The best part of PC gaming is the ability to customize a game to completely fit a player’s liking. Mods are one of the many ways players can alter a game’s experience and elevate every game they’re a part of.Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Painis one of the most important titles of the 2010s and mods take it to the next level.
Freedom is integral to the title’sgame design philosophy, and it goes hand in hand with mods to create the most fun experience possible. This freedom can manifest in graphic mods, texture/model mods, and even gameplay overhaul mods. With thousands of mods to choose from, some mods rise above the rest.
7SnakeBite Mod Manager
Total Downloads: 735,276
When installing mods, sometimes it’s better to use a mod manager. It’s an easier way to deal with managing the dozens of files necessary to make a mod work.
SnakeBite Mod Manager is technically two mods in one. The mod manager installs and uninstalls mod files as well as saves acollection of mods to be sharedamong users. These collections can be loaded into another user’s machine with all of its original settings and files intact. While some mods can be installed without SnakeBite Mod Manager, it streamlines the process.
6Infinite Heaven
Total Downloads: 426,658
One of the best parts ofMetal Gear Solid 5is the base building/management mechanics on the Mother Base. Infinite Heaven extends this part of the game while providing more customization options and features. It even has a Subsistence mode for people who prefer the camera and feel of thePS2-eraMetal Geartitles.
It also allows for the deadly Skull enemies to be able to invade players during free-roaming sections. It changes so much that players looking for a new way to experience the game should add this to their mod loading order.
5S++ Soldier Mod
Total Downloads: 264,778
Another important pillar ofMetal Gear Solid 5’s mechanics is the ability to train soldiers in Big Boss’s Diamond Dog militia. Before this mod, the only way to receive S++ soldiers was to train them using the Forward Operating Base (FOB) extension. This process is time-consuming, especially since players would have to infiltrate the FOBs of other players.
This mod allows finding high-ranking soldiers on the field, allowing players to quickly level up their base. Warning though, this mod can potentially get players banned from multiplayer entirely. While most mods are probably safe, it’s important to do research and exercise caution.
4No More Timers
Total Downloads: 213,349
A simple but pivotal mod, this removes the time requirement for researching equipment, building base platforms, and deployments. That time requirement is important for balance reasons, but for those just wanting to experiment with different load-outs and equipment, this mod is perfect.
Being able to develop new equipment on a whim provides an entirely new dynamic to the game. Honestly, it fits right into the gameplay loop of players constantly adapting their strategy as the enemy adapts alongside them. A must-have forMetal Gear Solid 5newcomersand veterans.
3The Ultimate Phantom Pain Mod
Total Downloads: 129,725
Unfortunately, this mod only works with a specific version ofMetal Gear Solid 5but provides control over customizing the whole experience. With the Ultimate Phantom Pain Mod, fans can implement New Game Plus functionality in a game that didn’t originally support it. This alone is enough for players to find more replayability in an alreadyinfinitely replayable game.
Adjust other mechanics like the helicopter rides, and how fast time passes, and even make the game harder by adjusting enemy AI. This mod also allows the player to customize the user interface, like allowing them to remove world markers or the x-ray effect that allows players to see through solid terrain.
2New Female Faces And Hairs
Total Downloads: 122,449
The New Female Faces And Hairs mod completely overhauls the playable female characters inMetal Gear Solid 5. With this mod, female characters have better eyelash textures, altered hair physics, and minor tweaks to their models to provide better options for players to explore.
This mod doesn’t affect body proportions and is completely safe for work. While the original women’s models were varied and fit their role as soldiers well, sometimes players want tolook their Sunday’s bestwhile living their best militant life.
1Morbid’s Side-OP Expansion Pack
Total Downloads: 79,493
This mod works in tandem with Infinite Heaven to bring hours of content.
This mod is likean unofficial DLC. Morbid’s Side-Op Expansion pack adds 50 new side missions toMetal Gear Solid 5. Players who are looking for more content without changing the core experience can look no further with this mod.
This mod provides everything a player would need to stretch their enjoyment with intense, challenging content. The mod also has unique enemy patrols through clever rearranging of the enemy placement and ties it all together with new flavor text. Morbid’s Side-Op Expansion compliments the base game in all the best ways.
