The best Witcher 3 mods

Just because The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was one of the best games (to many, the best game) of 2015, doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement.

best game) of 2015, doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. From the first week of its release modders have been hard at work enhancing, revising, and tweaking the celebrated fantasy RPG. We're sure there are plenty more mods on the way, so we'll be updating this piece as new mods appear. Here are the best mods—so far—for The Witcher 3.

Note: since The Witcher 3 is still being patched occasionally, new patches may render certain mods incompatible. Make sure you read the version notes for each mod before installing them to ensure they work with the latest patch.

Absolute Camera

Unhappy with the camera placement while you're running, fighting, riding, or swimming? Absolute Camera doesn't just change the camera distance and angle but gives you over a dozen completely customizable options for camera placement during Geralt's many activities. In the video above you can get a look at just how flexible the new camera tools are.

PhotoMode

Want to take some awesome screenshots of Geralt in action? This mod provides a toggle button that lets you freeze the game at will, then fly your camera around in 3D space to line up the perfect picture. There's also a toggle for making yourself invisible (good for landscape shots), and an option to spawn fog and mist to make your shots more atmospheric. Requires the Debug Console Enabler.

Friendly HUD

The Witcher 3's UI can feel a bit cluttered, but turning parts of it off can make the game overly difficult. This mod has several features, available in separate downloads if you only want one or two, that improve the on-screen issues. From holding a key down to enter meditation without using the menu, to hiding quest markers unless you're using your Witcher sense, plus HUD elements that can individually be toggled on and off without having to open your menu, and lots more.

Hearts of Card

The Witcher 3 isn't just a great game, it also contains a great game: Gwent, a collectible card game Geralt can enjoy during his adventures. In fact, it's not unusual to hear that players would rather indulge in a Gwent fix than kill monsters. Now, you can do both! This mod replaces all combat with games of Gwent. You even earn similar loot and XP rewards for winning a game.

School of the Roach

Not many stones are being left unturned in this ambitious mod, which aims to make changes to everything from combat, encumbrance, the economy, alchemy, skills, weapons, armor, and more, with an eye on increasing the overall challenge of the game. It's currently in open beta, if you're interested in helping test it.

Random Encounters

If you're finding the overworld a bit too cozy and cuddly, here's a mod that should liven things up. It increases the chances of encountering monster mobs, winged beasts, and human enemies. The mod is customizable so you can juke the settings until you find the perfect balance of random monster encounters.

The Enhancement System

Need a few more weapons and armor options? This mod makes NPC weapons, like Imlerith's giant mace and several others, available to Geralt either through merchants or by crafting. New schematics in shops will allow for even more weapon options, and upgrades are available for relics as well.

HD Reworked Project

If you looking for better, crisper, more detailed models and textures, feast your cat-like peepers on this mod. Rocks, trees, crates, roofs, and floors have all been overhauled with increased resolutions and brightness, with presumably more to come.

Hunter's Config

Hunter's Config is a nifty utility to tweak all of your Witcher 3 settings, even those hidden ones you can't access from the game's menu. It even includes a utility for backing up your configuration files and a button to install or unintall SweetFX.

Fantasy Graphics

Looking for a more lush and colorful look? The Fantasy Graphics mod removes some of the bluish tint from the game and makes some tweaks to the lighting to provide more of a high fantasy look.

Weight Limit mod

Many players are finding Geralt's low carry weight overly restrictive, with their pockets constantly stuffed with items yet not much worth selling. The Weight Limit mod lets you crank carry weight up to 9999 if you so please, or at least to smaller amounts like 120 if you don't want to go completely nuts. Alternately, you can scale the weight of the items themselves with another weight limit mod.

Increased Creature Loot

The game may be called Wild Hunt, but hunting creatures and monsters isn't a great way to make a living. If you're tired of bagging a bunch of deer and walking away with little to show for it, the Increased Creature Loot mod will up your chances of animals dropping meat, hide, and other ingredients.

Wealthy Vendors

It's annoying to cart a load of loot into town and find a vendor so poor he can't afford to buy it all. This Wealthy Vendors mod gives vendors some deeper pockets, and gently encourages them to pay you more for your goods.