GTA 5 mods offer players a huge choice for customizing the game world. Whether it’s graphics improvements, new vehicles or characters, the ability to add new missions and locations, or even change the behavior of NPCs – all this opens up a lot of options to make the game even more exciting. Today, you will learn about the great GTA 5 mods, how to download them and what the risks are.
Script Hook V
Script Hook V is the basis for many mods, as it allows you to run scripts and change many game mechanics. This mod is needed for many other mods to work correctly, and it serves as a link between the game and script-based mods. When starting your journey of modifying the game, start with Script Hook V.
Features:
- Necessary for many other mods to work.
- Allows you to run scripts and change basic elements of the game.
- Updated regularly for compatibility with new versions of the game.
How to install:
- Download Script Hook V from the developer’s website.
- Move the files to the game folder.
- Make sure all scripts work correctly when launching the game.
Script Hook V is best left in the game folder and not touched at all. Even if you don’t need it for some mods, others will require its mandatory presence. Fortunately, it doesn’t take up much space, so just leave it there.
OpenIV
If you want to install and create mods, pay attention to OpenIV. This utility works with files used in the Rockstar Games series. It was created to simplify the process of working with archives and game resources, allowing modders to unpack and modify files and pack them back so that they work in the game.
OpenIV supports several file formats used in games, including .rpf (archives that store game data), .otd, .otd2 and many others. With this tool, you can add, replace or remove game textures, models, animations, sounds, and scripts. OpenIV is actively used in combination with other mods, such as Script Hook V, Menyoo, etc.
NaturalVision Evolved (NVE)
NaturalVision Evolved is one of the most ambitious and well-known graphics mods for GTA 5. This mod significantly improves the game’s visuals, including lighting, textures, atmosphere, and weather conditions. NVE makes the world of Los Santos more realistic, adding a rain effect with drops on the windshield, improved textures for buildings and objects, and a reworked lighting system.
The mod requires 7+ GB of free space, so prepare it in advance for it. NVE is quite demanding on the PC mod. Still, fortunately, it can be modified depending on the performance you need or have available, starting from a couple of elements to full functionality.
Menyoo PC
Menyoo is a versatile mod manager that allows players to change the world of GTA 5 in real-time. With this mod, you can create your missions, change the world, place objects and NPCs, and activate various scripts (mods) that change the gameplay.
Features:
- Real-time object and NPC editor.
- Ability to create and edit custom missions.
- System for changing weather conditions and time of day.
- Additional options for modifying vehicles and characters.
Menyoo PC is more like a large control panel or console than a mod. The functionality here is simple and built on those elements that are already in the game. Plus, if you really need it, you can download additional mods and builds compatible with Menyoo for new features, capabilities and settings. But even the standard version looks good.
Simple Trainer for GTA V
Simple Trainer is a universal tool for quick and easy changes to many aspects of the game. It works like a regular trainer for games, meaning you can:
- Teleport to any point on the map.
- Change the appearance and characteristics of characters.
- Manage weather conditions.
- Configure the spawn system of vehicles and other objects in the game (NPCs, animals, etc.).
This is one of the most popular trainers for GTA 5, as it is easy to use and provides a wide range of functions. It is perfect for those who are just starting their modding journey in GTA 5: simple interface, functions and controls. After a while, having gained experience, you will be able to move on to a new level.
New Horizons: Vice City Remake and Map Editor Mods
Mods that add new maps and locations can significantly expand the geography of GTA 5. These mods allow players to explore new areas of the city or even new cities and countries. For example, Vice City Remake takes players to a city familiar to them from the previous game in the series, and mods like Map Editor allow you to create and add your maps and locations to the game.
Map mods can also add various fantasy dungeons, buildings or even entire islands that can be explored, creating unique adventures and missions. New locations can be both realistic and fantastical, based on the universes of various films and video games. The most striking examples are the modifications in Witcher 3 and Mafia 2.
Introduction to Mods: Installation Features
There are two main ways to install mods: manual and automatic. Each of them has its features and is suitable for different types of mods. Manual installation is usually used for more complex mods that require replacing or changing game files. To do this, you need to:
- Download the mod from a trusted site.
- Extract the mod files.
- Use your favorite utility to replace textures or models in game archives (.rpf).
- For script mods (such as trainers or new features), move the files to the scripts folder (if it exists).
This method requires the player to move the files to the desired game folders independently. Automatic installation is much simpler since such mods often come with an installer. They generally require you to run the file and follow the instructions. An example of such a mod is Menyoo, a trainer that has automatic installation and automatically finds the game and the desired folder for installation.
The choice of installation method depends on the complexity of the mod and your preferences. So, always create backup copies of the original game files before installation. Otherwise, you will have to download the game again or search for the modified files yourself, which can be very, very difficult.
