Grand Theft Auto 5 was never meant to be played alone. Even the single-player campaign saw three very different protagonists often joining together to complete missions. Players wanting to join in with others can often resort to the online component of Grand Theft Auto 5, Grand Theft Auto Online, though for players wanting to join together, Online can often be quite chaotic.

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For players simply wanting to hang out in Los Santos together, GTA 5 co-op mods are likely the best place to turn to. The modding community for Grand Theft Auto 5 is enormous, and there are more than a few multiplayer mods that act as alternatives for Online. Some may seem more like Online, while others play more like the single-player campaign. Regardless, they allow friends to create servers and play the game together. Ultimately, which mod will work best will vary from player to player, depending on what they're looking for in the co-op experience. There is sure to be a mod for everyone.

Updated on November 23, 2022, by Jason Van Duine: While Grand Theft Auto Online still remains popular, it isn't the only option for players looking to explore Los Santos with their friends. Fortunately, there are plenty of multiplayer mods that can be used as alternatives for players looking for co-op options. Installing mods for Grand Theft Auto 5 can also be tricky for players who haven't done it before, as there are a number of things to download and steps to take before players can sink their teeth into any mod, let alone a GTA 5 multiplayer mod.

How to Install Mods for Grand Theft Auto 5

GTA 5 mod RageMP

To install any mod for Grand Theft Auto 5, players need to have Script Hook V downloaded. Here are the steps for installing Script Hook V:

  • Download Script Hook V. Script Hook V can be downloaded through their website or through GTA5-Mods.com.
  • Open the .ZIP file.
  • Copy bin files and move them to the Grand Theft Auto 5 folder.

Nearly every Grand Theft Auto 5 mod can be downloaded from the website GTA5-Mods.com. Most mods come in either the .ASI or .DLL format. For .ASI, all players need to do is download the mod and copy files into the Grand Theft Auto 5 folder.

For .DLL mods, players will need to take a few extra steps:

  • Download Community Script Hook V .NET, an update for Script Hook V.
  • Install Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 and Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Studio 2019 (x64). Players using Windows 10 will likely already have these installed.
  • Copy ScriptHookVDotNet.asi, ScriptHookVDotNet2.dll, and Script HookVDotNet3.dll and place them into the Grand Theft Auto 5 folder.
  • Create a scripts folder inside the Grand Theft Auto 5 folder.

Some mods use the .LUA format. For these mods, players will need to download the appropriate plugin:

  • Download the .LUA Plugin.
  • Copy everything inside the LuaPluginGTAV folder and place it in the Grand Theft Auto 5 folder.
  • Open the scripts folder and create a new folder called addins.

Some mods might require specific directions to be installed. Usually, modders will detail how to download their mods on the download page.

6 Grand Theft Multiplayer

Grand Theft Multiplayer mod for Grand Theft Auto V

For players looking to create their own game modes to play with their friends, the Grand Theft Multiplayer mod is a suitable choice. With Grand Theft Multiplayer, players can create and host their own servers, which can host a few friends or hundreds of other players online. Grand Theft Multiplayer's script engine also makes it easy for players to create new game modes, making it simple for players to craft unique online experiences for themselves and their friends.

Another aspect of Grand Theft Multiplayer is how it won't ban players from using Online. The biggest risk with downloading mods for Grand Theft Auto 5 is the fact that using them could get players banned from Online. Grand Theft Multiplayer makes it easy to switch between the mod and Online by reverting the Grand Theft Auto 5 folder to a clean slate, so players can switch between the two without having to worry about getting banned.

Grand Theft Multiplayer can be downloaded from GTA-5mods.com here.

5 FiveM

Gta 5 fivem (1)

FiveM is great for players wanting to create their own multiplayer servers. Completely separate from Grand Theft Auto Online, FiveM is a unique multiplayer mod that allows players to create and run their own servers. FiveM also allows players to personalize the gameplay styles of their servers, being compatible with most Grand Theft Auto 5 mods. This mod also enables NPCs, so if players are really looking to recreate the single-player Grand Theft Auto 5 experience with their friends, FiveM will get them closer to that.

FiveM is also one of the more popular GTA 5 multiplayer mods, at one point having a larger player base than Online. Compared with the typical Online, FiveM is appealing to players largely due to its customizability, allowing players to tailor their desired GTA multiplayer experience to themselves and their other players.

FiveM can be downloaded from GTA5-Mods.com here.

4 RageMP

Gta 5 ragemp

Another popular multiplayer mod for Grand Theft Auto 5 is RageMP, largely due to its roleplay focus. Roleplay servers in Grand Theft Auto 5 let players roleplay as any citizen in Los Santos, ranging from an average store clerk to a police officer and, of course, a criminal. Nearly all servers on RageMP are RP servers, making RageMP a great choice for players looking to roleplay. If players are also looking to create a server just for other players, RageMP disables NPCs, allowing players to have the entirety of Los Santos to themselves.

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Game modes can be created using C++, C#, or JavaScript, so players who prefer coding might prefer RageMP to help create their unique game modes. So, any players who are looking for roleplaying experiences or prefer coding would want to set their sights on RageMP.

RageMP can be downloaded from GTA5-Mods.com here.

3 TwoPlayerMod

Gta 5 twoplayermod (1)

For anyone wanting their friends to join them in the single-player campaign, TwoPlayerMod is excellent for them. Despite its name, TwoPlayerMod allows up to three players to join the single-player story mode. This mod then allows players to navigate the world of Grand Theft Auto 5 in the same way it's seen in single-player.

The one drawback of TwoPlayerMod is the lack of split-screen, meaning everyone has to stay on-screen for their characters to be seen. However, this can be fixed by downloading the separate mod TwoPlayerMod Split. So long as players are okay with either of these two options, TwoPlayerMod should be a good choice. If this seems like too much of an inconvenience, however, an alternative mod might be best.

TwoPlayerMod can be downloaded from GTA5-Mods.com here.

2 GtaCoOp

Gta 5 gtacoop (1)

Much like TwoPlayerMod, GtaCoOp is a mod that allows other players to inhabit one's single-player world. With GtaCoOp, players can create their own private server, letting other players join in all without having to exit the single-player world. Players can join in on missions, create their own missions, or just enjoy the world of Los Santos with their friends or anyone online.

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Unlike the TwoPlayerMod, GtaCoOp allows players to join in separately, meaning there's no need to have a split-screen modification. GtaCoOp also allows players to create or join in on servers, meaning that players can either enjoy the single-player world of Grand Theft Auto 5 with their friends or with any random player. For those reasons, some players may prefer this mod.

GtaCoOp can be downloaded from their official website.

1 Multiplayer Co-Op

Gta 5 multiplayer co-op

The Multiplayer Co-Op mod is in many ways similar to TwoPlayerMod and GtaCoOp. This mod is exactly what it sounds like; it simply allows players to play the single-player game together. Players can complete missions or just hang out together in a world initially designed for just one player.

The Multiplayer Co-Op mod shares many similarities to GtaCoOp, mainly being able to play the single-player game with either close friends or random players online who also share the mod. Also, like GtaCoOp, Multiplayer Co-Op doesn't require any sort of split-screen and lets players join in separately, making it a great alternative to TwoPlayerMod.

TwoPlayerMod can be downloaded from GTA5-Mods.com here.

Grand Theft Auto 5 is available on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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