Cyberpunk 2077's mod scene has been all over the place since its infamously busted launch. Modders weren't able to cure Cyberpunk's performance woes, but the game's most brazenly unfinished and half-baked systems resulted in no shortage of talented modders dedicating themselves to picking up CDPR's slack. And when the Cyberpunk Edgerunners anime debuted, the mod scene kicked into overdrive creating character models and other mods inspired by the show.
Now that the 2.0 patch and Phantom Liberty have rendered Cyberpunk 2077 an actually complete game, we stand on the precipice of a golden age of Cyberpunk modding. Only a precipice, though: 2.0's sweeping changes to game balance and progression, and the addition of new mechanics like cyberware capacity, vehicle combat, and functional police have resulted in the vast majority of Cyberpunks mods needing major updates. Some of the best mods for the Cyberpunk of old are now redundant.
Don't look for any mods on this page right now to substantially overhaul existing mechanics or add new systems. The work just isn't there—yet—but expect the modding scene to change substantially in the coming months, through late 2023 and early 2024. It's going to take time for the really big mods to arrive.
That said, there are still a lot of smaller mods—engine tweaks, rebalances, and cosmetics, mostly—that can bring a lot to your Night City experience in Cyberpunk 2.0 and Phantom Liberty. Here are the best Cyberpunk 2077 mods to install right now.
Getting started
How to install Cyberpunk 2077 mods
To begin modding, you’ll want to download the Vortex mod manager, along with the following script enhancements and plug-ins:
Vortex is dirt simple to use—just drag the .rar files from mods you download into the mods folder and make sure they’re enabled.
You’ll then want to launch Cyberpunk 2077 through the Vortex launcher.
Character & stat mods
No More Level Tiers
Cyberpunk's 2.0 update gates access to perks behind the level of their corresponding attributes, but the tiers being a whole five character levels apart can make levelling a specific attribute feel like a monotonous slog, especially in the early game. TheManualEnhancer's set of perk mods rebalances this, with my preference going to the alt version that sets the tiers only three attribute points apart instead of five.
Unlock Me the Mods 2.01
Cyberpunk 2077 2.0's most baffling change is the inability to remove mods from weapons, meaning that you'll have to think very carefully about exactly which scope you'll slap on that Tier 5 Iconic sniper rifle because there's no going back. Nexus user tduality's simple fix gives you more flexibility in your arsenal by letting you swap attachments between weapons freely.
Songbird Cyberware Player Body
AllKnowingLion has made Songbird's cutting edge cyberware available to V. I love this mod, with the exposed cabling and synthetic muscles on V's back giving a real '95 Ghost in the Shell vibe.
Phantom Liberty - Hair Collection
Vessnelle's pack of new high fashion hairstyles is well suited for Vs of all races. I've been rocking the layered ponytail to great effect. Each model has a ton of character and I find them perfect for a mid-level V entering into the world of espionage.
Half Cyberware
MeltingAngels' cosmetic mods are some of the most flavourful available on Nexus right now (the Coraline eye pack & Top Surgery Scars mods being two of my personal favorites), but the one with the most utility in character creation is definitely Half Cyberware. Asymmetric cyberware options let you accent your mods with scars and tattoos accordingly. It's a small thing, but goes a long way in making your V look distinct.
Cyberware-EX
Cyberware-EX by psiberx overhauls cyberware progression by also allowing you to activate multiple types of combat cyberware and abilities at once, like having both the projectile launcher and mantis blades, or activating the Sandevistan while still running a quickhack optimized cyberdeck. Cyberware-EX doesn't just give you these extra slots for free though, as you'll have to either purchase them from a Ripperdoc or invest in a corresponding perk.
Stealth Finishers
It's weird how even if V is holding Raiden's katana from Metal Gear Rising, the best way to take down a gonk from behind is to do this janky, high school wrestling-ass chokehold. Stealth Finishers by Kvalyr adds some simple kill animations that make way more sense. Another complementary mod adds ragdoll animations to enemies on the receiving end of a stealth takedown.
Night City ALIVE, NCPD Prevention Police Enhancement, & Immersive Cyberpunk City 2.01
A trio of mods that turn Night City into the warzone you hear about on the news. Gangs are out patrolling the streets in full force while the NCPD will only respond to the most dire of threats by known problem gangs, letting legitimate operations like the Tyger Claws off the hook. The Police Enhancement mod decreases the NCPD response times at lower wanted levels and increases their coordination and aggression at higher levels, adding Netwatch agents, more weaponized vehicles, and androids at roadblocks.
Immersive Cyberpunk City is optional, but it lets you loot the bodies of gang members, cops, and civilians for weapons and mods, which will be in your favor since the death toll of your commute is bound to be way higher.
Smoother Dodge and Dash
Cyberpunk 2.0's new dash mechanics feel great, but zouzoulle's tweaks to the deceleration curve result in a better, looser dodge, like V's got the footwork of a prizefighter. There's an ultraspeed version too, if you want to feel like a Metal Gear style Cyborg Ninja.
