Grand Theft Auto 6‘s first trailer has got us excited and we can only pray to Rockstar Games for bringing it to us as soon as possible. Until then, we have the decade-old GTA 5 and its worn-out world with the adventurous trio making us repeat the missions again and again. Not that GTA 5 is dull but re-doing the same missions gets repetitive and takes off the appeal of this blockbuster. So, what’s the solution to beat boredom in GTA 5?
While one easy way is to quench your thirst for open-world gaming with other titles, another tricky yet exciting way is to rely on mods. For a game that has allowed modifications from third-party developers for over a decade, GTA 5 has a thriving modding community that only keeps expanding.
With a couple of tools in place, you can swap out all the ageing bits of the game and make it truly yours. From adding luxurious mansions to authentic Gucci apparel for your favourite character, porting your favourite Bentley or being Iron Man, the GTA 5 mods allow all sorts of imagination to be made into reality.
But where do you start? With thousands of mods available via various websites, it may be overwhelming at first. Hence, we have taken the liberty to discover everything available and create our list of the best GTA 5 mods that you need to try, especially before jumping to Grand Theft Auto 6 in 2025.
However, keep in mind that you can modify only the PC version of GTA 5, not the console version. You will also need to tamper with the game files and download a couple of necessary tools to install these mod packs. Since you always run the risk of corrupting the game files, it is advised to create a backup of your game profile in case you need to do a reinstallation.
Lastly, you should have a beefy GPU on your PC and gaming laptop to support the extra computing load these mods throw at your system.
With that out of the way, let’s get started with our list of the best GTA 5 mods.
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Photorealistic graphics
One of the fastest ageing factors in a video game is graphics and GTA 5 is no exception. The textures and lighting feel dated, especially in comparison to any modern-day title. Luckily, the modding community has released dozens of graphical overhauls and the NaturalVision Remastered mod is our favourite.
With the mod installed, you get 4K resolution for enhanced textures, better lighting effects, ray tracing and more. For this to work, your gaming PC needs a beefy GPU to manage the extra loads and you will need a lot of patience to install the mod.
However, when your copy of GTA 5 gleams with beautiful panoramic views and shiny cars with accurate reflections, it all seems worth the effort.
You can download it here.
Be Iron Man
Ever since Robert Downer Jr. embodied the phrase “I am Iron Man” in 2008’s Iron Man, we’d all wanted to feel like the “Genius, Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist” that is Tony Stark. Luckily with GTA 5, you can live your Iron Man dreams with a simple mod.
The GTA V Ironman v2.0 mod by JulioNIB lets you don some of Tony’s most popular suits and fly around Los Santos. As Iron Man, you can hover in midair, fly across destinations, fire missiles, attack with bullets and, most importantly, use the repulsor beams to blast off cars and police helicopters – complete with authentic sound effects!
That may be ironic for a law-abiding Tony but in a land of make-believe, you can be anything you want. The mod even lets you fight drones and tag along with alternative suits to guard you from threats. The iconic Hulkbuster suit and War Machine are also available to try.
The MCU may have killed Tony Stark but GTA 5 keeps his spirit and virtual version alive.
Download the Iron Man mod here.
Or try being the Hulk
Why would you need to be the Hulk when you have a psychotic criminal like Trevor to terrorise the noble residents of Los Santos? We think it would be hilariously fun.
JulioNIB’s HULK mod brings the green monster from the MCU and lets you step into its shoes (or pants?) to wreak havoc in GTA 5. As the Hulk, not only do you become invincible but you also get to smash cars, beat police officers and other NPCs (Non-Playable Characters), throw objects far off into the distance, do the iconic super jump, perform the Thunder Clap and Atomic Smash and so on. As the heat level rises, the fun of being the Hulk intensifies.
You can try the mod by visiting this link.
Realistic cars
For a game that pays special attention to detail, a major chunk of the GTA 5 community has gripes with Rockstar Games for not including licensed cars. GTA’s Zentorno (fictional rendition of a Lamborghini) is surely cool but not as exhilarating as the real deal. The solution? Try vehicle mods.
Over the last decade, the modding community has ported all sorts of vehicles from other video games to GTA 5. Whether it is the latest Lamborghini Revuelto or the Batmobile, the GTA 5 modding community has got you covered. While some are simply limited to visual changes, others offer functional parts like convertible roofs, authentic engine sounds, working dashboards and more. With a graphics mod installed, you may be having more fun than your friend playing Forza Horizon 5 on their Xbox.
Before you start downloading GBs of authentic cars, keep in mind that the vehicle mods may interrupt the traffic flow and you could witness repetition.
Check out the latest cars and bike mods available for the game.
