The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has been around since it graced our screens in 2015. Notably one of the best RPGs of the past decade, modders have gone to great lengths to simultaneously improve and exploit the game. With thousands of mods available for The Witcher 3 across the web, it can be daunting to know where to begin and which ones to install. That's where we've stepped in to help.
In this guide, we explain what you need to mod The Witcher 3, and what the best mods to install are.
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Before You Install Any Mods...
Before installing any mods for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, there are a handful of tools you will need to actually make your mods work.
Enable the Debug Console
Luckily, there is a simple mod that unlocks the debug console for you that you can install here. Alternatively, you can manually enable the debug console and modify your game using console commands, which we explain in depth here.
Nexus Mod Manager: Vortex
Most, if not all, of your mods will be installed via Nexus, then managed on their open-source mod manager called Vortex. If your mods aren't loaded in specific orders, The Witcher 3 can simply cease to work for you, so it's important to have the mod manager installed to do the hard work for you!
You can install Vortex here. With these tools enabled, you're ready to install some mods.
Mods For Gameplay & Combat
Using the following mods for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, you can make combat and gameplay feel much smoother and more immersive without the risk of making things too easy for yourself.
Sword FX
The Sword FX mod is a simple one that allows you to customise your sword and its effects in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Using an in-game menu, players can change how runes appear on their sword, whether oil is visible, and can force sign infusion effects.
Enhanced Targeting
You'll likely notice that enemy targeting in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt can be a little off at the best of times. The Enhanced Targeting mod aims to fix these issues, so players can have better battles and not worry about their dodges locking them in animations in unintended directions.
Speed Force
If you've played The Witcher 3 for more than a few hours, you'll have noticed that NPCs' animations can often feel out of sync. For example, the speed of enemies is typically decelerated to the point where it feels their animations are almost slow-motion. The Speed Force mod fixes all of that, and NPCs move as though they really want your blood, making the game all the more immersive.
Auto Apply Oils
The Auto Apply Oils mod is exactly as it sounds. Players can save themselves some time preparing for battle, and have their oils automatically applied to their weapons, rather than opening their inventories and doing it manually. This simply makes life as Geralt of Rivia a little easier.
AutoLoot
Like the above mod, the AutoLoot mod eliminates further tedious interface that players may easily tire of. The mod has customisable features, so players can choose to loot everything in their path without any pop-ups, or they may choose to only loot specific items such as oils. The mod also does not automatically steal, so that's a plus.
Mods For Menu & Travel
These mods for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are ideal for making your HUD tidier and for making navigating the world as Geralt much more efficient.
Fast Travel From Anywhere
For those of us who don't like to take in the scenery and would much rather get from A to B without a fuss, the Fast Travel From Anywhere mod is a staple. The mod allows players to fast travel to any signpost to any other signpost across the world of The Witcher 3, making those long quests a little bit easier.
All Quest Objectives On Map
The All Quest Objectives On Map mod can be a bit of a game changer. The mod allows players to see all their objectives on the world map, and they can track multiple quests and their locations simultaneously. Additionally, the currently tracked objective can be changed via the map without the need to access the quest menu.
World Map Fixes
The World Map Fixes mod is simple but effective. The mod removes any inconsistencies between the 3D world and the 2D map, generally making the world of The Witcher 3 a little easier to navigate, with various points of interest not being out of place on your mini-map.
Friendly HUD
The Friendly HUD mod is a highly-customisable mod that allows players to choose what is and isn't on their screen. Players can configure the HUD however they please, add 3D markers, and track NPCs. When installing the mod, you can choose which options you want enabled, but we definitely recommend watching the demo video on the Nexus page before playing with this one.
Disable Storybook Videos
The Disable Storybook Videos mod is a simple one. The mod essentially disables the storybook recap of your game every time you load The Witcher 3 up. It doesn't make much of a difference to gameplay, but it makes getting into character a little quicker.
Mods For Graphics & Camera
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt still looks great given how many years it has been since it's initial release, and the fact we are yet to see the game remastered for next-gen consoles. However, these mods make the game look almost brand-new and feel even more immersive.
HD Reworked Project
The Witcher 3's HD Reworked Project mod is a must-have. It is such a good mod, in fact, that the game's developers are working alongside modder, Halk Hogan, to aid with the game's upcoming remaster for next-gen consoles. As you may expect, the mod overhauls the visuals of The Witcher 3, generally making your surroundings all the more appealing.
