The best GTA 5 mods

(Image credit: ATRO_ONE)

Since its PC launch in 2015, Grand Theft Auto 5 has been flooded with thousands of user-made mods. In fact, there are so many mods (with more constantly being added) that this is our fifth sixth seventh run at expanding our already extensive list. We're always updating, it so please check back later for more.

Need More Cheat Sheets?

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Fallout 4 cheats: Nuclear codes
Minecraft commands: Unblocked
RDR2 cheats: Most wanted
GTA 5 cheats: Phone it in
The Sims 4 cheats: Life hacks
Ark cheats: Expedited evolution

A warning before we start. While Rockstar has stated it does not ban players for modding their single-player game, this isn’t the case for GTA Online.

With that in mind, don't ever use mods in GTA Online. In fact, it’s a good idea not to join GTA Online with single-player mods installed.

Speaking of installing, we’ve created a separate, updated guide on how to install mods in GTA V, so be sure to check that out before you start downloading the mods you find on this list. With all that said, let’s get modding!

GTA 5 mods: Gameplay mods

Complex Control

Download here

Complex Control adds 100 unique character skins, 55 unique and balanced abilities, roguelite, permadeath and battle royale mechanics, and is the work of over 1,500 hours of solo development. In short: THEAETIK's Complex Control transforms the face of GTA 5 entirely. 

With procedural gameplay and permanent progression, it really is in a league of its own. It’s also still being updated. A massive influx of new features in January added 20 new abilities, new weapons, and an enemy alert system. Marvel at its trailer above.

Hulk Script Mod

GTA 5 mods

(Image credit: Rockstar)

Download here

This mod underscores the entertainment value in throwing caution to the wind and tearing Los Santos to shreds. Doing so as the Incredible Hulk is something you really must experience, as the joy that stems from ripping lamp posts out of the ground and playing baseball and/or golf with police cars is second to none.

Updated in 2018, this more recent version of the mod includes new features like the ability to climb walls. Also check out this Avengers Hulk model to make your Hulk look better than ever.

Ultimate Superman Mod

Download here 

Frankly, this is more a Homelander mod than a Superman mod, given the havoc you’ll likely wreak using it. Yet while it may not accurately simulate Superman’s morality, the Ultimate Superman Mod is nonetheless an excellent recreation of Superman’s powers. It has a superb flight model, bespoke melee attacks, laser vision, tornado throw and freeze wind. It even lets you do the iconic crouch-leap to get into the air, and smash into the ground when you land.

Superhot Mod

Download here

Superhot is the effortlessly stylish FPS where time only moves when you do. Superhot Mod is a modification that applies this uber-cool mechanic to GTA 5. Naturally, this aids combat to no end, but is particularly useful when scoping out groups of gangs or if you’re masterminding an attack at distance.

Gang and Turf

Download here

Lucas Vinicius' Gang and Turf mod has been around for a while, but is still being grown and supported today. It adds GTA: San Andreas'  gang warfare system—in all its PS2-era, squad-based, territory-capturing mini-game glory. 

Paying close deference to its source material, Gang and Turf charges players with heading up their own murder squads—within which members are registered, crew colours are sworn by, and patches are defended. Team vehicles are assigned for squad-based transportation, and backup can be patched in by land or parachute when things get heavy. The results are suitably chaotic, particularly when multiple companies rough it out for the same stretches of land—or when another gang relocates their spawn point on the fly. Good luck when that happens!

Warfare MOD

More GTA Series

GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

GTA 6: Everything we know
GTA 6 cars: The lineup
GTA 5 cheats: Phone it in
GTA 5 mods: All the best antics
Fastest GTA Online cars: Revved up
Make money in GTA Online: $$$

Download here

Zanzou's GTA 5 Warfare mod adds 20v20 military-themed showdowns that must be seen to be believed. 

Skirmishes can incorporate tanks, choppers and other vehicles for maximum chaos—while battlegrounds can range from yachts to full Los Santos districts. There's also a survival mode, which pits you against an infinitely spawning number of baddies. Come ahead. 

Gang Hideouts

Download here

Speaking of scoping out gangs, one feature sorely missed from GTA 5 is Read Dead Redemption-style gang hideouts. So long as you have the OpenInteriors mod installed, Gang Hideouts adds over 10 raidable enemy HQs, as well as a handful of antagonists—such as Corrupt Cops and Dam Hippies.

