You’ve most likely played(or at least heard of) most of the games it paved the way for, without ever knowing that Arma 3 is what made it all possible. But it’s always a good time to take a step back and check out where it all began. Arma 3 is a ton of fun, but modding can make it even better! Here are some of the best mods to install for Arma 3 to keep you busy for weeks.
20. CBA_A3
Check Out This Mod With an active modding community for Arma 3, it’s not that difficult to get started modding the game. Finding mods and getting them to work isn’t an issue, and that’s largely thanks to a few management mods, which I’ll cover initially. CBA, or Community Based Addons, hosts a list of modding tools that aim to streamline Arma 3 mod support so you won’t have to worry about compatibility issues. Many of the mods on this list will require CBA so it’s best to start off with this one.
19. Blastcore A3
Check Out This Mod Fans of Arma 3 fell in love with the game because of its hardcore focus on realistic combat. There just wasn’t anything like it during its time, as the shooter genre was dominated primiarly by point and shoot arcade games. Modders continuously find ways to improve on Arma 3’s immersion by adding little tweaks here and there, like with this fantastic mod. Blastcore A3 is a visual effects package for Arma 3 that brings warfare to life, adding in more realistic explosions, smoke effects, and bullet tracers to the game. Check it out and I swear you won’t be disappointed.
18. BloodLust
Check Out This Mod Another graphics mod here that helps make the game get even more immersive. BloodLust is a simple mod. But as with any shooting game, blood effects play a big part in realism. And this one certainly takes a trophy for that category. BloodLust introduces a few new blood and gore effects, including blood splatters, sprays, and even pooling. It wouldn’t make sense if gunshots didn’t produce a bunch of blood, right?
17. JSRS Soundmod
Check Out This Mod Another great way to improve on the immersive experience of Arma 3 is by enhancing the in-game sounds. JSRS Soundmod does exactly that, making weapons and explosions sound much more realistic. What’s especially impressive about this mod is that it pretty much replaces all the original sound files in the game with completely custom sounds. Gun sounds are much better with JSRS, since they get an added punch and feel much heavier to fire than in vanilla. You’ll even hear echoing gunshots in the environment as you fire away. Very nifty.
16. ACRE 2
Check Out This Mod Communication is a huge part of Arma 3, and certainly on multiplayer. Being a military simulation shooter, you’ll be communicating with your squad via radio. And ACRE 2 takes radio comms to a completely new level. You’ll be able to set your mic sensitivity within the game, and ACRE 2 basically does its thing. Speaking softly means you’ll be heard by people in your immediate surroundings, but not by those further away. The opposite is true as well, yelling basically means you’ll be heard from up to 150 meters away. This mod changes how AI reacts to voice comms too, since enemy soldiers will be able to detect you if they hear you from a distance.
15. Enhanced Movement
Check Out This Mod Other than graphics and audio improvements, quality of life mods improve how immersive your Arma 3 experience will be. Enhanced Movement is a great example of QoL improvements, making movement in-game much more fluid. It’s pretty strange that this feature wasn’t included in the base game. This left movement a bit clunky at times, but thanks to the Enhanced Movement mod your soldiers will be able to climb over obstacles pretty much anywhere. As you can probably expect, this will happen a lot. Given you’re at war traversing some pretty rough terrain. What’s even better about this mod is it adds animations for jumping and climbing, making everything look much smoother.
14. AI Accuracy Fix
Check Out This Mod Arma 3 can be unforgiving in its realism. Unlike similar games, it doesn’t take a whole magazine of bullets to drop a soldier. Some players have found the learning curve to be a bit too steep, even at lower difficulties. AI Accuracy Fix can help with that, lowering the accuracy of enemy soldiers to help you stay alive a bit longer. This is great for more casual fans to be able to enjoy the game without constantly worrying about dying around every corner.
13. Project Injury Reaction
Check Out This Mod Project Injury Reaction adds a few new features that make the game even more realistic than before. As the title suggests, soldiers who take gunshots in-game are now given a number of new possible reactions, like dropping weapons or losing consciousness. The mod affects yourself, as well as AI soldiers, so watch out to see if the enemy you just shot is really done for. It also makes combat feel much more dynamic. You never really know how an enemy might react once you start shooting.
12. ACE3
Check Out This Mod ACE3 is the ultimate realism mod for Arma 3. It gives you complete control over its settings, so you’ll be able to customize your Arma 3 experience however you wish. It also introduces a ton of new features like the ability to carry and drag fallen soldiers, an improved medical system where limbs can be treated independently, and even a much more realistic gunplay system with bullet drop and wind ballistics. If you’re looking for an accurate combat experience, ACE3 is the way to go.
11. Personal Arsenal
Check Out This Mod Another great way to spice things up in Arma 3 is through the many addon mods out there. I mean there are mods that add buttloads of new content – including new weapons, maps/terrain, soldier types, and even completely new playable missions. Personal Arsenal is a great example, giving complete access to the game’s Virtual Arsenal. This means all equipment in vanilla will be unlocked and available for use any time you wish. You’ll be able to freely customize loadouts and see which weapons work best together to make sure you’re 100% ready for the next mission.
