A video game as expansive as Grand Theft Auto V can be consumed for years on end with any drop in interest. But as time passes, keeping these games fresh is important in maintaining interest and excitement behind them.
Developers typically update their games through scheduled downloadable content releases, and while these DLCs are quite appealing, we live in a world where updates and upgrades don’t always have to come from the developers. The rise of mods, or “modifications,” has made our video game experience more exciting. Though not legal in all respects, a lot of these mods exist for one reason: to make the games more exciting.
That’s especially true for a game like GTA V, which has one of the most enthralling graphics packages you’ll see in a video game. But even the best ones need some improvements, right? That’s where these graphics mods for Grand Theft Auto V come into the picture… in numerous ways. These are the best GTA V mods you'll find on the internet. Trust us when we say that they're awesome.
Before we get to our list of amazing GTA V Mods, be sure to check out our newest youtube channel, TopSpeedGames. Here's our latest GTA V playlist:
Grand Theft Auto V1
Installing GTA mods is actually a fairly simple task. Once you download the mod files, you need to place the extracted files into the main GTA V folder - the folder where GTAV.exe is located. If you've purchased a physical copy or downloaded it via a digital key, it will be located in whatever install location you've chosen. The default location for most installs is: C:/program files (x86)/Grand Theft Auto V. If you've purchased and installed the game from Steam, you'll find it in c:\program files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Grand Theft Auto V.
If the mods you're trying to run require Script Hook V, then you can download it from dev-c.com. Once downloaded, extract the contents of the zip file and move the contents of the "bin" folder into the main GTA V folder just as you did for the mod files.
It should be noted that multiple mods usually don't work together, and, if you're thinking of playing online, then you'll need to remove the mods before starting. If you attempt to play online with mods installed, you'll be banned quickly.
GTA V Redux Mod
4K resolution wasn’t even a thing yet when Grand Theft Auto V arrived in 2013. But a lot has changed in seven years. The arrival of 4K Ultra HD has made graphics of seven to eight years ago look dated by comparison. On that end, a game like GTA V deserves to be seen in 4K resolution to be appreciated more than it already is. These GTA V mods are the answer to our prayers, and, thankfully, the Redux Mod provides that opportunity, so long as you have the proper setup to make it run as smoothly as it can run.
Between new weather, skies, and all the intricate 4K textures that your eyes can handle, Redux Mod makes a visual overhaul that not only improves your visual appreciation of Los Santos, but, more importantly, makes you appreciate the game in an entirely different light.
It helps, too, that Redux also comes with tweaks to the gameplay, including improvements in behavior, weapon feel, vehicle handling, and the police system. If you’re a fan of GTA V with an appetite for gameplay improvements, the Redux Mod is a must-have.
GTA V R*ENHANCER PHOTOREALISM Mod
Speaking of visual enhancements, the R*enhancer Photorealism Mod provides similar upgrades to your Grand Theft Auto V gaming experience. This specific mod is largely responsible for adjusting — and, at least for a lot of people, improving — the lighting qualities of GTA 5. As if Rockstar Games didn’t do an impressive job in that regard already, the R*enhancer Photorealism creates a lighting overhaul that not only adjusts atmospheric effects, but also creates improvements to the game’s weather qualities, similar to those in the real world. Lighting improvements often go unnoticed in the game, but if you have an eye for these things, the R*enhancer Photorealism mod is just what the doctor ordered.
GTA V Awesomekills Graphics Mod
Since this list focuses on the best graphics mods in GTA V — you won’t find the Hulk Smash, Zombie Apocalypse, or even the Blade Runner mods in this list — the Awesomekills Mod deserves a spot in this list. Photorealism is a big part of the Awesomekills Mod. Like the two mods above it, the Awesomekills Mod focuses primarily on improving the overall graphics of the game through small but very effective stylistic additions.
It’s another small detail in the grand scheme of things in GTA V, but this small detail enhances the overall look of the game in such a way that it completely changes your appreciation of the game’s graphics and, by extension, changes the way you play the game.
GTA V Project Reload Graphics Enhancer
Like most mods in this list, the Project Reload Graphics Enhancer improves on the game’s already stellar graphics package by incorporating a suite of mods focusing on different aspects of Los Santos. Project Reload Graphics Enhancer is the graphical upgrade that was made to be used with Project RELOAD. It has since been released as a standalone mod, and while the whole setup with Project RELOAD offers much better attention-to-detail, the Graphics Enhancer holds its own as far as the graphical craftsmanship it provides to the game.
GTA Realism Mod
The GTA Realism Mod can make you stop what you’re doing and immerse yourself in the incredible realism it provides in the game. Mind you, the Realism Mod doesn’t just change the graphics of GTA V; it also has the capacity to add other mods that make the game even more realistic. It’s like you’re playing a simulation game in the real world. Combining a pack of mods also makes the game more fun to play, especially when you get too immersed in your surroundings that you momentarily forget that you’re playing a game as opposed to living in it.
GTA V VisualV Mod
The objective of the Visual V Mod is simple. It wants you to think of Los Santos as a real city, and not as a video game substitute to Los Angeles. It’s one of the most comprehensive and visually stunning graphics mods for the game.
It’s so fun to play a game that looks so real that you get lost in what you’re doing. It feels like you’re living in a Matrix version of GTA5, except that you’re not. That’s how the Visual V Mod can make you feel.
GTA V Natural Vision Mod
Created by Jamal Rashid, the mod started as an ambitious attempt to visually overhaul the graphics of GTA 5 (on PC) since its release, NaturalVision has grown to become bigger than its initial purpose. This GTA V mod PC is the most popular of its kind in the GTA V community, and it’s gotten so big that an updated version — NaturalVision Remastered - has arrived with improvements to the overall scope of the mod.
NaturalVision’s ability to create an inescapable world is going to make you want to enter your screens just so you could experience what it’s like to live in the visual world of Los Angeles, uhhh I mean Los Santos. Given the scope of quality of NaturalVision Remastered, you might be stepping into a more beautiful world than the one we all inhabit in real life. It makes you wonder, too what's in store for GTA VI and the GTA 6 mods that will come with it.
FAQ
Q: What is the Best Graphics Mod for GTA V?
While mods like VisualV and R*enhancer Photorealism are pretty awesome, [GTA V Natural Vision->https://www.gta5-mods.com/misc/naturalvision-photorealistic-gtav] is, hands down the best mod out there for GTA 5. In fact, it’s going to get even better as soon as the people behind the mod release NaturalVision Remastered with even better graphics and textures, among other things.
Q: How do I make GTA 5 Look Realistic?
To make GTA 5 look realistic, your best bet is to install either NaturalVision Mod or GTA Realism Mod, both of which will drastically improve in-game graphics while the latter will allow you to add other mods to tweak weather systems, NPC interactions, and more.
Q: Is GTA V Worth Buying in 2020?
Rumors say that GTA 6 is in development, but there’s still ahuge update coming at the end of 2020, and future updates planned for GTA V on the PS5 and Xbox Series X. As such, there’s a good chance a new GTA game is still years away, and GTA 5 is still updated regularly and has a ton of online players, so there’s definitely still value in owning GTA V, even if you’ve waited this long to own it.
Q: Which Ending is the Best in GTA 5?
In terms of playing the game solo, the best ending is when you let all three characters live – this way you can swap between all three playable characters anytime your playing GTA. If you don’t plan to play solo after completing the storyline, killing off Trevor is probably the most rewarding given his mental state.