I'm happy to have more Witcher related articles especially those that might introduce folks to mods they might not know about but I have to say I really, really dislike their list. Not a very good list what so ever in my opinion. I understand that the author had to pick and choose and leave some out but I think a better quality list could have been made that better reflects the wider range of options available especially those that add to the experience and that do not detract.

Everybody has their own tastes but I can't stand that a mod like auto apply oil is at the top of a list of supposed essential mods. That mod in of itself violates the whole idea and spirit of a Witcher game. Going back to the original Witcher its all about preparation and that philosophy is highlighted all throughout the original game. That it is a core aspect of being a working Witcher and it means you have to use the ol' noggin to determine what you need prior to a fight and then apply and equip what you need accordingly. I don't mean to complain but that "essential mods" list bugs me something awful lol.

One of my original must have mods when W3 came out was the manual sheathe/unsheathe mod. I couldn't believe CDProjecktRed made that automatic!!??!! There was a mod that fixed this but then the devs eventually fixed it themselves with an option in-game thankfully.

Witcher Script Merger is essential but here are some that are must have's for me though I'm still always looking and learning what there is. Again I try to use mods that fix or enhance what's already there and that don't violate the game's game play and lore or world in any way.

-Immersive Camera (One of my favorites. Its actually part of a series)

-Alternate Horse Controls (Listed separately within Immersive Camera mod section. Makes horse riding control on a
gamepad almost exactly like Red Dead Redemption!!)

-Immersive Meditation

-Immersive AI (maybe something better now but I'm not sure)

-Immersive Motion

-Block When You Want

-Enhanced Herbalism

-Complete Animations (Now you can actually see Geralt apply sword oil after you manually apply it from your inventory.
Makes you prepare before fighting and be more slow and methodic but you can add it instantly like vanilla while in
combat.)

-ESGO(Combat mod. There's others I haven't tried yet. I love this kind of mod though because it keeps human
enemies and some creatures still a challenge and potential threat. It always bugged me how humans become so easy
to destroy once you level up. The way I see it, even though Geralt is supposedly one of the greatest sword fighters in
the known world, he is not the only one! This world is full of professionally trained fighters, soldiers, mercenaries,
bandits, knights and so on. Geralt is highly skilled and uniquely so but he is not immortal or invulnerable. There are
others out there that know well how to wield a sword in combat!!) I played most of the game on Sword and Story
difficulty and once I started getting into Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine I discovered this mod and I turned the
difficulty up to Broken Bones and for me it now gets tough!!!

-Ice Breath

-Blood Mod (there's a few of them)

-No Stair Rolling

-Real Weather

-Sword FX (Love this mod too!)

-Swordplay (I don't use the full mod but I do use one of the optional files that adds some extra animations)

-Thoughtful Roach

-No Player Light

-Compilation

These two are fun for role playing immersion

-Charming Flute (maybe pushes the boundaries as I don't think Geralt plays an instrument but for me it doesn't violate. In my mind someone like Geralt who lives most of his life on the road, in the wild and between civilization, it stands to reason that he could carry along an instrument to play. If I were out there often in isolation I'd want the means to make some music. One of God's many great gifts. Like an old cow puncher working cattle in the remote places of the West who might keep a mouth harp to sooth and entertain himself, his partners or the cattle themselves or like a sailor on a ship on the ocean in the middle of where no man has ever been or seen who might have a tin whistle or a stringed instrument with him, I think its quite possible too that a Witcher, perhaps even Geralt, could carry an instrument with him for those lonely times.)

-Weed Pipe (Could be tobacco or could be something else. Never know what kind of herbs a Witcher has on him. Great for relaxing and he even pulls out a little stool to sit on which is great to set up in a scenic area or even next to some other patrons at an tavern)