Poke Ball 

Download here

Poke Ball is Pokemon Go as you’ve never seen it before, yet is pretty much exactly how you’d expect it to unfold in GTA 5. Armed with six Poke Balls, you’re tasked with throwing them towards NPCs before the latter is sucked inside. Until weakened your captives are likely to escape, thus roughing them up a little is required. Once made yours, they’ll then fight by your side.

Army at Five Stars

Download here

In past GTA games, achieving the highest wanted level resulted in the army being unleashed to hunt you down. This isn’t the case in GTA 5. The worst opposition you’ll ever face is a SWAT team and the FIB. This mod lets the army join the chase again, coincidentally giving the player a better chance to hijack military vehicles.

Railroad Engineer

Download here

Trains are the unstoppable juggernauts of the GTA 5 universe, but now you can put on an engineer's cap and drive e'm, crash 'em, and even derail 'em (finally!) with the Railroad Engineer mod. All aboard for some major destruction. Works with commuter trams as well as the freight trains.

Fine-Tuned Felony & Response

Download here

Ever stealthily whack someone with a silenced pistol, in the absence of witnesses, and somehow the police still know? This mod makes some changes in your favor. More crimes require a living witness to phone the cops, and the mod also slows down increases to your wanted level.

Trucking Missions script

Download here

Want a legit way to make a living? The Trucking Missions script gives you six different big-rig driving jobs to complete. Some are time-based, others focus on delivering cargo with as little damage as possible. You even have your own trucking office.

Working Restaurants script

Download here

Want to dine at Burgershot or Up-N-Atom? The Working Restaurants script adds the ability to snarf a quick, health-restoring meal at nine different restaurants. Navigate to the new icons on your map, stand under the yellow arrow by the front door, and chow down. Dining only costs a couple bucks, fills your health, and advances the clock by a half-hour.

Nice Fly script

Download here

You won't look like Superman—not yet anyway—but you can fly like him. The Nice Fly script lets you sail through the air—in directions other than down—without having to steal a jet first. The mod requires you to be wearing a parachute, ironically, though you won't need to pull the cord. Because you can fly. Here's a video.

Simple Ragdoll

Download here

You've punished random pedestrians in all sorts of horrible, often lethal ways, but sometimes it's fun to just freak 'em out by flopping all over them with the Simple Ragdoll [.NET] mod. This mod lets you turn your limbs to jelly whenever you want (even in cutscenes). It's a good way to amuse yourself, too, especially during lengthy exposition scenes.

Mobile Radio script

Download here

GTA games always have great radio stations, but it's sort of disappointing that you can only listen to them while in a vehicle or one of your houses. The Mobile Radio script lets you listen to your favorite tunes on foot as well. Just imagine your phone came with earbuds.

Vehicle Controller script

Download here

You drive cars in GTA 5, but now you can truly operate them with the Vehicle Controller script. Pop the hood and trunk, signal turns, turn on the hazard lights and even the interior light. I know most of this sounds cosmetic, but there are some real in-game perks, such as the ability to leave the engine running and the driver's side door open, useful for quick getaways. You can also toggle cruse control so you don't have to lean on the gas pedal constantly during long drives. Here's a video.

GTA 5 mods: Vehicles

There are lots and lots and lots of car mods for GTA 5 which, yeah, is not surprising. There are a good handful of motorbikes, helicopters, and airplanes too but really there are just reams of cars. 

We've picked out some of the humorous and silly options here just for fun. Rest assured though, if there's a true-to-life car you're dying to drive in-game, chances are someone's uploaded it in the vehicles section of 5mods.

Funny Vehicles Pack 1 & 2

Download here

Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy a cruise in one of GTA 5’s Obey 9F Audi rip-offs, but I’m equally partial to hitting the road in Walter White’s portable campervan meth lab, or tearing up the highway in the Mad Max Doof Wagon. These and more await those who enjoy the journey more than the destination.  

VanillaWorks Extended Pack 

GTA 5 mods

(Image credit: Rockstar)

Download here

VanillaWorks extended pack adds a massive number of extra vehicles to the base game. Bikes, sports cars, Formula 1 cars, Humvees, trucks, rally cars, classic cars, even yellow school buses. It’s a must-have for any fan of machines with wheels and an engine. Note, however, that VanillaWorks requires a few additional mods installed to function, listed in the mod’s description. 

