We all know that games over time can get repetitive if left without any substantial updates, easily removing any shine, potential, and hype the game presents at any given moment. In this day and age, updates and downloadable content can appease those wanting the most out of their favorite game, but often times they either take too long to arrive or end up being lackluster and take the game from where it is to even lower lows. For games like Project Zomboid, where the goal isn’t specific, you can enhance the game by adding mods.
Mods is short for “modifiers”, which change aspects of the games you play. There have been many mods for games for as long as gaming has been around, with some popular mods becoming so good, they end up being some of the most recognized game titles you see today. Mods can range from simple fixes that curb any game issues to full blown new experiences, allowing for a personalized gameplay experience.
While these are often a subject of debate for game developers and some players, Project Zomboid welcomes that debate through the use of the Steam Workshop, which creates a whole catalogue of amazing finds that add that little bit extra for you and your server. With so many to choose from, here are some of the more popular choices people make to give their gameplay a new lease of life, even if they are facing the undead.
For this list, the list is made at the time of the games’ latest version (ver. 41.78 Steam), and is based on my experience on a friend-hosted multiplayer server with essential mods that fit our gameplay. The links and mods listed are mostly from the Steam Workshop, as that the easiest way to find mods. Unless stated otherwise, mods listed can be dependent or independent with other mods. This is a subjective list, and they’reis in no particular order.
20. Raven Creek
What’s Fun About Raven Creek Mod?
Raven Creek is a must-add mod for those thrill seekers who want to be thrown into the fire right off the get-go. This mod provides an additional spawn point to your multiplayer server for you to explore.
- Spawn point – Raven Creek can be selected as a spawn point once you have it installed
- More looting locations – Raven Creek is a big city with three different zones that offer tons of buildings to raid
- Skill testing – This city is designed for players who want to push their skills to their limit
As stated in the paragraph above, Raven Creek is challenging, it provides a different experience from the vanilla game. A new town means more room to play with, speaking from experience, starting here is not a walk in the park, especially since this area has three different zones with different difficulty curves, compared to the usually slow-paced early game of the vanilla spawn points Raven Creek encourages faster gameplay for a trade by offering tons of loot lying in wait to be picked up.
Raven Creek Mod Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2196102849
19. Expanded Helicopter Events
What’s Fun About Expanded Helicopter Events Mod?
A quality-of-life mod that adds more to the helicopter event experience, this mod offers more than just attracting more of those pesky zombies, which will be listed below.
- Supply drop – Either an actual supply drop from the helicopter or from the chopper crashing
- On your toes – Depending on which event is triggered, the helicopter can sometimes be a friend or a foe
- Free reign – You can tinker with how the event works in the settings once you add this mod
For this mod to work, however, you have to disable the vanilla helicopter event first before you are able to feel the full experience. Once you have everything setup, all you have to do is play until the event triggers, leaving you at the mercy of said event. You could be provided help from an airdrop via sending out a flare or waiting for the helicopter to crash, or be caught in the crossfire by an attack helicopter sent by the military to extinguish whatever moves in its line of sight; may it be the living or the undead.
Expanded Helicopter Events Mod Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2458631365
18. The Workshop
What’s Fun About The Workshop Mod?
This mod is for those who want to live their dreams as the resident blacksmith of the apocalypse, The Workshop is a mod that offers a lot when it comes to crafting, and those options are listed here.
- Resourcefulness - Allows the scrapping of broken tools
- Prerequisite mod – This mod is required for Scrap Weapons and Scrap Armor mod
- Scrap Weapons – A mod that allows the crafting of post-apocalyptic/homemade weapons
- Scrap Armor – A mod that enables the crafting of post-apocalyptic/homemade armor
- Mod Compatibility – The Workshop mod works well with other mods like Bushcraft Tools mod
Wouldn’t it be fun to clobber zombies with a giant stop sign while you’re covered in your makeshift metal armor? Or slash them with your own custom-made sword and shield? Well, stop daydreaming about that and add this mod to your multiplayer server, granted you need the other two mods listed above first since installing The Workshop mod alone doesn’t provide all the fun. Let no scrap material go to waste and be the medieval post-apocalyptic warrior you wish to be.
As for the other two mods listed, they also happen to be in this link as well, so think of this as a three-for-one special.
