When it comes to video game fandoms, there aren’t many quite as dedicated as the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise fans.
The three games released back in 2007-2009 weren’t exactly top sellers, especially against similar titles like Fallout and Metro.
But fans would argue that there just isn’t anything quite like a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game, even to this day.
And mods have played a huge role in keeping the series alive.
Well if you’re thinking of booting up Call of Pripyat anytime soon, here are some of the best mods you might want to check out.
15. Remake
Call of Pripyat’s visuals weren’t the worst for its time. But the game’s look does show its age, given that it’s been more than a decade since it launched.
This Remake mod is one of the many attempts at giving the game a graphical upgrade, and it does a great job.
It includes Ultra HD textures covering everything from character models, enemy models, weapons, and items.
Environmental textures have been upgraded as well, including an enhanced weather system, structures, and a host of improved visual effects applied as well.
One complaint gamers commonly have with the Remake mod is that it strays quite far from the gloomy atmosphere of the original.
So if that’s something that might bother you, then the next mod on our list might be closer to what you’re looking for.
14. ABR MOD
Just like the Remake Mod, ABR comes with improved models for many of the game’s default textures.
So you’ll be getting a much crisper look overall.
But it also aims to be a bit more “true” to the original aesthetic.
Do note that this mod is actually a pack, and does include some other mods that might affect gameplay as well (some of which we’ll be getting to a little further on this list).
13. Call of Pripyat Complete
Call of Pripyat Complete is one of the first larger S.T.A.L.K.E.R. mods ever, and one of the more well-known ones.
The team behind Call of Pripyat Complete has actually been around the modding scene since Shadow of Chernobyl.
So they’ve been sharing their own improvements to the series since the very beginning.
This mods aim to provide an improved experience across the whole game, including enhancements to graphics, AI, sounds, bug fixes, and even original gameplay features to make S.T.A.L.K.E.R. play more like… well, more like the way these modders envision.
You may not like it, but it’s absolutely worth a try to see how you feel about the updates.
12. Original Weapons Renewal 3
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: CoP is in the first-person perspective. So you’ll see guns on the screen for majority of the game.
With that said, modder r_populik decided this is where he would focus his efforts.
His mod Original Weapons Renewal 3 is the result, replacing the textures for all vanilla weapons with higher quality ones in their place.
11. Shoker Weapon Mod
If you’re looking for something a bit more expansive when it comes to weapons in CoP, the Shoker Weapon Mod is another great option to test out.
The mod not only updates existing weapons in the game, but also adds in some new features to explore.
The Shoker Weapon Mod throws in some interesting new weapon attachments to boot, and they make each weapon feel truly different and unique.
Not to mention the new gunshot sounds added here as well.
10. Spatial Anomaly
Spatial Anomaly is another big mod on this list, and is a great option if you’re looking to expand on the game’s base content.
The mod follows a completely new storyline, this time following the notorious mercenary named Beast.
You’ll be able to play through his attempt to survive a mysterious place only known as the “spatial anomaly” where resources run scarce, and survival is tough.
The mod features a few new locations to explore, including a few from the older S.T.A.L.K.E.R. titles.
9. M.E.H.U.D.
The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series is one of the best when it comes to atmosphere and immersion.
But what if you wanted to take it even further?
Minimalist HUDs are a common way to improve immersion, since the default S.T.A.L.K.E.R. HUD isn’t exactly one of the best.
The M.E.H.U.D. Mod helps with that.
It provides a simplified version of the game’s HUD, while still retaining all the relevant information you’ll need throughout the game.
This even comes with an option to have the mini map removed, if you’re looking for a more hardcore playthrough.
8. Arsenal Overhaul 3
Exploring different weapons is always exciting in any shooter.
And if new weapons are what you’re after, Arsenal Overhaul 3 is absolutely worth installing.
The mod introduces over 100 new weapons for you to use, along with 28 new ammo types and 6 new suits as well.
Another great feature of the mod is that it has already been tested to be compatible with other popular mods like Atmosfear 3 and Absolute Nature 3 (both further on this list).
7. Gunslinger Mod
When it comes to weapon enhancements, the Gunslinger Mod is by far the most popular option for CoP.
This mod introduces a number of movement changes to make the game feel much more realistic overall.
All weapons have been revamped with new models, reload animations, and even new sounds for a more exciting experience.
But that’s not where the mod really shines, as the creators even went so far as to add in custom animations for basically every action in the game.
Opening medicine, eating, drinking, and even applying bandages now have custom animations that simply takes the game’s realism to a whole new level.
6. AtmosFear for Call of Pripyat
AtmosFear is one of the mods you’ll hear quite frequently when looking at “must-haves” for Call of Pripyat.
Many fans consider it an essential, simply because of how the improvements just fit right in with the feel of the base game.
AtmostFear focuses on improving the game’s weather mechanics to give the game a much more realistic style, introducing 7 dynamic weather cycles into your gameplay.
The mod also includes Absolute Nature as a downloadable addon as well, focusing on improving environmental textures like plants, trees, and water.
All in all, AtmosFear and Absolute Nature combined is probably the best way to enjoy the game visually. Especially if you’re looking for modern updated graphics.
5. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Last Day
If you wanted a community patch for CoP, then S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Last Day would probably be the closest thing you could get.
The mod actually combines some of the most popular mods for the game, essentially giving you a Frankenstein version of what fans think the game should play like.
And by “Frankenstein” I mean that in a good way, of course.
This takes inspiration from popular mods like Call of Misery and Call of Chernobyl, working in features from loads of smaller modpacks to modify how the game runs.
4. Anomaly
Anomaly is one of the most popular mods for CoP when it comes to additional content for the game.
Many consider it to be the sequel to the original games that we never got.
And now with an actual sequel, this may be the bed mod worth playing. Even just to compare.
One of the best features here? All the options it presents you with right off the bat.
You’ll be able to select which faction you’ll be a part of, what weapons and items you’d like to take with you, and loads of other character customizations – right from the beginning!
3. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Chernobyl
Call of Chernobyl is another popular CoP mod which you’ve probably already seen mentioned on plenty of other websites.
The mod was one of the earliest overhauls for the game, offering a unique experience before modding really took off.
This one focuses on transforming the game into a sandbox experience, where players are free to do as they please, encouraging exploration and free decision making.
This is also one of the few mods to combine all locations from each of the games in the series, as well as a few completely new ones to discover as well.
2. Misery
If you do a quick search for the best mods for CoP, Misery will be a top suggestion almost every time.
That’s simply because it’s one of the most polished mod experiences you can get.
Pretty much a must-have.
As the name suggests, the mod is designed to give a much more hardcore CoP experience. So it wouldn’t be very fun as a newcomer (unless you really want a challenge).
But if you’ve finished the game once or twice before, I highly recommend giving this a shot.
1. The Armed Zone
Since the Gunslinger mod has been said to be quite buggy when paired with Misery, I think The Armed Zone will have to do for now.
This mod focuses on improving weapons specifically for Misery, so you can expect that you won’t run into too many game-breaking issues.
A result of four years of work, The Armed Zone replaces textures, animations, and sounds for all weapons in the game.
Not only that, but the mod adds in some new weapons as well, bringing the total to over 700.
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