Summary
- Various mods improve graphics in The Witcher 3, offering environmental enhancements and sharp textures for creatures and characters.
- Players can choose mods like HD Reworked Project, HD Monsters Reworked, and Glowing Witcher Eyes to enhance visuals and immersion.
- The modding community continues to update the game's graphics despite an official upgrade, providing more realistic lighting and detailed images.
First released in 2015, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is still going strong even after six years. Despite its growing age, the game is still visually impressive. Nevertheless, there is always room for improvement in the graphics department. Luckily, a vast selection of mods is readily available to give those impressive visuals a more modern upgrade.
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Choosing the best mods for The Witcher 3 can be a daunting task for the uninitiated. Graphics mods vary greatly in size and scope, covering just about anything that can be found in the environment, characters included. Picking the most comprehensive mods, like the ones on this list, typically gives the player the best results while also avoiding complicated load orders.
Updated January 21, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat: Although CD Projekt RED already released an official visual improvement update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the modding community still tries to elevate the graphics on this masterpiece with every new piece of tech that arrives.
Assuming there is still a long way ahead until The Witcher 4's release, these graphical mods could add more replayability value to The Witcher 3 and encourage the community to go through the story once again with a refreshed look.
21 HD Reworked Project
Downloads: 5.6 Million
When searching for an outstanding all-in-one texture mod, the player can't go wrong with the HD Reworked Project. Standing at about 9.3 GB, this absolute monster of a mod covers a huge range of meshes and textures. The environment, terrain, buildings, vegetation, animals, and NPCs are all given a startling fresh coat of paint.
Objects not only look sharper up close but from a distance as well. The increased draw distance coupled with the enhanced level of detail makes everything flow together nicely. The mod authors also do an admirable job of maintaining the game's original artistic vision. The mod itself can be installed as a single package or as four small parts.
This project was released before the next-gen version of The Witcher 3 arrived, but the modding team later made it compatible with the next-gen edition as well.
20 HDMR - HD Monsters Reworked
Downloads: 849K
There are plenty of monsters to be slain in The Witcher 3. If there weren't, then Geralt would be out of a job. Since the player inevitably spends a lot of time in the company of monstrous enemies, it's important that they look their best.
The HDMR, or HD Monsters Reworked mod, retextures the game's various beasts and foes. Many of these meshes and textures have been rebuilt from the ground up. Once again, the overall vanilla appearance has been preserved, so nothing unfamiliar should jump out at the player. The painstaking level of detail in this mod is immediately apparent and is definitely a must-have.
19 HDAR - HD Animals Reworked
Downloads: 154K
Fans of the previous mod can't go wrong with this one either, considering it's also made by the same author, Denroth. The environments in The Witcher 3 aren't limited to just NPCs and vicious monsters. Plenty of other animals such as deer, chickens, goats, etc. Populate the map. They deserve a little attention as well.
Luckily, HD Animals Reworked gives The Witcher 3's critter population some much-needed graphical overhauls. Players can now observe these animals in much sharper graphical fidelity that matches the rest of the environment, particularly if they intend on installing several of the other mods on this list.
18 No Dirty Lens Effect
Downloads: 682K
Helpful mods don't always have to be gargantuan in their scope. Sometimes, even small fixes can make a great difference. Case in point, for players who dislike some of the lens effects present in the game, there exists a handy mod to ease their woes.
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No Dirty Lens Effect is a very simple mod. Similar to water droplets appearing on-screen when it's raining, this mod removes the bits of dirt that often accumulate on the lens. It's a minor annoyance that some players would rather see removed altogether.
17 True Fires
Downloads: 194K
Lighting plays a substantial role in a game's graphics. In The Witcher 3's case, fire is the main source of light (besides the sun, of course). Undoubtedly one of the most visually impressive mods available on Nexus is True Fires.
The models that compose the various fires are given a retexture, but that's only a part of it. The real beauty lies in the enhanced draw distance the mod establishes when it comes to lighting. Light sources can now be seen from a great distance, making the overall environment much more immersive. Shadows are also given a realistic overhaul, which significantly enhances the feel of the interiors.
16 Beautiful Rocks
Downloads: 131K
Most comprehensive texture packs include new or reworked assets that affect the environment. But rocks, much like vegetation, deserve some special attention. A good deal of the terrain in The Witcher 3 is rugged, so giving the rocks a proper facelift is definitely recommended.
A good choice for this type of mod is Beautiful Rocks. The mod's purpose is rather self-explanatory. It upgrades the textures of the various stones and rock formations that are visible throughout White Orchard, Velen, Skellige, and Kaer Morhen. This mod fits quite well with the others on this list.
15 Meadows - An Efflorescent Grass Mod
Downloads: 194K
Rocks can't get all the love, right? From a visual standpoint, grass occupies huge swathes of the environment in The Witcher 3. However, the level of detail given to vegetation can often be lacking in games. The Witcher 3 is assuredly showing its age in that particular department.
When looking to spruce up the foliage it's worth considering Meadows - An Efflorescent Grass Mod. The general lushness and vibrancy of the colors when it comes to grass are given a noticeable upgrade. Plants, like the game's many varieties of flowers, also look better than ever. Frolicking through a field never looked so good!
14 More Realistic Wind Effect
Downloads: 120K
Feeling immersed is what makes getting lost in a fantasy setting so enjoyable. Mods that help to enhance a game's immersion are often great add-ons to install, especially if that particular game has already been completed several times over.
More Realistic Wind Effect is classified as more of an immersion mod but adds to the overall visual presentation of The Witcher 3. It tones down the sometimes breakneck wind speeds in the vanilla game. In its place is a more natural swaying of the foliage, which subsequently makes the environment look and feel more realistic.
13 Lip Movement & High-Quality Heads
Downloads: 270K
The environment can't get all the attention. Plenty of NPCs populate the game's setting, many of whom can be engaged in conversation. There are plenty of mods available that focus on individual characters, but Lip Movement & High-Quality Heads is typically a good one to have installed.
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First and foremost, the mod makes it so that the lips of NPCs now actually move when speaking ambient dialogue. In addition, the details on their faces are given some much-needed priority. The shadow resolution when Geralt is engaged in dialogue is also sharpened.
12 4K Armor Textures
Downloads: 169K
A witcher is nothing without his armor. The game doesn't skimp when it comes to offering Geralt a wide range of options regarding protection. Geralt's armor should always look its best while fighting the game's myriad beasts and monsters.
The level of detail inherent in 4K Armor Textures is truly stunning. Items made from leather and chainmail really pop, their individual elements clearly discernable. Obviously, possessing a 4K-capable system and monitor is recommended to get the most out of this mod.