The best GTA 5 mods: better graphics, iron man, zombie hordes and so much more

The best GTA 5 mods can do anything from adding a graphical overhaul, to creating a whole new game by adding superheroes, zombies and loads more. There's a community of GTA 5 mod makers out there creating everything from subtle shifts and tweaks to core gameplay and looks, through to complete and radical overhauls. 

Obviously there's a lot of options for GTA 5 if you're thinking about modding it which can make it hard to know where to start. To help you pick a GTA 5 mod we've gathered together this list of some of the best - highlighting some of the greatest creations out there. These mods will make your experience of Grand Theft Auto 5's open world richer, prettier, crazier, and so much more interesting. 

If you're playing GTA 5 on PC and browsing this list but have never installed mods before, you're probably wondering where to start and how to install GTA 5 mods on PC in the first place. When you've downloaded some mods, refer back to this step-by-step guide to install them.

Unfortunately, installing GTA 5 mods on PC isn't as simple as copy and pasting the downloaded files across. There are two tools you need to download first: Script Hook V and GTAV LUA Plugin. We'll start with Script Hook V.

Mod: NaturalVision Remastered

You can’t talk about GTA 5 mods without paying respects to all the coders out there tirelessly attempting to make Los Santos look as breathtakingly beautiful as possible. There’s literally hundreds of graphics enhancement mods available for GTA 5, but NaturalVision Remastered is the current champion when it comes to raw “phwoar” power. 

Offering 4K resolutions and a complete overhaul of Rockstar’s original aesthetic, the mod was designed “to make GTA 5 look visually similar to Southern California in real life.” To be honest, the results look better than real life SoCal ever could. NaturalVision pushes Los Santos out of the realm of uncanny valley and into a level of graphical fidelity that redefines the very definition of what it means to be photorealistic.

How to install Script Hook V for GTA 5:

1. Download Script Hook V and open the .zip folder.
2. Copy ScriptHookV.dll to the parent GTAV folder.
   If you're playing the game through Steam, this can be found in \SteamApps\common\Grand Theft Auto V\.
   Unfortunately, Script Hook V hasn't been updated to support the Epic Games version. If it does, we'll update this guide, but you're stuck with vanilla GTA 5 until then.
3. Do the same with both dsound.dll (this is the Asi Loader) and NativeTrainer.asi. Asi Loader is essential because it allows you to launch .asi plugins, while Native Trainer is the thing that lets you access cheats like teleportation, super jump, and more.

How to install the GTAV LUA Plugin:

1. Download the GTAV LUA Plugin and open the .zip folder.
2. Copy the 'scripts' folder and the LUA.asi file to the same parent folder as before.
3. Whenever you download a LUA file in future as part of a mod, you'll need to put them inside the 'addins' folder inside the 'scripts' folder.

Now in order to install the mods themselves — make sure you read the specific instructions — but the gist of it should be as simple as copying the mod files to the main GTA 5 folder. Keep reading for our 25 best GTA 5 mods on PC, in no particular order.

1. Los Santos Truck Simulator

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Mod: Trucking Missions

Euro Truck Simulator 2 is an immensely popular game where you essentially drive trucks around Europe. That's it. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it. Now, with the mod Trucking Missions, you can do the same around Los Santos, receiving trucking contracts from various people such as Simeon or the U.S. Government. You have your own office in Sandy Shores, you can lose money if your cargo is damaged, and it allows you to see Los Santos from the eyes of a trucker. Happy hauling!

2. Put your hands up and give me all of your valuables!

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Mod: Home Invasion

While you can rob stores with ease, you can't actually burgle someone's house in GTA 5. Until now. The Home Invasion mod allows you to enter certain houses either stealthily or guns blazing, then rob the inhabitants at gunpoint. Some homeowners will fight back and there are seven different house types, including mansions.

3. You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Mod: Better Deformation + More Durable Cars

This does exactly what it says on the tin. Crashes are frequent in GTA 5, so the Better Deformation part of the mod makes visual damage more accurate. As for the more durable part... well, we'll see about that after we spend all of our time trying to wrap our car around a tree.

4. Welcome to L.A.

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Mod: Real California Architecture

Los Santos is wonderful, and while some areas are visibly inspired by real-world locations, there's no avoiding the fact it is an entirely fictional city. The Real California Architecture mod is a work-in-progress add-on that aims to change that, with countless real-world inclusions like the Hollywood Sign, Hollywood Wax Museum, Compton City Hall, two In-N-Out locations, the Beverly Hills Hotel, and more. 

5. Hey cousin, let's go bowling

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Mod: Niko Bellic

Niko's back, baby. Everyone's favourite GTA protagonist who debuted in GTA 4, Niko Bellic, has been modded into GTA 5, because of course he has. You can install voice lines for him, change his outfit, and more. Thankfully, Roman Bellic isn't around to ring you all the time.