Project Zomboid: Beginner’s Mod List Guide

This is to address why some mods that would fit on this list are not on this list. For new players please look thru the most downloaded mod list as some of the mods that would fit here are on the. That said there’s some mods in here from the most downloaded list. If don’t know about a mod even existing then it’s not in here.

Load All Magazines, you now don’t have to do the not fun process of manually clicking on load magazine for every single magazine you have. Now with the mod just right click on a stack of magazines then load all magazine in that stack. Same thing with unloading mags.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2920899878

AutoSewing, click one button to train your tailoring so you don’t have to do the not fun process of manually clicking on every part of a piece of clothing to add and remove patches.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2584991527

AutoMechanics, click one button to train your mechanics so you don’t have to do the not fun process of manually clicking on a part to uninstall and reinstall it over and over again.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2588598892

AutoCook, what if you wanted to train your cooking skill by for example making a fruit salads but you don’t want to do the not fun process of manually clicking on every single thing to add to the fruit salad. Then with this mod just click on one button.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2640569820

Nested Containers, with this mod if you find a container inside of a container you can now take stuff out of the container inside the container without taking it out of the container. I hope that made sense.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2946221823

Disassemble Container With Items, in them.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2835852387

Fuel Side Indicator, tells you what side the gas tank intake is on.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2616986064

Create Chipped Stones, it’s in the name.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2691571334

Visible Holsters, it’s in the name.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2901552077

Wooden items to spears, make stuff like mops into spears.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2899234920

There’s not a lot of bug fixing mods that I know of so this will be short

ForagingZ, Everywhere you can forage it’s all borked all of it, this mod unborks it and adds new foraging zones.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2927691080/

Fix Inventory Tooltip lag, read the mod page.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2915430406&searchtext=bug+fix

Loot Tables Fixed, please read the mod page as it’s worth the read for how the loot tables are broken.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3033301901&searchtext=loot+tables+fixed

Two zombie bugs in multiplayer. This video explains the next bugs better then I can and talks about the mods that fix them.

Quality of life, it can save your life! Sub Section

Mini Health Panel, faster response times for bandaging wounds and shows you a better idea of how bad is bad when wounded in a fight.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2866258937

Item Condition, shows on your hot bar.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2852309899

Working Masks, corpse sickness is a thing.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2760742937

LEARN HOW TO READ, makes you consider taking illiterate.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3005975760&searchtext=+Mobile+Reader

More Simple Traits (MST), add simple, balanced, easy to understand traits.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2792245343

Become Desensitized, read the page.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2627877543

That’s it for my recommendations, subsection over.

Mod Options (Build 41), other mods will use this to give you options for your customization
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2169435993

Reorder The Hotbar, it’s in the name.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2903771337

Craft Helper Continued, see what you can craft with an item without searching for it.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2787291513

Stack All, merge more items then just thread.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2629074154

Descriptive Tooltips for Skill Levels, it’s in the name.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3134776712

Highlight Favorites, read page
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3111261603

SpiffUI – Inventory, for the most part one stop shop for your UI improvement needs. Tho because it dose so much it’s easy to get conflicts with other mods that do the same thing as this one so read all of the page if you are planing to add more UI mods with this one.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2799848602

Cat’s Walk While Reading Mod, it also gives you a reason to sit down to read.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2694748270

Extra Books, for skills.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2859508566

Retroactive Skill Books, read mod page.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2908032114

Dress for Success, Read the mod page.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3111993009

Training Target, not just for guns uses, but for melee users as well.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3055825016

Standardized Nimble XP, it’s so important to combat no matter what, hands down, all bets are off, I don’t know how else to piledrive this home.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2650512095

Big Propane Torches, it’s in the name. For grinding metal working.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2896068190

Tear Underwear, it’s in the name
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2688151429

Tailoring Fix, read the page.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2138726101

Stairs Alert, when standing at the base of a some stairs or on some stairs, you can’t see up stairs until you are almost at the top. You have to put yourself at risk to see if there any zombies near the top of the stairs. Fighting on the stairs is a bad idea. Now press one button on your key board when standing at the base of a some stairs or on some stairs, your character will tell you if they see any zombies.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3044807092

Fancy Handwork, adds animations for things that your character dose that are not in the game without this mod, like opening doors, flicking on light switches, and more.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2904920097

Herbs Spawn as Loot, don’t have to forage as much for herbs and the cook will love this as some ingredients can only be found by foraging.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3059499608

Time Period Accurate Posters, it’s in the name tho read the page.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3113485839

Obvious Collecting, read the page.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3056538624

Faster Hood Opening, it’s in the name.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2584112711

[B4] Better Backpacks (41 build), read the page.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3137143443

True Music, add the ability to play music in game, you need addons for songs or make your own by reading the page.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2613146550&searchtext=true

True Music Jukebox, a addon for true music that’s in the name, tho read the page.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3118990099

True Music Radio, a addon for true music that’s in the name, tho read the page.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3100475013&searchtext=true+music

I will not recommend any song addons for true music here as that’s more of a personal taste sort of thing. That being said let me know if you think I should make a mod list for true music let me know. If enough people think it’s a good idea I’ll do it.

This will give you a start with weapon mods you can use. Starting with some melee weapon mods.

Side note some of the gun mods add melee weapons.

