Top 10 Best Total Conversion Mods For Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
One of the reasons I keep coming back to Bannerlord is the modding community.
No matter how much you enjoy Calradia, there eventually comes a point where you've fought every faction, conquered half the map, and started looking for something different. That's usually when total conversion mods enter the picture.
Unlike smaller mods that add a few troops or tweak a mechanic here and there, total conversions completely transform the game. Some take you to entirely different historical periods, while others drop you into fantasy worlds that barely resemble Bannerlord at all.
Over the years, I've tried quite a few of them, and some are so ambitious that after a few minutes, you almost forget you're playing Bannerlord.
Here are the ten total conversion mods that impressed me the most.
10. Bannerlord Online
I know some players don't consider this a traditional total conversion, but it completely changes the way Bannerlord feels.
Instead of building your own story in a single-player world, you're suddenly sharing the map with hundreds of other players. Trade, wars, guilds, and the economy all become much less predictable because real people are involved.
What surprised me most was how naturally it fits Bannerlord's sandbox formula. It still feels like Bannerlord, but every decision carries a little more weight when other players can affect the world around you.
9. In The Name Of Jerusalem II
If medieval history is the reason you fell in love with Mount & Blade in the first place, this is probably a mod you'll enjoy.
Set during the Crusades, it recreates the political and military conflicts of the Holy Land with impressive attention to detail. The original Warband version was already highly regarded, and seeing the project rebuilt in Bannerlord feels like a natural evolution.
There's something satisfying about leading armies through a setting that feels grounded in real history while still benefiting from Bannerlord's large-scale battles.
8. Burning Empires
Few historical settings are as interesting as the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.
Instead of rising during a period of growth, you're thrown into a world where one of history's greatest empires is struggling to survive. Roman legions, barbarian kingdoms, and political instability create a very different atmosphere from what you'll find in native Bannerlord.
What I like most about Burning Empires is that the world constantly feels fragile. It captures that sense that everything is changing and nobody really knows what the future holds.
7. Age Of Woe
I've always thought Warhammer Fantasy fits Bannerlord surprisingly well.
The large battles, distinct factions, and focus on warfare make it a natural combination, and Age Of Woe takes full advantage of that. The result is a world filled with races, armies, and locations that feel completely different from anything found in Calradia.
Even if you're not deeply familiar with Warhammer lore, the sheer variety of units and battle styles makes this one worth trying.
6. Bannerlord Cossacks
Sometimes you don't realize how much Bannerlord's combat relies on swords and shields until a mod takes them away.
Bannerlord Cossacks shifts the focus towards firearms and early modern warfare, creating battles that feel completely different from the medieval combat most players are used to.
The first time I played it, I found myself approaching battles very differently because charging headlong into enemy fire suddenly becomes a terrible idea.
It's a refreshing change of pace that makes Bannerlord feel surprisingly new.
5. The Old Realms
I honestly can't make a list like this without mentioning The Old Realms.
Every time I reinstall it, I end up spending far more hours than I originally planned because it feels so different from vanilla Bannerlord. The amount of work that has gone into recreating the Warhammer Fantasy universe is genuinely impressive.
New factions, new mechanics, new units, and an entirely different atmosphere make this one of the most polished total conversion projects available today.
If you're a fantasy fan, there's a good chance this mod alone could keep you busy for weeks.
4. A Conquest For Dune
At first glance, Dune and Bannerlord don't seem like an obvious match.
Then you start playing and realize how well Bannerlord's sandbox mechanics adapt to the political struggles of Arrakis.
The great houses, territorial conflicts, and large-scale warfare fit surprisingly well within the framework that TaleWorlds created. The setting alone makes this one of the most unique projects currently in development.
It's not every day that you get to experience Bannerlord through a science-fiction lens.
3. Realm Of Thrones
If you're a Game of Thrones fan, this is probably the easiest recommendation on the entire list.
Realm Of Thrones allows you to explore Westeros while taking part in conflicts that feel straight out of the books and television series. What makes it particularly impressive is the scale of the world itself.
After spending hundreds of hours in Calradia, it's genuinely exciting to see Bannerlord's gameplay systems transplanted into such a recognizable setting.
The first time I rode through parts of Westeros that I had previously only seen on screen, it immediately became clear why this mod has developed such a dedicated community.
2. Shokuho
Out of all the historical conversion mods I've tried, Shokuho is probably the one that impressed me the most.
The moment you load into its version of feudal Japan, it becomes obvious how much work has gone into the project. The map is enormous, the atmosphere feels authentic, and the faction design does a fantastic job of capturing the Sengoku period.
What really sets it apart, however, is its ambition. The inclusion of features like naval warfare makes it feel far more than a simple reskin of Bannerlord.
This is one of those mods that makes you wonder how it was created by a community project in the first place.
1. The Old Realms And Shokuho
Normally, I like clear winners, but choosing between these two feels almost impossible.
The Old Realms represent everything great about fantasy conversions. It completely transforms Bannerlord while remaining polished, immersive, and enjoyable to play.
Shokuho, meanwhile, might be the most ambitious historical project the community has produced so far. The amount of content packed into the mod is genuinely remarkable.
Which one deserves the top spot ultimately comes down to personal preference. If you prefer fantasy settings, I'd probably recommend The Old Realms first. If historical campaigns are more your thing, Shokuho is incredibly difficult to beat.
Either way, both showcase just how talented the Bannerlord modding community really is.
Final Thoughts
One of Bannerlord's greatest strengths has always been its ability to serve as a foundation for other creators.
Years after release, talented modders are still finding new ways to transform the game into something completely different. Whether you want to explore Westeros, command samurai armies, fight through the decline of Rome, or experience the Warhammer universe, there has never been a better time to start experimenting with total conversion mods.
The funny thing is that after spending enough time with some of these projects, returning to vanilla Bannerlord almost feels like starting a new game all over again.
