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How to Install RimWorld Mods

Everything you need to mod RimWorld — prerequisites, mod manager, and load order. Free downloads, no account.

📋 Browse RimWorld Mods🏆 Top 25

🛠️ Prerequisites

🛠️ Harmony — Harmony (C# library)Download ↗
🛠️ HugsLib — HugsLib (shared library)Download ↗

📦 Install Methods

1. Steam Workshop (easiest)

  1. Own RimWorld on Steam and launch it once so your Workshop setup and local mod folders initialize.
  2. On the RimWorld Steam page, open the Workshop tab and search for the mod you want (or browse the game's Workshop section).
  3. Click Subscribe. Steam auto-downloads the mod into the Workshop content folder (app 294100) in your Steam library.
  4. Launch RimWorld, open the Mods menu from the main menu, and find the mod in the Inactive list.
  5. Click it to enable it. Also subscribe to and enable whatever frameworks it requires — most RimWorld mods need Harmony, HugsLib, or JecsTools as a dependency.
  6. Set the load order so frameworks sit at the top of the active list, right under Core. Run RimPy's auto-sort to get this right, or use the in-game Mod Manager mod.
  7. Start a new colony or load a save and confirm there is no red error log at launch.

2. Manual install (Ludeon forums / GitHub)

  1. Download the mod's ZIP from the Ludeon modding forums (forums.rimworldgame.com) or the author's GitHub Releases, picking the build that matches your game version.
  2. Extract the ZIP and find the top mod folder — the one whose first file is About/About.xml.
  3. In Steam, right-click RimWorld > Manage > Browse local files, then open the Mods folder inside the game directory.
  4. Copy the mod folder into Mods so the result is: game folder / Mods / ModName / About / About.xml.
  5. Launch RimWorld, enable the mod in the Mods menu, and make sure the frameworks it depends on (Harmony, HugsLib) are installed and enabled above it.
  6. Run RimPy's sort to fix load order, and verify the mod's About.xml version tag matches your game version before trusting it.
  7. Test the mod on a fresh game before adding it to an existing save, since mod content does not appear retroactively in old saves.

3. RimPy Mod Manager (advanced)

  1. Download RimPy from its GitHub releases page and extract the ZIP (it is a Windows app; community Linux builds exist).
  2. Launch RimPy and point it at your RimWorld folder — it detects your Steam library, or you browse to the game directory manually.
  3. RimPy scans both your Steam Workshop content and the manual Mods folder, listing every mod with its dependencies and game version.
  4. Check the boxes for the mods you want active, and use RimPy's panel to spot missing dependencies, outdated mods, and version mismatches before you even launch the game.
  5. Click Sort to auto-arrange the load order so libraries (Harmony, HugsLib, JecsTools) load before the mods that use them.
  6. Save the list as a profile in RimPy so you can restore it after a game update or after testing changes.
  7. Click Run to launch RimWorld with that exact mod list, or start the game yourself and play.

📦 Mod Managers

Most RimWorld mods install through Vortex or Mod Organizer 2 — they handle file placement and load order automatically. Manual install means dropping files into your game's mod/data folder.

🛠️ Tool & Loader Guides

Vortex Mod ManagerGuide →

❓ Install FAQ

Do I need a mod manager for RimWorld?

A mod manager is recommended but not always required.

What order do I install mods?

Foundations and script extenders first, then patches/overhauls, then visual mods last. Use LOOT or your mod manager's sort.

Are RimWorld mods free?

Yes — every mod listed on discovermods is free. We link to official download pages.