1964 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage

GTA 5 mods

(Image credit: Rockstar)

Download here 

There are countless excellent vehicle mods in GTA V, all trying to recreate every car imaginative with as realistic a model as possible. But if I could recommend you download only one, it would be this excellent recreation of the iconic James Bond car. It doesn’t come with an ejector seat, sadly.

Millennium Falcon 

Download here

A simple mod that brings the fastest piece of junk in Star Wars into GTA V. Comes complete with a realistic thruster-glow and a fully rendered cockpit view.

Knight Rider

Gtav mods: knight rider

Download here

Fans of the show Knight Rider will fondly remember the talking, self-driving, indestructible Pontiac Firebird. The Knight Rider mod brings KITT to life in Los Santos. Summon KITT, perform turbo boosts, drive on two wheels, and listen to him talk. It even includes the Ford Mustang version of KITT from the short-lived 2008 series. Here's a closer look.

Ghost Rider

Download here

At one stage in this list's lifespan, this entry linked to a 'fire breather' mod which is no longer supported. Now, while it's always a shame when neat mods fall by the wayside, the process makes room for arguably even cooler ones. JulioNIB's Ghost Rider mod fits this purview nicely, allowing players to fill the flame-fired boots of the Marvel superhero (or Nicholas Cage movie protagonist, if you prefer). Drive a flame trailing motorbike, fire flame-infused bullets from your gun, and set about ban and/or good guys with a flaming chain. Smokin'.

GTA 5 mods: Weapons

As with vehicles, there are oodles and oodles of weapon mods for GTA 5. Just like above, we've picked some fun and silly weapon options for our list here but there are more realistic options in the weapons category on 5mods.

Gravity Gun script

gtav mods: gravity gun script

Download here

Put a little Half-Life 2 in your GTA 5 with the Gravity Gun script. Equip the stun gun, aim it at something, and hold the E key, and you'll be able to lift and hurl your target really, really, really far. Works on cars, hapless NPCs, and other objects. You can watch it in action here.

Car Cannon script

gtav mods: car cannon script

Download here

You've shot cars in GTA 5, but have you ever shot cars? Like, out of your gun? The Car Cannon script replaces your bullets with automobiles, letting you fire a stream of cars and trucks of all kinds, because why the hell not? It's Los Santos. Place is wild.

Silkteam Lightsaber Script V2 & Lightsaber Pack 

GTA 5 mods

(Image credit: Rockstar)

Download here & here

Combined, the Silkteam Lighstaber Pack and Script not only add a bunch of cool lightsaber models into the game, they also add effective lightsaber combat. This includes the ability to throw your lightsaber, along with a handful of force powers like Force Jump and Force Kick, although no Force Lightning, sadly. 

Realistic Gun Sounds 

Download here

I’m always wary of "Realism" mods, as what people consider realistic can vary wildly depending on perception and circumstance. But whether realistic or not, there’s little question that this mod by XENORT makes all the weapons in GTA V sound much, much better. It not only improves the sound of individual weapons when fired, but also things like sound echo, impact noise, and even the sound of NPC ragdolls hitting the ground. It’s an essential addition to GTA V’s soundscape.

Alternative Weapons

Download here

If realism isn’t your bag, then Alternative Weapons might be more up your alley. This mod adds an array of… eclectic melee weapons to the base game. These range from some nasty-looking medieval implements like axes and longsword, to more makeshift weapons like road signs and saxophones. So if you find GTA V’s base melee offering a little staid, Alternative Weapons will sort that out pronto.

GTA 5 mods: Locations

Nurburgring-Nordschleife Circuit 

Download here

Added a bunch of fast cars to GTA V and want somewhere to try them out? You could do a lot worse than this highly detailed recreation of Germany’s infamous Nurburgring. This location mod includes both the smaller Grand Prix track and the much larger Nordschleife circuit, giving you plenty of room to flex your driving skills.

Open All Interiors

GTA 5 mod open all interiors

(Image credit: NewTheft)

Download here

Walking into buildings may not sound like a huge add but this mod adds functional doors and interiors to just about every building on the map. Apparently it includes some cut content that was originally planned for the GTA5 as well. There are over 50 new interiors for you to get into which as modder NewTheft points out are a great resource for making videos or staging shootouts. 

