The citizens and law enforcement of Los Santos and the larger San Andreas state are what gives GTA 5’s massive urban open world its soul and character.
For this reason, tweaking their AI is one of the best ways to update and improve your GTA 5 experience.
Whether that means making the police more competent, traffic more realistic, or just getting the citizens of Los Santos used to the ridiculous wanton violence that plagues the city, mods are the way to go about it.
The pedestrian AI in GTA 5 isn’t the most complex, but they got one thing right.
When people see a madman take out an assault rifle and start shooting old ladies, they get the hell out of there.
Sometimes, that can be an issue for the madman in question.
Maybe you wanted to keep shooting old ladies, or you were trying out different weapons and their damage potential – whatever the case, the Pedestrians Don’t Run Away mod should come in handy.
Police brutality is a major issue in the streets of Los Santos.
You might run a red light or look at an officer the wrong way, and suddenly you’re being shot at from a helicopter.
Better Chases + adds much more realism (and chill) to the arrest mechanics. Among other things, the police need sufficient reason to ram your car or shoot you down, and you’ll be able to surrender peacefully below Wanted level three.
There’s also an all-new Arrest Warrant mechanic that keeps the police looking for you after the chase is over. Gotta get rid of that stolen car and maybe get a change of clothes.
Another must-try improvement for police AI is Dispatch & Tactics Enhancement V.
This mod dramatically increases the difficulty of police chases and shootouts by reworking the dispatch system and agent behavior individually and as part of a squad.
You’ll notice many more law enforcement agencies becoming involved in searches and chases, bringing new character models, vehicles, and equipment.
The cops on your trail are also faster and unrelenting. They fight as an organized group rather than a bunch of Stormtroopers who can’t land a shot.
I love playing GTA 5 in single-player. I prefer it to GTA Online by a long shot.
The one thing I don’t like is the lonely feeling of being the master of the city – swimming in cash and armed to the teeth – without anyone to share it with.
Forever Together tends to your emotional companionship needs by introducing a follower system similar to games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Just choose whatever pedestrian you want and make them your buddy!
These friends can have different personalities, weapon and vehicle preferences, and even random “likes” and “dislikes” that’ll change their opinion of you based on your actions.
Another mod worth checking out that offers similar functionality is Player Companion. Try them out and find your favorite!
Nelson Chitty is a Venezuelan expat living in Argentina. He’s a writer and translator passionate about history and foreign cultures. His ideal weekend is spent between leisurely playing games of Civilization VI and looking for the next seinen anime to marathon.
