The driving force of many long-lasting games is a thriving modding community. Payday 2 has been around since 2013, yet it has managed to maintain a significant amount of popularity through the constant flow of content. Part of that content has been its growing list of mods. In spite of a rocky history, just about every aspect of the game can be changed in one way or another depending on an individual's preferences.

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Some are just fun aesthetic changes that don't hold any real value in gameplay; meanwhile, others change the very nature of Payday 2 itself. It is simply up to the player to pick and choose at their pleasure, though some mods are more worth downloading than others. Regardless of which mods people choose, they can rest assured that the experience of playing this game is going to be significantly reinvigorated!

Updated November 3, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: The launch of Payday 3 has been nothing short of a disappointment, with many players disliking the idea that they can't even play a round because of the server connections! The lack of any offline modes means that the bulk of content in this game is inaccessible, and it's going to take a lot of work from the developer to fix these online issues and bring the game up to par so that Payday fans can finally enjoy the new improvements this game brings to the table. Until then, these gamers can always just check out Payday 2 and enjoy more stable gameplay. Of course, most people have experienced everything this title has to offer time and time again, so a few mods would definitely be welcome to elevate the experience.

20 Little Intelligence Enhancements

Downloads: 13,369

• Creator: fugsystem
• Download Link

A group conducting a heist needs to cause as little commotion as possible, which is easier said than done. There are many ways to trigger alarms and draw some heat, with the police trying their hardest to stop the criminals in their tracks. While fighting these computer-controlled foes can be pretty novel early on, it doesn't take long to see that the AI of these enemies is laughably lackluster.

As a result, the Little Intelligence Enhancements mod is perfect for players who want to play through the game without cringing at the awful, glitchy AI over and over again. Cops and other enemies are actually competent, don't get stuck on the environment, and aren't ridiculously easy to exploit with these changes. As a result, firefights become pretty engaging once again.

19 Extra Heist Info

Downloads: 85,261

• Creator: Dom
• Download Link

PC gamers are definitely spoiled with the various mods they can use to overhaul the entire experience, with the Extra Heist Info being a great way to let nosy players know everything about a particular heist and its statistics. It may seem like a simple mod, but the many metrics this mod introduces make it worth checking out for any fan of Payday 2.

Extra information improves the time involved for stuff like waiting for an armored car or planting C4. The achievements of a player and their progress are also tracked, along with a detailed overview of the Mission XP earned. Suffice it to say, players will love the many small yet telling stats shown by this mod.

18 Streamlined Heisting

Downloads: 11,429

• Creator: Hoppip
• Download Link

Players love mods that improve existing elements of a game without reworking the balance or compromising what the developer wishes to achieve. This is why Streamlined Heisting is so perfect for players who want to play through the most perfect and refined heists in Payday 2.

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This mod tweaks the existing code to add more unique enemy groups, fixing the difficulty, and making AI behavior more natural. These changes are pretty broad and do a great job of making Payday 2 feel as polished as possible, which is something that most players would definitely appreciate.

17 VanillaHUD Plus

Downloads: 228,317

• Creator: test1, Bunnie
• Download Link

One of the most popular mods of Payday 2 is WolfHUD, with the function of this mod being pretty clear with the name itself. It makes the UI clearer and easier to understand without being too invasive — something that is bound to excite most fans who have been bored to death with the usual UI. However, WolfHUD is also a bit outdated, and some people may face problems while trying to get this mod to work with their copy of Payday 2.

Thankfully, another modder decided to use this HUD mod as a base to develop VanillaHUD Plus, an excellent modification to the usual UI that removes any clutter and keeps the information neatly structured and to the point. Players who feel like the vanilla UI of the game isn't up to the mark can use this mod to great effect!