Los Santos under Tsunami
Over the years, players in GTA 5 have unearthed Easter Eggs hinting at a massive tsunami engulfing all of Los Santos and its residents. While the story mode never utilised that concept, the modding community wondered what it would feel like to Los Santos under the water. Hence, they tinkered with the code and gave Los Santos a tsunami!
Not just a tsunami, these modders also played God by stripping all of GTA 5‘s waterbodies and making the sea floor sit bare.
With the ‘No Water+ Tsunami + Atlantis’ mod installed, you get to see the city submerged under seawater and float around to explore the aftermath of a Tsunami. Since it’s a fan-made mod, you might see vehicles driving perfectly in the distance and only float when you approach, which is weird but cool nonetheless. If you choose to drain the sea, you can discover several artefacts like sunken ships, underwater flora and fauna and even a hidden UFO!
You should try the Tsunami mod.
Sailing on the RMS Titanic (and sinking)
The RMS Titanic never reached the shores of New York but thanks to the modding community, you can finally show the world’s most popular vintage ocean liner a glimpse of the American dream.
A detailed replica of the RMS Titanic has been developed by GTA modding artist KAFAROS, complete with functional decks and a grand staircase. The ship is driveable and when the Sun goes down, you can enjoy the majestic sights of the British ship against the backdrop of a dark ocean.
Although it might be morbid, you can experience the final moments before the ship sank in 1912. Players can use the mod to gently drown the bow, eventually waiting for gravity to do its thing and pull down the ship. It doesn’t break apart into two halves but you witness a heartbreaking sight of the mighty ship sinking to the bottom of the ocean once again.
The RMS Titanic mod is available for free.
Play as a cop
Have you ever wondered what is it like on the other side while you are being chased by an army for mowing down civilians on the streets of Los Santos? Thanks to a couple of mods from LPDFR.com, you can live your ultimate dream of donning the uniform and helping enforce the law against those pesky criminals. Sounds ironic but hey, you can always have a change of heart.
From catching a few criminals to engaging in a hot pursuit in your specially prepared Dodge Charger police vehicle with flashing lights and blaring sirens, you can get the full experience of being a Federal officer in Los Santos. If you seek something more exciting, perhaps you can look or the mods that let you take command of a Coast Guard patrol boat or manage the LSPD’s aerial vehicles while the others are engaged in a shootdown with a gang.
You can check out the list of several police mods available on the website.
Live the prison life
The GTA 6 trailer may have given us a hint that Lucia, who is one of the two protagonists in the game, might give us a glimpse inside the prisons of the Grand Theft Auto universe. However, you don’t need to wait until 2025 to experience it. With the Prison mod, you can see Michael, Trevor and Franklin go through the judicial process and be among the other hardcore criminals of Los Santos.
This simple script alters the game’s codes to show what happens after you get arrested by the cops. You can choose to get arrested with a single or double-star wanted level (anything above that gets you shot down). The mod will put you inside the prison wherein you can either spend time or regret your actions. You can also choose to use your in-game money and pay a bail amount to be out in the real world.
Or if you are in the mood for some heist, you can plan an escape from the facilities. The mod even lets you make other prisoners fight among themselves. That seems exciting! Why did Rockstar Games not include this as an optional experience in GTA 5 in the first place?
Nonetheless, you can get the Prison mod files and try it today.
Get your dose of zombie bashing
Do you want a taste of Resident Evil in GTA 5? The Simple Zombies mod is something you should try at all costs.
This modified script program enabled a zombie infection in all of Los Santos and as the protagonist, your only job is to survive. You get your usual arsenal of GTA weapons to shoot down the undead or mow them down with a car. Since survival is key, you will need to collect supplies from these zombies and craft your weapons to give you a better chance. You also have to set up a camp with all kinds of protection and food items to survive the zombie wave. The mod also alters the world with crashed aeroplanes, discarded vehicles and more.
The Simple Zombie mod earns a big recommendation from us.
Mobile Radio
Grand Theft Auto 5‘s radio stations are hilarious and amazing. While exploring the large open world of Los Santos, the in-vehicle radio sets up the mood and breaks the monotony with great musical numbers and sarcastic social commentary, the latter being our favourite. What if you could listen to the radio while outside a vehicle?
The Mobile Radio mod is a simple script that keeps playing the radio channels even when you are on your foot or while doing a mission. This way, you get to enjoy your vibes while going on a hunting mission or looting a bank.
The Mobile Radio mod is easy to install and is a must-try for everyone who loves the GTA soundtrack.
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(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Rockstar Games)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Which is the best GTA 5 mod?
The Iron Man mod is one of the best mods you can install in GTA 5.
– How to download GTA 5 mods?
You can download GTA 5 mods from various websites and communities.
