The Ratway Passages
🟡 Updated this year⚠️ Install Order · 5 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 0.3% endorsement rate
- 🏆 #27 of 42 Cities, Towns, Villages, and Hamlets mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
Traverse Riften While Staying Underground
The Ratway Passages is a small dungeon that expands on the Ratways in Riften. It adds a handful of new rooms, loot spots, and enemies... But more importantly, it connects several of Riften's existing locations to the city under the city. The Ratway now extends across the entire settlement, making it possible to reach many landmarks without ever having to leave the tunnels at all!
Locations that now connect to the Ratway include:
-
[]Beggar's Row: Looks and feels like it should have been part of the Ratway to begin with. (Also explains how Hefid the Deaf, Salvianus, and similar characters managed to wander from the streets of Riften into the very depths of the vaults.)[/]
[]Honeyside: If Mercer Frey can have a secret passage to the Ratway in his basement, why can't you?[/]
[]Hall of the Dead: Ever want to do some light grave robbing without having to go outside? Now you can![/]
[]Riften Jail/Sewer: Why would the guild helpfully provide a secret door and shadowmark to help you escape... And then dump you in the lake instead of bringing you safely back to headquarters?[/]
[]The wilderness outside the city walls: In case you ever want to get in and out of Riften undetected (without having to buy an entire house to do it).[/]
All of this is easily accessible from a door in the final room of the Ratway (directly across from the entrance to the Ragged Flagon). No other edits are made to the Ratway, and the Ragged Flagon/Guild Headquarters remain wholly untouched.
Compatibility:
[]Any mods that alter/revamp the city of Riften--the area outdoors, but still within the walls--will be compatible out of the box. This mod makes no edits to the city proper.[/]
[]This mod also makes no edits to the Ragged Flagon or the Cistern; anything that only edits the Thieves Guild HQ should be compatible.[/]
[]The Nook of Riften - Beggar's Row: Both the regular and the Interesting NPCs versions are compatible![/]
[]Beggar's Row by TheCh0rus: There's a patch on the downloads page.[/]
[]Shortcuts - Secret Entrances For All Cities: Compatible! (And perfect for extra bonus sneaking fun!)[/]
[]Hall of the Dead Renovations: Compatible![/]
[]Beggar's Row not so cramped: Not compatible.[/]
[]Lost Passages - The Hidden City: Shoutout to AdoringStan for creating a patch for this one! Download it here[/]
[]Lele's Riften - Beggar's Row: There's a patch on the downloads page.[/]
[]HS Player Homes - Honeyside: There's now a patch on the downloads page![/]
[]TNF Skyrim House Remodel: There's now a patch on the downloads page![/]
[]Amma's Honeyside: There's a patch on the downloads page![/]
[*]Sweet as Honeyside and/or Sweet as
The Ratway Passages adds a small dungeon and connects several existing Riften locations to the Ratway, letting you travel underground without surfacing. A compact, well-received mod (324 endorsements) for Skyrim players who want convenient, lore-friendly shortcuts.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Solid community approval with 324 endorsements.
- High download count (98,761) shows real demand.
- Turns the Ratway into a useful travel hub, not just a quest dungeon.
⚠️ Cons
- Small scope—don't expect a massive new area, just a few connections.
- Potential conflicts with mods that overhaul Riften or the Ratway.
- Last updated in March 2026, so may not be compatible with future game patches.
For Skyrim players who hate fast-traveling and want a more immersive way to get around Riften without hitting the streets. Also great for thief or assassin characters who want to stay hidden. Skip if you're looking for a big new quest or major overhaul—this is a utility mod.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Make sure to load this mod after any Riften overhaul mods to avoid conflicts.
- If you use a mod manager, let it handle the file placement to keep your load order clean.
- Check the in-game map for new markers to see which locations are connected.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- YeahButIronically
- Version
- 1.1.1
- Downloads
- 98,761
- Endorsements
- 324
- Category
- Cities, Towns, Villages, and Hamlets
- Created
- 1/9/2025
- Updated
- 3/9/2026
🔧 How to Install Skyrim Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Skyrim →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
🎮 Need cheat codes or console commands? Check ur gaming wiki for Skyrim commands, item IDs, and more.
Keep browsing — more Skyrim mods await