After Hours SP

Download here

The After Hours SP mod brings GTA Online's titular nightclub update to GTA 5's singleplayer mode. Once installed, players can select the decor and DJ within their clubs in real-time by activating a menu at reception, but cannot promote their venues in the same way the multiplayer campaign allows. Which is almost certainly a good thing. 

Morevoer, After Hours SP lets you upload and play custom music for your dedicated revellers. Check out Franklin shaking his bum to Drake's One Dance (a song otherwise not part of GTA 5's soundtrack) above.  

Grand Theft Space

Download here

Grand Theft Space transports players from GTA 5's urban sprawl to the cosmos above. At present, it boasts a functioning space shuttle, 11 planets, three moons and scant alien life. It's modest—but should it realise its potential, this work-in-progress open-source project could become the fully-customisable space sandbox we've always wanted, as it blends real life research with science fiction to great effect. 

Raven Rock

Gtav mods: raven rock

Download here

The Raven Rock mod plops an entirely new island on your map. Don't plan your vacation yet, though, because it's already been occupied by the military. There's a runway for jets, two helipads, a submarine bay, and lots and lots of soldiers.

Luxury safehouse

Download here

Franklin's pad is nice, but you should really crank your lifestyle up to eleven with the Marlow Valley enhanced luxury safehouse. Featuring enough parking for 30 of your cars and bikes, several helipads, a sprawling mansion, and armed guards, this safehouse will make you feel like a true kingpin. It even includes paparazzi.

North Yankton Loader

gtav mods: north yankton loader

Download here

GTA 5 begins in the frigid climes of North Yankton, after which you're whisked to Los Santos for most of the rest of the game. If you'd like to revisit it on your own schedule, this North Yankton Loader is a modified version of the Native Trainer that comes with a submenu to let you race around the snowy streets whenever you like.

GTA 5 mods: PEDs and visual mods

Lively World 

Download here

Lively World expands the dynamism of Los Santos. It adds new events and scenarios to make peds interact with each other and the world more. A few examples include vehicle overtaking, working taxis, carjackers and gang-drivebys. It makes Los Santos feel even more alive than it already does, which is no mean feat.

Robocop 

GTA 5 mods

(Image credit: Rockstar)

Download here

GTA V mods that add iconic characters into the game are not always great, but this Robocop model is genuinely one of the best I’ve seen. It’s a super-detailed render of the original 1987 Robocop, complete with his Auto-9 pistol (although sadly it doesn’t holster inside his leg). If you want to further Robocop-ify Los Santos, why not download this excellent recreation of Robocop’s bike, as well as this pilotable model of ED-209

John Wick: Chapter 2

GTA 5 mods: John Wick

(Image credit: Maestre3D)

Download here

Do you want to tear through the streets of Los Santos as legendary guns man John Wick? Of course you do. He's breathtaking. Really there's no better match for the cars and guns game than the cars and guns man. It would probably pair pretty well with the SuperHot mod on our list too for the almost supernatural aim of Mr. Wick.

Kylo Ren & Darth Vader

GTA 5 mods: Darth Vader & Kylo Ren

(Image credit: Quechus13)

Download here

Of course you'll need the proper player models to use with those lightsabers in our weapon mods section. If you're not the dark side type you can also find Luke Skywalker, Yoda, or Han Solo.

Big Goose

GTA 5 mods: Big Goose

(Image credit: Meth0d)

Download here

We don't need to explain this one, right?

Planet Express Ship and The Lion King

Good news, everyone! Now you can make like a cyclops and fly the Planet Express Ship from the oft-cancelled cartoon Futurama. It comes complete with a working gun turret and doesn't even require Nibbler's poop to power the engines.

And while we're desecrating the memory of popular cartoons, why not throw The Lion King's Timon and Pumba into the mix? MrMarco1003's The Lion King Pack adds this pairing as well as Ed, Shenzi, Banzai, Kiara, Nala, Scar, Mufasa, and Rafiki. Simba's in there too—in both adult and junior form. 

Christopher Livingston
Staff Writer

Chris started playing PC games in the 1980s, started writing about them in the early 2000s, and (finally) started getting paid to write about them in the late 2000s. Following a few years as a regular freelancer, PC Gamer hired him in 2014, probably so he'd stop emailing them asking for more work. Chris has a love-hate relationship with survival games and an unhealthy fascination with the inner lives of NPCs. He's also a fan of offbeat simulation games, mods, and ignoring storylines in RPGs so he can make up his own.