D.E.C.A.Y - Better Ghouls
⚪ Last updated 2020⚠️ Install Order · 2 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 2.2% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #4 of 37 Creatures mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
A few days ago as of writing this, my mother died from a sudden brain haemorrhage. The way I've supported myself for the last 20 years was to do IT and computer stuff for her small business. I have no support system, and I need a new one. I don't want to beg, and I don't want charity. So instead I'll just have to do the one thing I've always been good at, namely, modding.
If you enjoy my mods, and want to see me make more of them. Then please consider joining my patreon.
All proceeds beyond cost of living will go towards funding cooler projects, and even bigger mods. You can also gain the opportunity to influence my work in several ways. I apologise for going all PBS on you, but I see no other way out of this.
Are you tired of the same old boring feral's with the slight difference in hues who look more like purses than monsters? So am I! So I made this. Now ghouls have exposed bones, skin mold, cuts, dents, tears and missing parts. All for your entertainment. High res too, 2K textures.
Fair warning, though. This mod is a work in progress. Expect some trial and error with the updates. Texture design is a minefield when it comes to how things are rendered.
Also we've had a lot of skeleton deniers, who think skeletons aren't real. Now, not to get political here, but I'm a skeleton truther. I believe that my body, and even your body, has a skeleton in it. In fact I've seen it on television and also once in a woodchipper accident. But due to how the skeleton deniers keep trolling the mod, someone made a non skeleton patch.
So for the record, while I am super thankful Pendan made this patch and how they helped out the community, I do not agree with their anti-skeleton views. Just for the record, but here's the patch in case all the bones in the loot list bothers you: https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/32938
Features:
- Exposed rib-cages and kneecaps
- Exposed skulls
- Gunshot wounds and torn up skin
- Stitches and head injuries
- Big scars and rips on the body
- Boils an missing eye skin
- Missing mouth skin
- Blunt weapon trauma
- Split open mouths
- Exposed rib-cages with muscle
- Cuts and red eyes
- Exposed brain
- New glow pattern for glowing one
- New glow maps for glowing one
These are just some examples of carnage you'll find on the feral's in this mod.
D.E.C.A.Y is a feral ghoul overhaul for Fallout 4 that makes ghouls creepier and more detailed, with added variety. It replaces the bland, patternless leathery look with more unpleasant and varied designs. Popular with 23,332 endorsements and 1.1M downloads, last updated in 2020.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Huge community trust: 23,332 endorsements and 1.1M downloads.
- Makes ghouls genuinely unsettling, which fits Fallout 4's atmosphere.
- Adds visual variety so no two ghouls look the same.
⚠️ Cons
- Last updated in 2020, so may have compatibility issues with newer game patches or DLC.
- Purely cosmetic – if you want gameplay changes, this isn't for you.
For Fallout 4 players who want a more horror-like experience and are tired of the same old ghoul models. Perfect for those who enjoy visual overhauls and don't mind a bit of extra creepiness. Skip if you're looking for gameplay tweaks or if you prefer a lighter tone.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Since it's a texture/model replacer, make sure to place it after other mods that affect ghouls in your load order.
- If you use a mod manager like Vortex or NMM, let it handle the file placement to avoid overwriting issues.
- Check the mod's comments section for any reported compatibility patches with popular overhaul mods.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Fallout 4 Mods
- Author
- Thumblesteen
- Version
- 2.2
- Downloads
- 1,054,123
- Endorsements
- 23,332
- Category
- Creatures
- Created
- 11/24/2015
- Updated
- 2/21/2020
🔧 How to Install Fallout 4 Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Fallout 4 →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
🎮 Need cheat codes or console commands? Check ur gaming wiki for Fallout 4 commands, item IDs, and more.
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