Better Flares for Euro Truck Simulator 2
Rebuilds ETS2's light flares and beams: realistic headlight patterns in six tints, 140+ supported mod trucks, dimmer streetlights and matching traffic. Version 4.8 for 1.61.
Download Better Flares
More screenshots on forum.scssoft.com (author's official thread) ↗
What this mod does
Better Flares changes how lights look in Euro Truck Simulator 2 at night and in bad weather. Its author, Avelium, picked it back up in 2024 after years of abandonment (the old series ended at 3.2) and has kept it up to date ever since: the thread has over 290,000 views.
What it changes
- Completely rebuilt flares for headlights, taillights and turn signals.
- More realistic headlight beam patterns, with six colors to choose from and support for around 140 mod trucks.
- Optional City Lights add-on that dims streetlights and urban lighting.
- Traffic add-on so AI vehicles get headlights in varied tints.
How it’s organized
It comes in two downloads: one with the base, headlights and City Lights, and another with the traffic add-on. Heads up: the traffic add-on needs the Sound Fixes Pack; without it, traffic stops spawning. For traffic packs such as Jazzycat’s, there are compatibility patches posted in another forum thread.
Who it’s for
For anyone who drives a lot at night and finds the original flares flat or overdone. It pairs well with weather and graphics mods.
Holyfix Check
Will it work with your mods?
Load your game.log.txt and check whether this mod is for your ETS2 version, whether you're missing a mod or DLC it needs and where to place it.
It's in Documents › Euro Truck Simulator 2 › game.log.txt. It's read in your browser: the file is never uploaded.
Something else failing? Holyfix for ETS2 checks all your mods at once.
User rating
Highlights and things to keep in mind
- Much more believable night lighting
- Separate modules: install only what you want
- Active author who replies in the thread
- The final download is on Modsfire, which shows ads; only click the file's download button
- The traffic add-on depends on the Sound Fixes Pack
- You need to follow the load order in the author's screenshot
Requirements
- Euro Truck Simulator 2 version 1.61
- Sound Fixes Pack if you use the traffic add-on
How to install it
- Open the official Better Flares thread on the SCS forum.
- Download the base, headlights and City Lights package and, if you want, the traffic add-on.
- Copy the .scs files to Documents/Euro Truck Simulator 2/mod.
- Activate them in the Mod Manager following the load order screenshot in the first post.
- If you use the traffic add-on, also activate the Sound Fixes Pack.
- With third-party traffic packs, install the matching compatibility patch.
Common problems
With the traffic add-on no vehicles spawn
The author says that add-on needs the Sound Fixes Pack; without it, traffic doesn't appear.
Does it work with mod trucks?
The headlights support around 140 mod trucks, according to the author.
Is it compatible with Jazzycat's traffic packs?
There are compatibility patches for Jazzycat and TrafficManiac linked from the thread.
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