ByYurii LuzhkoUpdated July 27, 2026

Kenshi mods: how to install & where to start

Kenshi has one of the richest modding scenes in the genre — thousands of mods across the Steam Workshop and Nexus Mods, plus the official FCSeditor for making your own. Here's how to install them, how load order works, and a safe starter set.

Where to get Kenshi mods

Steam Workshop

The main hub — one-click subscribe, auto-updates. Easiest for the Steam version.

Nexus Mods

The main alternative — manual install or Vortex; best for the non-Steam version.

FCS editor

The Forgotten Construction Set — Lo-Fi's official tool to build and edit your own mods.

How to install Kenshi mods

From the Steam Workshop (easiest)

Open Kenshi's Steam Workshop page and browse or search for a mod.
Click Subscribe — Steam downloads it automatically.
Launch Kenshi to open the launcher.
In the Mods tab, tick the mod on and set its load order.
Start or load a save with the mod active.

From Nexus Mods (manual)

Download the mod archive from Nexus Mods.
Extract the mod's folder into Kenshi/data/mods (or install it with the Vortex mod manager).
Launch Kenshi and enable the mod in the launcher's Mods tab, then order it.

Best Kenshi mods to start with

A safe, widely-recommended starter set. Search each by name on the Steam Workshop or Nexus Mods — and check the Workshop's "Top Rated (All Time)" for the current community favourites.

Dark UIInterface
Recolours the interface to a cleaner dark theme — the single most-subscribed quality-of-life mod.
256 Recruitment LimitSquad
Raises the vanilla ~30-character cap so you can build a much larger squad or town.
Reactive WorldOverhaul
Makes factions rise and fall based on your actions — cities can change hands and empires can collapse.
Living WorldOverhaul
Adds roaming faction caravans, patrols and world events so the map feels alive between towns.
Dialogue Expansion ProjectContent
Adds large amounts of lore-friendly dialogue to NPCs and factions across the world.
Faction CaravansContent
Sends trading and supply caravans out from the major factions, adding traffic and loot to the roads.

Load order & troubleshooting

When two mods edit the same thing, the one lowerin the list wins. In the launcher's Mods tab, drag large overhauls (Reactive World, Living World) near the top and small tweaks or UI mods near the bottom, so your fixes aren't overwritten. If a save crashes or a mod misbehaves, disable mods in halves to isolate the conflict, and remember that removing a mod mid-save can leave broken references — start a fresh game after big changes.

What about Kenshi 2 mods?

Mod support for the sequel hasn't been officially detailed yet. Modding is a huge part of why players still return to the first game, so a scene is widely expected — see our Kenshi 2 hub for everything confirmed so far. Meanwhile, the research planner and interactive map work great alongside any mod setup.

Kenshi mods FAQ

How do I install Kenshi mods?

The easiest way is the Steam Workshop: open Kenshi's Workshop page, click Subscribe on any mod, then launch Kenshi and tick the mod on in the launcher's "Mods" tab. Steam downloads and updates it automatically. Mods from Nexus Mods are installed manually — extract the mod folder into Kenshi/data/mods (or use the Vortex mod manager), then enable it in the same launcher Mods tab.

Where can I find Kenshi mods — Steam Workshop or Nexus?

Both. The Steam Workshop is where most Kenshi mods live and is the simplest to use (one-click subscribe, auto-updates). Nexus Mods is the main alternative — useful for the non-Steam version, for mods not on the Workshop, and for keeping manual backups. Many mods are published to both.

Are there a lot of mods for Kenshi?

Yes — thousands. Kenshi has one of the most active modding scenes of any indie RPG, spanning UI tweaks, squad-size and difficulty changes, total overhauls, new factions and map expansions. Lo-Fi Games also ships the FCS (Forgotten Construction Set), the same official editor used to build the game, so players can make their own mods.

Does mod load order matter in Kenshi?

Yes. When two mods change the same thing, the one lower in the list wins. Set the order by dragging mods in the launcher's Mods tab — put big overhauls near the top and small tweaks/UI mods near the bottom so your fixes aren't overwritten. If something breaks, disable mods in halves to find the conflict.

Should you play Kenshi with mods?

Play your first run close to vanilla so you learn the game as designed, then add mods. A safe starting set is a UI mod plus quality-of-life tweaks (larger squad limit, faster training); save total overhauls like Reactive World for later playthroughs. Mods are single-player only and won't affect achievements you've already earned.

Will Kenshi 2 have mods?

Mod support for Kenshi 2 hasn't been officially detailed yet. Given how central modding is to the first game, a modding scene is widely expected — see our Kenshi 2 page for everything confirmed so far.