10. RHSAFRF
Check Out This Mod The RHS mods are another great source of additional content for Arma 3, this time focused on new country-themed models to play around with. RHSASFRF in particular adds models based on the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. You’ll be able to explore new weapons, vehicles, and uniforms based on the Russian army, greatly expanding what’s already available in the base game. There are now versions for United States Armed Forces, Green Forces, and Serbian Armed Forces as well. So you can pick and choose which ones you’d like to see. These mods are created by a long list of modders, too, so the amount of effort and detail that goes into these models definitely makes them worth checking out.
9. CUP Terrains – Maps
Check Out This Mod Terrain drastically impacts combat tactics in Arma 3. So what better way to mix things up a bit than with a new map pack? The CUP Terrains pack is one of the most popular out there, including 16 new maps to explore. Maps included here aren’t completely new, though, as they’re based on maps we already got in the older Arma games. Either way, they’re not included in the base game. So you’re in for a refreshing Arma 3 experience. Whether you’ve never played the older Arma games or already have favorites from previous titles, CUP Terrains is sure to give you hours of fun exploring Arma 3.
8. Faces of War
Check Out This Mod Here’s one for all the history buffs out there: Faces of War. The mod aims to add World War II themed models to Arma 3, covering everything from uniforms, weapons, equipment, vehicles, and terrain. The team aimed to provide accurate representations of WWII models and add them into Arma 3, giving it a completely different feel. I’d say they succeeded. Given that Arma 3 is more futuristic than historic, this is a great way to give your game a completely new feel.
7. Dynamic Universal War System
Check Out This Mod If you just want to squeeze everything you possibly can out of Arma 3 without really changing much of the base game, Dynamic Universal War System might be what you need. DUWS procedurally generates mini campaigns based on a number of predetermined criteria, allowing you to get different mission experiences each time. You’ll be able to choose certain settings like mission type, HQ locations, and unit setups, allowing you to completely customize your campaign experience. DUWS is meant to give the ability to play custom campaigns, aiming to maximize replayability.
6. PLAYERUNKNOWN’s Battle Royale
Check Out This Mod That’s right, the battle royale game that took the world by storm actually started out as an Arma mod. Developer Brendan Greene actually started working on an Arma 2 mod before migrating his project to Arma 3. The concept of having a BR mode was still pretty unique at the time. And while it’s arguable that the stand alone PlayerUnknown’s title is a much more refined version, who’s to say that the original isn’t better? It’s all just a matter of preference, really. So if you’re into BR games, this one is worth a try.
5. Operation: TREBUCHET
Check Out This Mod Arma 3 created the ultimate playground for modders with its vast sandbox world and powerful built-in editor, allowing modders the freedom to let their imaginations run wild. This all makes for some interesting content. And while some modders chose to go back in time, this team chose to go in the opposite direction. Combining Arma 3 with another of their favorite shooters, Operation: TREBUCHET takes Arma 3 into the world of Halo. While inspired by the Halo universe, Operation: TREBUCHET takes a different approach. Instead of focusing on the elite spartan warriors like the original game, the mod lets you experience the struggles of the common soldiers, making for a more hardcore Halo/Arma 3 experience. Check it out if you’re a big Halo fan, I’m sure you’ll love it.
4. BreakingPoint
Check Out This Mod Of course our mod list wouldn’t be complete without a zombie scenario. Breaking Point is one of the more popular zombie survival modes for Arma 3, as it’s good fun to play with a few friends. The mod focuses on PvP and has been in development since 2013. You’ll have a whole new list of weapons to explore, along with new gameplay mechanics like factions, crafting/repair systems, and safehouses.
3. Unsung
Check Out This Mod Now if you’re looking for a more historical Arma 3 overrhaul, Unsung is a terrific place to start. Unsung is one of the largest overhaul mods for Arma 3 out there, and it takes your Arma 3 experience to the jungle warfare of Vietnam. With 12 new maps, 12 factions, 130 weapons, plus tons of new uniforms, vehicles, and equipment, there’s so much to explore in this one. You’ll find yourself completely immersed in the Vietnam war as if you weren’t even playing a game anymore. Unsung itself doesn’t currently contain any custom missions. But it has built a following so large that others continue to create custom campaign content for it.
2. Cold War Crisis
Check Out This Mod Cold War Crisis is another option to consider if you’re looking for a historical Arma 3 mod, this time more focused on its own playable campaign. CWC takes us back to 1985, just as tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union are about to erupt. Everything is changed here from unit models to weapons, and even cutscenes and dialogue, to better reflect the time period.
1. Altis Life RPG
Check Out This Mod Altis Life RPG is definitely one of the more popular Arma 3 mods to date. And it brings something completely unique to the table. Instead of focusing on combat and wartime gameplay, Altis Life RPG sees you playing as either a civilian or a police officer. It’s pretty much a life simulator where you play in a more modern setting. As a policeman, you’re tasked with enforcing the law and catching criminals. Civilians, on the other hand, make money through other (often illegal) means. Anyone getting GTA vibes yet? Things get interesting when the PvP aspect is thrown in, since you’re playing on a server where everyone else is either a cop or a civilian as well. Anyone looking for a multiplayer experience with Arma 3 should absolutely try this out.