Donazo’s Fine Fisticuffs, ever wanted to punch that zombie in the face? Well without this mod you can’t, there are mods like it but I think this one dose it the best and makes it not overpowered. The second link is to make then viable.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2860974747
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2871348065

Yes’ Throwing Knives,
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3041438882

Unique Weapon Variants – Find Unique Weapons!, it’s in the name, tho read the page.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3099072207

Improved Spears, makes you want to use them more.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3052736613

D’s Fisticuffs, Unarmed weapons.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3080614332

Vanilla Weapons Expanded, read the page.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2357915214

Vanilla Firearms Remodeled, this is for if you don’t want any new guns, just bugs fixes and the feature to actually attachments put on the vanilla guns.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2980923427&searchtext

Now for my fellow gunslingers out there that prefer to blast then bash those skulls open with more then just 4 maybe 6 real options on the regular.

Before I go into the main event here are some mods to use along with most of the other gun mods that you chose. They are just some more quality of life improvements.

Extra Gun Slot, adds a new slot for pistols when you have a belt on.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3120702374

Simple sling mod, a must for gun users and when playing with gun mods.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2868394326

BeeArr’s BB Guns, for target practice and reloading training.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3007639881&searchtext=

Bombs Spawn as Loot, for when your chorus of thunderous booms just isn’t destructive enough. No need to be engineer to get them, tho with one you can make a lot more as they are rare.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2894528857

Open Ammo Boxes While Walking, keeping ammo in it’s box is a good thing. It save on space to keep ammo in box. But when you only have boxed ammo left with the hoard to your back as you “calmly” run away so you have time to open your ammo boxes you will wish that more mods would make patches for this mod.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2934985376

Now it’s time for the main event, it’s time for the big gun packs. WARNING most of theses gun packs change how guns work, use one maybe two. As if you don’t there will be conflicts and inconsistencies with each other. You don’t want that. That being said you can’t really go wrong with any of these so pick what speaks to you the most by reading there pages. Brita’s Weapon Pack will only be name dropped here as everyone and there mother has heard of it.

Gunrunner’s Weapon Pack (A VFE Expansion), a addon to the vanilla firearms expansion mod, you need both for the addon to work. Along with the VFE – S.T.A.L.K.E.R pack.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2873405334
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2893333090

Mexiox’s – Mexican Firearm Weapons
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2882852956

Firearms B41
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2256623447

[CJ] Firearms | Lore-friendly vanilla expansion
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874163136

Guns of 93
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3077078907&searchtext

Post-Soviet Armory,
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2891251749&searchtext=

Scrap Guns, for thos who want to lean into a more post apocalyptic experience, check out the workshop page for more to get the full post apocalyptic experience when it comes to gear.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2125659488
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198089678877/myworkshopfiles/?appid=108600&p=1

Y&G Customizable Guns, defiantly quality over quantity
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3092030998&searchtext=

Brazilian Weapon Pack
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2981477493&searchtext=

Totally’s Historical Firearms Pack – Core, this can be a big gun pack but on it’s own it’s not. Most of the mods content is in it’s addons. The addons for the most part are unique in the sense that they add antiques guns that none else has made for the game.
Check out the workshop page for the addons.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2897536185
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561199025597402/myworkshopfiles/?appid=108600&p=1

Theses are gun mods that can fit in with the other big gun packs listed above, tho there can be inconsistencies so read the mod pages.

Totally’s Scavenged Firearms, there’s bit more to it with this retexture mod.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2914271629

Braven’s Nail Guns, a unique weapon mod that also helps speed up building.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2979518517

Nitro Express Rifle, a unique gun mod that adds a big risk versus big devastation.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2961124369

Whitworth Rifle, a unique muzzleloading rifle, that’s based off the real antique.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2789756484

Fallout New Vegas, Anti Material Rifle, unique in the way that it’s a standalone 50 cal rifle that in my opinion just looks to good. What more do you want?
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2930595000

Dardick Handguns & Carbines, a unique mod that adds the funky little mag fed revolver that failed in real life.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3052546233

MG 42, for some reason it’s not in the Axis Weapons of WW2 addon for historical firearms.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2512269340

The Ratslayer, as seen in FNV.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2898250249

Project Fallout: .357 Magnum and Lucky revolvers, as seen in FNV tho they use the vanilla 38 ammo.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3005356279

Project Fallout: The Widowmaker, a real sawed off DB shotgun.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2924721797

Raging Judge .410, unique in the way that it’s a standalone revolver but shotgun.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2971668920

This last one is just someones whole workshop. It’s full of mods that you can’t go wrong with, tho other mods make some of them redundant. There’s a few unique standalone mods that add weapons you can’t find anywhere else on the workshop.
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198034115854/myworkshopfiles/?appid=108600

Map Mods, I think new players should wait before trying any map mods because you guys haven’t
really seen the map at all. Plus build 42 is coming out soonish kind of, maybe soon, and with it the map will get much bigger.

Vehicle Mods, in my opinion the vanilla game for the most part gets cars right, so I feel the need to not have much vehicle mods, but if you want more then look on the work shop as there is so meany good vehicle mods, it makes choosing them more of a personal preference then anything. Theirs only one thing the vanilla vehicles get wrong. It just so happens to be a big problem. Check the video for more info. It also has some mod to fix the problem linked in it’s description.

Vanilla Vehicle Enhancer, this is just a retexture.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2788428718
Vanilla Vehicle Enhancer Towing Patch, read the mod page.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2805025012

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dslmw2ikQlU