The Workshop Mod Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/workshop/filedetails/?id=2680473910
17. Simple Overhaul: Traits and Occupations (SOTO)
What’s Fun About SOTO mod?
Simple Overhaul: Traits and Occupations, or SOTO for short, adds a breath of fresh air to both existing vanilla traits and occupations while adding in new ones for more build possibilities. What SOTO offers will be listed here.
- Buffs and nerfs – Certain traits and occupations change what they offer
- Character variability – You can gain and lose certain traits as your character progresses
- Variety – This adds 40 new traits and 24 new occupations
- Flexibility – This mod promotes creativity with builds
- Standalone – This mod does not require any other mod for it to work
Once you start a new multiplayer server with this mod, you have free reign to let your imagination run wild with your character with the welcomed additions; new occupations like the Demolition Worker who are adept with using the sledgehammer, new traits like Swordsman which gives you a +1 on your long blade skills. What your character will depend on what you want it to be, from a no-nonsense melee specialist Priest to something wacky like a Deaf Dancer.
Simple Overhaul: Traits and Occupations (SOTO) Mod Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2840805724
16. Clear Cove
What’s Fun About Clear Cove Mod?
Maybe you’ve exhausted all you can do in Knox County, tired of the sights you constantly see all over Kentucky. Well, worry not, as Clear Cove gives you a new playground to take your doomsday prep. Clear Cove’s offerings are as follows.
- Fresh experience – Clear Cove is a standalone map mod that differs from the vanilla map
- Familiar yet different – Points of interest like prisons, military bases are present, along with a new hidden bunker and more
- Quality-of-life – Custom buildings, custom profession-based spawn points, a detailed in-game map, foraging, and the like
- Wanderlust – A whole new world means the encouragement to discover more
At some point, we have to admit that roaming all over Knox County can get tiresome to the point where you’ll basically memorize every nook and cranny of it, so why not give Clear Clove a go? Take yourself into unfamiliar territory, wander about the vast wilderness, and enjoy the view. This might be a whole new area for your server to play on but it will feel like you’re playing through Project Zomboid for the first time all over again.
Clear Cove Mod Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2864464688
15. Read While Walking
What’s Fun About Raven Creek Mod?
Being able to read while walking can be a life saver, and with this mod, you don’t have to stop yourself from reading either an XP book or just a regular one when you need to make a trip to the kitchen because your character is hungry. The idea of this mod makes it worthwhile for these reasons.
- Quality-of-Life – Covers more ground and saves time for more actions
- Immersive – Adds a realistic feel to the game
- Cooperative – Works well with other mods, such as Skill Recovery Journal
During the end of times, you cannot simply rest and idle about aimlessly, having this mod installed in your server guarantees your character is always mobile and on the move even while reading. Need to check if the coast is clear within your base? No need to put your book down, just walk towards that window to spot if there are zombies nearby, Read While Walking mod enables you to multitask while you make the most out of your time in-game.
Read While Walking Mod Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2845952197
14. ’70 Dodge Challenger
What’s Fun About ’70 Dodge Challenger Mod?
Tired of the same old cars? Look no further, this mod not only helps you prowl the undead-filled streets of Kentucky faster, but also in style. Benefits of having this bad boy in your server are as follows.
- Customizable – The Challenger can be outfitted with bullbars, armor plates, spoilers and the like
- Well detailed – Fully animated hood, trunks, visible interior etc
- Fast and loud – High horsepower will satisfy your speed demon needs
Now that the world has gone down in flames and the dead are the new masters of it, you won’t get a speeding ticket when you put the pedal to the metal. Find yourself one of these bad boys, turn it into your doomsday machine by slapping on armor, and feel free to plow through those pesky zombies without a care, granted you avoid all the roadblocks ahead.
If you want to be gone from zombie-infested areas in under 60 seconds, take this mod and put it through the streets that can make Vin Diesel approve of this mod.
’70 Dodge Challenger Mod Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2873290424
13. Susceptible Trait – Airborne Infection
What’s Fun About Susceptible Trait – Airborne Infection Mod?
This mod adds another layer of difficulty for your disastrous adventure across Knox County, a welcome addition for those who dare conquer the lifeless streets of Kentucky while at risk of getting infected without getting bit. The reasons why the mod is fun are listed below.
