet.
Team Fortress
“Quake” (1996)
Despite having helped introduce the wildly popular concept of online death matches in the Late 90s, “Quake’s” multiplayer mode was turned up to 11 with the addition of the “Team Fortress” mod in 1996. It’s really hard to overstate how amazing it was to see Capture the Flag come to life before your very eyes for the first time, or how cool it was to be allowed to choose from different classes who all provided unique roles. The mod was so popular that the team behind it was hired by Valve to help create a standalone version of the game called “Team Fortress Classic” for “Half-Life” in 1999, and work on a “Team Fortress 2” began almost immediately – although it was continually delayed until 2007. Yeah, it’s crazy to think that one of Valve’s most popular titles started off as a Quake mod!
PlayerUnknown’s Battle Royale Mod
“ARMA 3” (2013)
It’s hard to believe that the ARMA franchise launched another game-changing trend in video games – the battle royal mode – after it saw such massive success with “DayZ” and the birth of the survival genre. Inspired by such film franchises as “Battle Royale” and “The Hunger Games,” developer Brendan Greene pioneered the now-famous last man standing mode using ARMA 2 and 3, and eventually was able to help develop a standalone version of the game for PUBG Corp in 2017. The idea of desperately searching for randomized gear as the world closes in around you and forces you to kill or be killed, essentially, set the gaming landscape on fire; and, PUBG become one of the most-played games of 2018. It’s also led to countless spin-offs and recreations, and the mode itself has even worked its way into many mainstream Triple-A games as well. Safe to say, it’s here to stay.
Defense of the Ancients
“Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos” (2002)
Like how the DayZ and battle royale mods led to the birth of new genres, the Defense of the Ancients mod (or DotA, for short) led to the creation of the multiplayer online battle arena genre. Made from the world editor in “Reign of Chaos,” the Defense of the Ancients mod basically played how it sounded: it’s a team-based scenario where each side must protect their ancient from the other. It quickly became one of the most popular mods of any game, ever; and, once again, Valve swooped in to pick up its IP in 2009 to make it a standalone title and later released a sequel. Its importance is hard to overstate, as it became a favorite in competitive gaming at a time when Esports was rising, and the pro scene for “Dota 2” is still one of the top draws in the world.
Counter-Strike
“Half-Life” (1998)
When we look at the multitude of team-based, tactical multiplayer shooters now-a-days, it’s good to remember that the Counter-Strike mod for “Half-Life” helped get us to where we are today. As one of the Era’s most popular multiplayer shooters, Counter-Strike cleverly split players into teams of terrorists and counter-terrorists –
thus adding an increased sense of urgency and tension to its scenarios – while also upping the skill necessary to handle its weapons and gear. Also, seeing as it was 5-on-5, it required strategic play to pick off opposing team members one by one rather than just run around guns blazing. Its immense popularity led to Valve picking up the IP and turning it into a standalone title (and eventually into a series). In fact, it’s still popular thanks to “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive,” and still has a strong competitive scene after nearly two decades.
