GTA 5 mods: The best PC mods and how to use them
GTA 5 can look very different on PC!
Want to change up your latest Grand Theft Auto 5 playthrough with some mods but don't know where to start? We're here with our list of the best GTA 5 mods to help.
Now that the game is more than a decade old, the modding community has had plenty of time to develop loads of fantastic game-changing mods that only elevate Rockstar's open world classic and have helped to keep it fresh all these years.
By now, there are hundreds of mods to download and install. Whether you want to fly off into the atmosphere as Iron Man, summon a tsunami to turn Los Santos into Atlantis or maybe even spend some hard time in Prison, there's something that caters to all tastes.
The list of mods continues to expand, too. There's never been a better time to play GTV 5 on PC. Not content with mods? There are lots of GTA 5 cheats at your disposal until GTA 6 arrives.
With that in mind, here's how to install mods on GTA 5 and our list of the best mods to try out.
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How to install mods on GTA 5
In order to use mods, there are a couple of bits of software that you will need to get hold of first. And remember, you can only get mods on GTA 5 if you play on PC.
How to install Script Hook V for GTA 5:
- Download Script Hook V and then open the .zip folder
- Copy ScriptHookV.dll to the parent GTAV folder (keep in mind that if you're playing the game through Steam, it can be found in SteamAppscommonGrand Theft Auto V)
- Now do the same with both dsound.dll - the Asi Loader - and NativeTrainer.asi
How to install the GTAV LUA Plugin:
- Download the GTAV LUA Plugin and open the .zip folder
- Copy the 'scripts' folder and the LUA.asi file to the parent GTAV folder (same as last time)
- Now copy the mod folders into the GTA folder
Now that you've done that piece of housekeeping, you should be able to install any of the GTA 5 mods we've listed below. Check them out and see which ones you fancy playing with.
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The best mods in GTA 5
Character Menu
The Character Menu mod lets you turn into any NPC in the game. With this mod installed, you can select and play as up to 500 characters you otherwise run across in your time on the game's map. You can even change the clothes and features of around 350 of them.
Get the CharacterMenu GTA 5 mod
Iron Man
Possibly one of the coolest and the most well-known, you can have Marvel star Iron Man flying around in the game and causing all sorts of carnage - we love this mod 3000.
With all the powers you would expect him to have, plus the option to turn the armour into the Hulk-busting kind, it is little wonder this is still such a popular mod.
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Become the police
Want to know what life is like on the other side of a 5-star police call-out? Well you can thanks to this mod that lets you swap sides and join the cops, thus putting you in charge of taking criminals out of action rather than trying to be the biggest one yourself.
Mobile radio
Despite the carnage that GTA 5 dishes out on a regular basis, cruising around with tunes blasting out can actually be quite relaxing and it is always a shame that the music does not follow you when you get out of a vehicle.
Well, with the mobile radio mod, you can do just that - so the music will stay with you even while you are deep in a gunfight!
Goku
With this mod installed, you can play as Goku from Dragon Ball – complete with a range of attacks from the manga/anime!
That's right, get this installed and you can pull off a Kamehameha, Destructo Disc, Spirit Bomb and even fly around. Your power level (and cool level) will be over 9,000 with this mod installed for sure.
Carmageddon!
Also known as Mayhem, you can probably guess what the Carmaggedon mod does once you activate it but just in case you want to know more, you can cause cars to explode and fly about all over the place at the push of a button.
Keep in mind that the police will be after you extremely quickly if you try this one out.
Home invasion
Breaking into random houses and attacking the people that live there is not something you can do in GTA 5 without the help of a mod, but thankfully one exists that will allow you to do just that.
Not every house is available to break into but you do get a good variety of them - including mansions!
Baby Groot
More Marvel madness. Embody Baby Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy and either take in the sights as any alien tree would, or channel the little guy's inner demon and cause destruction to the citizens of Los Santos.
Get the Marvel Duel Baby Groot GTA Mod
California Architecture
While we all know that the fictional Los Santos borrows a lot from LA and its surrounding areas, it is not actually set in California. But with a mod, you can make it more Californian than ever as it will add several real-life locations into the game to really give it an authentic vibe.
Get the California Architecture GTA mod
Prison
You will see the word busted a lot while playing GTA 5 but because it is a game, you will just reappear outside the police station - free to go back to criminal ways instantly.
Add a dash of realism to the game with this mod that will actually see you sent to prison! And even better is that you can channel your inner Michael Schofield and stage a prison break!
Open all Interiors
Slightly further up this list was the home invasion mod and this is very similar - just not as violent and aggressive.
Interiors can be explored in the game with this mod and while you don't really gain anything from going inside, it is a nice addition that helps the world of Los Santos feel a little more real.
Get the Open all Interiors GTA mod
Marlowe Valley safehouse
There are some lovely homes that you can live in while playing GTA 5, and plenty of them dotted about to choose from - none are quite like this though.
At the Marlowe Valley safehouse, you get a gigantic mansion that you can throw parties in, and it comes with its own airport too as it is in the middle of nowhere.
Get the Marlowe Valley Safehouse/Airport GTA mod
Realism mode
Fellow Rockstar title Red Dead Redemption 2 taught us that realism in games is a bit marmite, so this will be a mod that you either love or hate.
But as the name suggests, everything becomes realistic. So you bleed when you are shot, you have to literally pick weapons up, police are much smarter and if you keep a close eye on random pedestrians then they might just drop their wallet!
Dragons
With the GTA 5 Dragons mod installed, you will be able to battle dragons on the streets, play as a dragon, and even ride a dragon. Yep, all of these dragons breathe fire and they really make you think whether all that realism in Rockstar's classic was worth it.
Tsunami
To quote the mighty Manic Street Preachers, "Tsunami, tsunami came washing over me" – and that is exactly what will happen to the residents of Los Santos if you install this mod.
GTA 5 becomes an underwater location with this one which makes it one of the most fun on this list and makes us wish for a GTA Atlantis spin-off game.
Discover more with the best mods:
Grand Theft Auto 5 is available across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC.
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