- Susceptible – Adds the Susceptible trait that gives +11 points
- Added mechanics – Having this mod active adds new features like airborne infection, crafting, maintenance, and usage of protective headgear like face masks, gas masks, and oxygen filters
- Skill Expressive – This mod encourages smarter gameplay rather than mindlessly hacking and slashing through hordes
- Compatibility – Works well with other popular mods like Brita’s Armor Pack
May this serve as a warning; Susceptible Trait – Airborne Infection is designed for hardcore players who want to ramp up the challenges they face while traversing through the game. Playing as a survivor that has zero immunity to the initial infection adds more thrills to your server as you micromanage every resource available to stave off infection just to keep yourself alive and well.
This takes the already tough task of surviving to an extreme level, which makes for an added layer of gameplay that, as you could say, makes this game more contagious.
Susceptible Trait – Airborne Infection Mod Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2795677303
12. Weapon Condition Indicator
What’s Fun About Weapon Condition Indicator Mod?
When you use any type of weapon in the game, their condition lowers from their usage, which causes them to break. It’s a quality-of-life mod that comes in handy when it comes to combat. The benefits of this mod are listed down below.
- Simple yet detailed – Shows weapon conditions without the need to pan to your inventory
- Compatibility – Works with most weapon mods
The luxury of being able to see the progression and condition of your weapons right off the bat in your interface without the need to constantly open your inventory works wonders as it saves you time, and keeps you focused when you’re in a pinch fighting zombies.
Weapon Condition Indicator Mod Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2619072426
11. ’92 Nissan Skyline R32 GTR
What’s Fun About ’92 Nissan Skyline R32 GTR Mod?
Perhaps you like JDM cars more than a muscle cars, well do not fret and grab a hold of this monster, cruise through the streets with the benefits of this mod into your server.
- Customizability – The R32 can be custom fitted with layers of armor for security
- Lore Friendly – Fits the timeline of the game’s events for more immersive gameplay
- Attention to detail – Fully animated hood, trunk, custom turbo, and exhaust sounds
Just because the world has ended doesn’t mean you can’t show off your love for Japanese tuners; fine-tune this to your heart’s content, grab your keys and race through the once lively highways of Knox County. Although you still might want to handle the R32 with the utmost care, especially if you’re not the resident mechanic of your server.
Let’s be real here. If the world goes upside-down and you have the chance to drive an amazing car for your possible last time on earth, might as well go out in style.
’92 Nissan Skyline R32 GTR Mod Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2846036306
10. True Actions Mod
What’s Fun About True Actions Mod?
It’s a quality-of-life mod that does the simple thing of adding more animations to your character. This doesn’t sound like much, and it is, but its best asset is the simple fix listed below.
- Character movement – Adds the ability to sit or lay down on sofas or sit on chairs
- Frees some space – Sitting on furniture makes the floor visible for items placed on it.
- Enables dancing emotes – Dancing is possible with this mod
No need to take up space on the floor if you have to lay down to rest your character, as this mod enables you to actually use the chair, sofa, and similar places of rest to put your encumbered character in a rested state. This is more for the visibility of items you put down, allowing others to easily see items that you may brought into your base for efficient organization while leaving your character undisturbed.
For fun stuff, some versions of this mod have dances that can be scrolled through, provided you have found the dance cards in the game, making disrespectful dancing on corpses after horde survival possible.
True Actions Mod Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2849866277
9. Brita’s Weapon Pack
What’s Fun About Brita’s Weapon Pack?
The more guns you have, the better equipped you will be to deal with a swarm of flesh-eating undead. This mod is perfect for those who are already aware of the consequences of constant gunfire and can act accordingly. The option of having a lot more weapons is good for the reasons below.
- More weapon options – New guns add more variety to your gameplay
- Easily found – Guns are likely found in many more zombie corpses
- Ammo types – The new guns also bring new ammo types
All the guns in the game are loud, and this mod will add more variance to the loudness and, in turn, safety in running and gunning the game. The options range from hilariously silent pellet guns, to full on rocket launchers. An important note about this mod is that to make it work, you’ll need another mod that synergizes with it, and have been made compatible with it, making this a good mod all around.
Brita’s Weapon Pack Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2200148440
8. Brita’s Armor Pack
What’s Fun About Brita’s Armor Pack?