Immersive Cam
The Immersive Cam mod for The Witcher 3 is one that allows you, the player, to have as much control over the games' camera as possible. The camera can be repositioned, and player head tracking or autorotation can be enabled or disabled in-game whenever you please.
No Dirty Lens Effect
The No Dirty Lens Effect mod is yet another simple mod that can make a world of difference when playing The Witcher 3. The mod will simply remove the dirty lens effect that is found in the game, ensuring your screen is clear of dirt at all times.
Super Turbo Lighting
As is necessary for some players, the Super Turbo Lighting mod improves and enhances light and shadows around the world of The Witcher 3. Lighting is improved during both day and nighttime, making textures look even better, and thus increasing immersion. If smooth, immersive gameplay is what you're after, improving the lighting is a must.
Realistic Weather
The Realistic Weather mod overhauls the weather in The Witcher 3, making bad weather look better and introducing new weather types. The mod requires the Blood and Wine DLC in order to work, and aims to make weather types look more realistic and be bearable for gameplay.
Mods For Items, Gear & Other Buffs
The following mods for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt can certainly make gameplay easier, so take caution if you're wanting to challenge yourself. Yet, these mods can make the game feel more immersive and fulfil that desire for endless loot.
True Haggling
In The Witcher 3, haggling with NPCs becomes predictable and there is little leeway. As noted by the mod creator, it is far from being alike to the negotiations made in the books. The True Haggling mod tweaks NPCs acceptance price depending on their impatience and anger, rather than it being based on randomisation.
Over 9000 Weight
If you're a looter who isn't keen on cleaning out their inventory regularly, the Over 9000 Weight mod is what you need during The Witcher 3. It sets Geralt's weight limit to 9000, so you can loot and carry as many items as you wish.
Indestructible Items
The Indestructible Items mod is as it sounds: Geralt's weapons and armour will now possess an invincibility. They will not degrade and will remain at 100% durability, so your weapons and armour will never need fixing up or replacing again.
Immersive Rewards
The Immersive Rewards mod essentially makes the rewards given to you by various races a little more realistic than before. For example, Temerians reward Orens, Nilfgaardians reward Florens, and so forth. This is with a few exceptions, and in some instances, the rewards given are increased, too.
Additional Stash Locations
Again, this mod is exactly as it sounds. The Additional Stash Locations mod provides some new stash areas (you guessed it!) and relocates some of the preexisting ones in Crow's Perch and Kaer Trolde.
Mods For Fun
As ever, there are always mods that simply add an extra layer of fun to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Whether it is a serious game of Gwent you're after, or to see Geralt smiling more often, these mods will help you out.
Primal Needs
The Primal Needs mod is exactly as it sounds, and attempts to add another level of immersion to The Witcher 3 by giving Geralt human needs which must be met. This turns the RPG into a survival game, as you must feed Geralt, sleep, and use the bathroom to keep his needs met, all while slaying monsters.
Witcher Lore Collection
During development, a lot of documents in The Witcher 3's files were cut for whatever reason. The Witcher Lore Collection mod restores every single book, note, and letter that was cut before the game's release. The mod also adds an entire glossary section in the bestiary that has never seen the light of day. For more lore during your play through, this is the mod to install.
Gwent Redux
The Gwent Redux mod is a complete overhaul of The Witcher 3's Gwent card game. The mod alters vanilla cards, adds over 120 more cards, updated card portraits, improves AI decks and ultimately makes the game larger and more balanced, while still remaining lore friendly.
Emote Hotkeys
The Emote Hotkeys mod provides you with a number of emotes that will make Geralt of Rivia seem all the more lively. This includes the likes of walking proudly, being able to pet a horse (because Roach deserves all the petting), and making Geralt play the flute. These are just a few of many available emotes to play around with.
Familiar Music Replacement
The Familiar Music Replacement mod replaces various songs in The Witcher 3 with tracks from previous Witcher games. For those who have been a fan of previous games in the series, but don't want to remove The Witcher 3's soundtrack entirely, this is a great way to mix the music up.
There you have it! Those are all the top mods you need to make the most of your experience of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, or simply to mess around with it. For more, check out when to expect season 3 of The Witcher.