16 Better Bots

Downloads: 230,806

• Creator: Schmuddel, easternunit100, TdlQ, Sandman332, SC, Hoppip, Spruebox
• Download Link

While the fun of Payday 2 mainly arises from playing with friends and other people, there are times when human teammates can be really frustrating to interact with. New players can take a while to learn the ropes, while some trolls just like to mess around with a player's fun instead of actually contributing to something meaningful during the flow of the game. As a result, many players may choose to play with bots instead, but the AI is far from perfect and can cause their own sets of frustrations that are hard to get over.

Thankfully, a mod decided to fix the issue related to teammate AI so that players could have a great time going through this game without facing too many issues. The Better Bots mod fixes so many issues with this particular aspect of the game that some players might enjoy playing through heists with these competent teammates instead of matching up in a game with beginners or trolls!

15 Better Assault Indicator

Downloads: 93,576

• Creator: Dom
• Download Link

A HUD that communicates information properly is something that any fan would want in their video game, and Payday 2 is no exception to this golden rule. There are many times when any assault in progress doesn't convey too much information, which can prove to be a huge issue for a myriad of reasons.

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As always, mods are here to save the day once again. The Better Assault Indicator mod does a great job of giving players exactly the information they need without being too intrusive. It's a simple yet great tweak to the game that many players will consider to be downright invaluable!

14 Face Retexture Project

Downloads: 10,268

• Creator: Corvalho
• Download Link

The characters of Payday 2 aren't the prettiest faces around. This doesn't really matter given the game's reliance on its great gameplay, but certain gamers would've preferred this game to have better visuals regardless.

With this mod, one notable aspect of Payday 2 will receive a substantial visual overhaul. This is the Face Retexture Project, which sets out to do precisely what is stated in the title and modernizes the faces present in the game to make them easier on the eyes.

13 Metal Gear Solid-Style Detected Sound

Downloads: 8,346

• Creator: EssGeeDee
• Download Link

Payday 2rewards a sneaky playthrough, given the fact that the most successful heists generally go by without a hitch. However, this is easier said than done, and a well-thought-out plan can completely derail if its presence is detected.

This mod adds further weight to the act of getting detected by playing the classic Metal Gear Solid alert sound. Not only is this a great way to pay homage to a classic soundbite, but it also instills a sense of panic in players who are caught out during a particularly tense heist.

12 Persona 3 Major Arcana Infamy Cards

Downloads: 2,761

• Creator: KadoDragon
• Download Link

Players can integrate mods referencing various other games in Payday 2. One such texture mod that does the same replaces the usual patterns on the Infamy cards to represent the tarot cards from Persona 3.

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It's a unique mod, given that most people would never group the two games in such a unique way. However, the eccentric nature of certain mods is what makes them even more memorable.

11 Scooby Snacks First Aid Kits

Downloads: 1,167

• Creator: Sparky Haste
• Download Link

This is easily one of the more amusing mods available for Payday 2. True to its name, this mod replaces the first-aid kits in the game with Scooby Snacks instead.

Given how delicious they seem in the show, it makes sense as to why such potent snacks heal up the player. This mod is a great way to add a touch of humor to the generally heavy-handed proceedings of Payday 2.

10 Re-Texture Project

Downloads: 40,303

• Creator: Maxi
• Download Link

The first thing anyone should do when diving into the world of video game mods is to download a bunch of things that make the game look nicer. This pack will do just that. It effectively changes the textures of most of the game for the better or replaces them outright with something else.

The result is a 2013 game that looks on par with Valheim's upgraded textures. What's important is that it stays within the spirit of the original; that way, nothing clashes or feels too out of place. It simply feels like an upgrade.

9 Intro Cinematics

Downloads: 99,301

• Creator: ThuverX
• Download Link

This one is another nicety that doesn't change how the game is played but still adds a nice flair to some of the dull moments. Normally, a player is met with a fade from black when they initiate a heist.

This mod adds a fancy cinematic introducing the level. It adds to the feel of the game, as it makes the start of the heist more weighty. It can be useful for checking out what a mission will look like before going in, though that is just a small thing.

