With the release of Grand Theft Auto 4: Complete Edition on Steam, the game has found a resurgence of new and old players alike. Seeing as the game was released in 2008, it’s likely that a lot of players are checking it out for the first time after the success of GTA 5. However, as iconic as it is, GTA 4 has not aged well, in either graphics or gameplay.
This is where the modding community comes in. While the game lacks a Steam Workshop, that hasn’t stopped users from flocking to places like Nexus Mods to showcase their best GTA 4 mods. Installing them for GTA 4 is not an easy task though, so if this is something that interests you, make sure you do your research into the topic beforehand.
While you're here, you can also check out the best Dying Light 2 mods and best Resident Evil Village mods for two huge horror games. We've also got some Dwarf Fortress mods to enhance the hit strategy title.
Best GTA 4 mods for 2023
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+ 5Grand Theft Auto 4 4K2K Allagga Graphics Mod 1.0
One of the most noticeable differences in going back to GTA 4 is the drop in graphics. It’s obvious that the game was released nearly 20 years ago, with its foggy textures and flat architecture. While it may have been impressive in the early days of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, it’s certainly not anymore.
This is where graphics mods come in. There are a couple of different ones to choose from, depending on what exactly you want to prioritise. Some will make the graphics look realistic, while others try to keep the style of the game, but with just a bit more clarity.
The Allagga Graphics Mod tries to stick to the base game aesthetics as much as possible. User Allaga has redesigned textures to look clearer, which really makes the environment around the player pop. But that’s not all: they’ve even redesigned clothes to make them look smarter, so you’ll look the part once you return to the streets of Liberty City.
click to enlarge + 5Liberty City Customs (Autobody Shop Mod)
One of the biggest things that reflect your status in Liberty City is, of course, your car. You’ve finally managed to find the ride of your dreams, whether it was legally obtained or not, and it’s now sitting safely in your garage. But what happens if you hate the colour of it?
Well, with the Liberty City Customs Autobody Shop Mod, this is no longer a problem. Not only do you have over 100 different colours to choose from, but you can also alter tweaks like the brakes, handling, and even make the cars bulletproof.
click to enlarge + 5Liberty's Legacy Trainer
Sometimes, in order to have the most amount of fun in games you have to do things unconventionally. This is where trainers come in. While mods are packs that are designed to give you a different experience, or even more gameplay content, trainers are basically just cheats.
With the Legacy Trainer, you can spawn any vehicle or item, you can teleport around the map, or even change your skin. While this might have limited use for the casual player, this kind of tool can be invaluable if you are trying to achieve something specific in the game. This could be content creation, or even just spawning in some fast cars for you and your friends to race around in.
click to enlarge + 5American Sleep: A Collection of Realism Mods
It is impossible to talk about GTA 4 mods without bringing up the American Sleep collection. This set is iconic in the community and the favourite of a lot of players. The premise is pretty simple: it continues the GTA 4 story after Niko has spent all of his money and now must rely on his skills to survive.
It’s not just one mod, either. It’s an entire host of different gameplay ideas, quality-of-life improvements, and even custom animations. It makes the endgame of GTA 4 into a whole new experience.
Some of the highlights include a notoriety system similar to that of Assassin's Creed, where stolen weapons and cars will be reported if seen. Police have also had an overhaul to make them competent enemies. They will recognise you if you’ve committed past crimes, and can even pick up on if you’re acting suspiciously. There are ATMs where you can deposit and withdraw money, bank robbing mechanics, and even a prison break. This is by far the best GTA 4 mod experience that you can experience at the moment.
click to enlarge + 5#WatchDogsIV - GTA IV
Sometimes, two games blend together so well that you wonder how they ever existed without one another. For example, if you take the hacking gameplay from Watch Dogs, and put it into the mean streets of Liberty City, you have a very compelling and immersive experience on your hands.
For many players, the main thing they remember about Watch Dogs' launch was the glaring difference between the trailer and game's graphics. Well, thanks to this collection of mods, Aiden Pearce has never looked more at home.
If you want more on GTA, we also have guides for GTA Online. Check out how to get the best passive income, as well as how to complete the treasure hunt!
For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Grand Theft Auto page.