Standing out from the pack is even more doable thanks to this mod, with the biggest change being the choices in clothing. The simple addition of more armor pieces helps with the varying challenges of the game, making the following things an important aspect of its inclusion.
- More armor options – New clothes and armor for your gameplay
- Easily found – More substantial armor can be found early
- Adds style to your character – Better to stand out from the other players in the game
By having this mod enabled alongside the weapons mod, you can have the possibility of equipping yourself with some amazing end game tier items as early as the same in-game day. This is good for preparing for something bigger, like moving into a new town after a long time or events that trigger spawns of massive sizes, but for the immediate term, this bypasses your dependency on t-shirts in favor of something more fashionably practical like military gear.
This mod adds gas masks, military helmets, and related items, along with new stats that bridge the gap on how much protection each tier of items provides. Repairing said items will depend on what you get, for as long as you are alive and looting, there can always be new dreads around.
Brita’s Armor Pack Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2460154811
7. Arsenal(26) Gunfighter Mod
What’s Fun About Arsenal(26) Gunfighter Mod?
This is a prerequisite mod for other mods to be fully online and capable of delivering the best experience they can offer. The gunfighter mod allows for the biggest change to the guns specifically, as they allow for some nifty things below.
- Changes fire rate – Some weapons can be turned into single or burst shots for better ammo management
- Allows other mods to be installed – A prerequisite for many mods that rely on it
- Upgrade options – Experimental upgrades are present, like stocks and mag-types
Many of the Brita’s mods require this, and for good reason, as the Arsenal(26) mod gives you the extended option to have your gun do far more than just equip, rack, and shoot. The mod allows for some nifty things like extended mags, allowing your new auto rifle to hold nearly double its intended capacity thanks to the drum mags present in this mod. Speaking of auto rifles, since these now exist, the likelihood of you running out of ammo is a real possibility, and by adding this mod, you can toggle your firing rate from a burst shot of 3 or more, to single, more controlled clicks of a mouse, perfect for conserving ammo.
While these are peachy and all, the mod doesn’t play nice with every mod. The developer and page specifically says that if you’re the type to install all the mods at once, there would be some issues that may arise, and if you like what you see with this mod, then this will be your best mod for all things gun related.
Arsenal(26) Gunfighter Mod Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2297098490
6. Better Lockpicking Mod
What’s Fun About Raven Creek Mod?
While this sounds like a simple drop-in add-on to the game, this is a good example of “tiny change, big difference” in regards to the gameplay part of the experience. Having this enabled makes a world of difference, as waiting is now replaced with more important add-ons such as the following.
- Fun mini-games – Unlocking locks and hotwiring a car is now more manual and involved
- Adds Lockpicker trait – Have lockpicking as a skill or enhanced with the Burglar profession
- Alarm checking – Allows you to bypass some houses with alarms by lockpicking the place open
The usual way to deal with breaking through an alarm-equipped area is to run away and come back another day when it goes off, but with lockpicking being a thing, you can go in any area that is locked and, in turn, stop an alarm from going off on you while raiding for supplies.
The changes are also reflected on cars, given how they too have locks that can only be removed by breaking the side glass and opening from the inside, leaving some vulnerability to the car’s entry. The mod fixes that by allowing you to open a locked door without needing to break a window, with the second barrier of hotwiring a car being turned into a mini-game that is actually shorter than waiting for the animation, allowing you to gas and go if a zombie is too close to your wipers.
Better Lockpicking Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2368058459
5. Autotsar Trailers
What’s Fun About Autotsar Trailers Mod?
Packing everything into a small, dinky, limited cabin space is hard in the vanilla game, so why not help yourself, your server, and your back, by having this mod installed to take care of the heavy lifting. Trailers in this mod come in various forms, with each having a unique function, allowing the following benefits.
- Loot capacity – Helps your characters carry weight and general storage
- Lower resource travels – Items like Gas can be stored in specific trailers
- Adds player capacity – Full trailers can house two seats in addition to the car pulling it
It cannot be overstated how amazing this mod is for its simplicity. Things like item looting feel like a chore solo or in a server for the carrying weight it consumed to both your trunk and your character, and with this installed, all you have to do is find the right trailer for the job and you’ll be fine, status-wise and resource-wise.