8 Advanced Movement Standalone

Downloads: 29,324

• Creator: Killerwolf
• Download Link

For a more significant change to the gameplay itself, the Advanced Movement Standalone mod will drastically change how the player traverses the map. Heisters will move faster, be able to slide down walls, and most importantly, be able to wall run. What is even more hilarious are the offensive capabilities of this movement set.

Jumping off a wall and into an enemy will inflict massive damage. The same goes for sliding. There are even custom maps that require the use of this mod to play, truly showing how popular it is.

7 Tailor Expansion

Downloads: 38,398

• Creator: Gambyt
• Download Link

Basic players of Payday 2 hardly spend any money on the game past the initial asking price. For these gamers, it can be tough not having access to so much bonus material that enhances the experience. That is especially true when it comes to the game's customization options.

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Vanilla players will have access to a limited amount of outfits for their heister. This mod changes that. Now, every outfit has a great number of color schemes that give people the freedom that they desire, including DLC outfits.

6 Hyper Heisting

Downloads: 4,782

• Creator: VGODAKUMA1
• Download Link

There is no better showcase of the power of a solid modding community than the overhaul mod, one that completely changes the feel or way a game is played. Hyper Heisting changes a lot of the base Payday 2 product.

Almost every aspect of the game has been tweaked to some capacity in this mod. Weapons are rebalanced, AI is more sophisticated, the overpowered builds are tweaked, etc. In case the old game just felt too off to be enjoyable, Hyper Heisting puts a fresh new take on it.

5 Jokermon

Downloads: 13,820

• Creator: Hoppip
• Download Link

In case the title does not give it away, Jokermon turns one of the most enjoyable pastimes of Payday 2 into a full-fledged system that carries over to other heists. In the game, the player can unlock skills that allow them to convert basic enemy units into allies.

This mod adds more depth to these converts. They now carry over to each heist, effectively turning the game into a Pokemon clone. They can level up, too. The player can even turn on permadeath to make each endeavor more stressful.

4 MUI

Downloads: N/A

• Creator: Armithaig
• Download Link

At first, it doesn't seem like the mod does much at all. The title literally stands for Minimalist User Interface. On the surface, it simply makes the UI much cleaner. But, what makes it special is its customization.

Nearly every aspect that this mod affects can be individually tweaked to the player's own personal preference. For that alone, it makes for an extremely versatile asset to have on board when playing through a heist. With more free space, the player will be able to more easily grasp their surroundings.

3 Payday 2: Crackdown Mod

Downloads: 12,279

• Creator: Finale
• Download Link

This is another overhaul mod, but this one adds more variety on top of the rebalancing. Not only will the player receive much-needed balancing for skills and face more sophisticated enemies, but there are entirely new enemies as well.

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Higher difficulties will make the AI smarter as well, and new maps are thrown in for good measure. This mod truly is the ultimate overhaul. If players are unhappy with the way the game plays normally or are just interested in a new way to play, then there are certainly worse ways to spice things up.

2 Third Person

Downloads: 29,857

• Creator: Hoppip
• Download Link

This mod is pretty self-explanatory. With it, the heister can enter third-person mode. However, there is a bit more to it than that. The camera can be adjusted to some extent, but what makes this addition really interesting is that the player can seamlessly switch between first-person and third-person over the course of a heist.

It is a freeing experience. One of the greatest aspects of this feature is the increased awareness one gets by having a greater view of their surroundings. This can be important on missions where enemies can seemingly come out of nowhere.

1 Tactical Leaning

Downloads: 18,074

• Creator: Offyerrocker
• Download Link

Payday 2 would not be considered a modern shooter by many metrics. Even in 2013, the game was lagging behind its contemporaries in the shooter market. This mod levels the playing field. Now, the player can lean with their laundry list of weapons.

This may seem utterly insignificant at first, but such a skill can be vital in sketchy situations where the player needs to shoot something without completely leaving the safety of cover. This is especially true for stealth missions, where heisters would previously have to move their whole body out of cover to look around, causing them to risk being spotted.