Specialty trailers also allow you to have a safe place to get finite resources like power via a portable generator and gas, preventing potentially risky travel or skipping them altogether if you happen to live far from civilization, such as in a hidden house in the woods. Some trailers also have seats, making that ridiculous 6-seat car, even more important by slapping a trailer at the back for an additional two seats.
Other than that, these are welcomed additions to the variety you see in the game, and your vision of every car park is not just limited to cars, making for a good visual as well for your slowly dying world.
Autotsar Trailers Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2282429356
4. Minimal Display Bars
What’s Fun About Minimal Display Bars Mod?
The biggest gripe of Project Zomboid’s vanilla game is the inability to know how bad your status is, which can lead first-timers or people with slower hands to get into uncomfortable and precarious situations. This mod is a quality-of-life mod that changes that by doing the following.
- Glanceable information – Statuses can be easily seen in one glance
- Quantifiable – The statuses can be measured allowing you to save on some resources
- Non-distracting toggle – A very small box is present to toggle it on or off
It’s a customizable stat tracker that can help you know what your character is feeling and how close to death you are if you happen to be in trouble. The information is also in bar graphs, allowing for more concrete information such as hunger to be better read for things like rationing food and water. Should you be the type of player who doesn’t want a whole lot of things on their screen at once, the small box can be clicked to enable and disable it, with hotkeys being present to bring it back up should you need it again.
Minimal Display Bars Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2004998206
3. Autotsar Tuning Atelier
What’s Fun About Autotsar Tuning Atelier Mod?
Ever wonder what a school trip would be like in a deserted wasteland? Then, this is as close as you can possibly get to it being a reality. The bus may be slow, but boy is it ever useful, as seen below.
- High seating capacity – Brings in 6 seats for very big server travels
- Moving fortress – Specific car parts like bullbars can turn it into a highly armored vehicle
- Many variants – There are 3 types of buses with this mod, allowing for different looks for each
If you think the trailer mod is ridiculous for seating, then try this mod on for size. This is an amazing mod for those who consistently have more than 10 people playing in a single instance, as its seating capacity is a guaranteed six for a single school bus. Admittedly, the vanilla 6-seat van is similar to it, but unlike that, this can be armored up and ready to protect you and your friends inside. The armor gathering also adds a new layer of gameplay, making the three in-game buses a good challenge to suit up for the apocalypse, and a new way of traveling in the game.
If you get around the slowness of the bus and want to be safe than sorry going from point A to B, then this mod should help you out. With that being said, this is definitely one bus you shouldn’t be late for in the cold, dead world of Knox County.
Autotsar Tuning Atelier Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2592358528
2. Extra Map Symbols Mod
What’s Fun About Extra Map Symbols Mod?
While communication is vital to remembering where loot can be, nothing beats a good old-fashioned note. Put your pen and paper together for important stuff given by this mod, such as the following.
- More defined symbols – More symbols for better markings
- Tweaks existing symbols – Replaces some of the default symbols for new ones
For the majority of the time, the standard symbols work fine, but adding this is going to make things easier by simply having more signs to play with. Instead of a star for a car, you can put an actual car symbol for that vehicle you want to come back to. There’s not much to say, but it’s nice to have a mod with subtle choices for you to play around with.
Extra Map Symbols Mod Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2701170568
1. True Music Mod
What’s Fun About True Music Mod?
This is as fun as it can get for music in the game. While the tense atmosphere is well created by the game’s background music, nothing beats plugging in your own tunes and blasting them down the highway. These account for an unmatched experience, provided you make your own playlist, and fully utilize the benefits below
- Adds boombox and vinyl player – Allows your custom music to be played through other mediums
- Cassette player for cars – Your music is now available to be put into cars
- Endlessly customizable – With copyrighted music available to add, every playlist is yours to make
- Mini-game – Finding said music is also a fun looting mini-game to keep it fresh
Do we really need to say more? In intense zombie fights, for example, having the car blast hard rock or solemn music played on vinyl at the base of a fallen comrade can drastically change your perspective and immersion in the game. The music is also fun to gather as it appears as loot, either in cassette or vinyl form, making extra loot and finding that one song in your mod feels more rewarding.
While there are so many ways to customize it, the mod tends to suddenly cut off at times, depending on if there is an issue with the server or mod setting. For the most part, it works as intended as there is no more awkward moment than having your record scratched as you are bitten to death.
True Music Mod Link:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2613146550
