Best Game Mod Loaders in 2026
Updated
In short: Satisfactory Mod Loader is ranked #1 of 25 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of MWSE and SMAPI. The best-ranked option with a free plan is MWSE.
Choosing a game mod loader starts with compatibility: check the supported games and platforms against what you play. Compared on mod loading method, dependency handling, and load-order control, these tools offer different ways to manage a modded setup. Mod profiles and plugin support may also matter, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing help clarify access and cost. Satisfactory Mod Loader, MWSE, and SMAPI are among the options shown. Weigh the listed details against the games you use and how much control you want over loading and organizing mods.
25 game mod loaders ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
25ranked
7free plans on this page
4 Oct 2026last checked
Game Mod Loaders, ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going. 7 of the 25 on this page can be tried for free.
- 1 Satisfactory Mod LoaderFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 2 MWSEFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 3 SMAPIFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 4 MelonLoaderFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 5 BepInExFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 6 ModTekFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 7 Hell2ModdingFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 8 Everest
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 9 Northstar
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 10 Cyber Engine Tweaks
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 11 Hollow Knight Modding API
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: yes
- 12 Ultimate ASI Loader
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 13 Baldur's Gate 3 Script Extender
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 14 CLEO
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 15 Fallout 4 Script Extender (F4SE)
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 16 RED4ext
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 17 ScriptHookVDotNet
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 18 Starfield Script Extender
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 19 Venice Unleashed
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 20 xNVSE
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 21 xOBSE
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 22 REDmod
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 23 UE4SS
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 24 Sonic
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 25 Unity
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Platform | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported games | Supported platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Satisfactory Mod Loader | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Satisfactory | Windows, Linux |
| 2 | MWSE | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind | Windows; Linux via Wine |
| 3 | SMAPI | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Stardew Valley | Linux, macOS, Windows, Steam Deck, Android |
| 4 | MelonLoader | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Unity games using Mono or Il2Cpp | Windows, Linux (WINE/Steam Proton/native), macOS, Android and Oculus Quest (WIP) |
| 5 | BepInEx | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 6 | ModTek | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | — | — | BattleTech | Windows, Linux, macOS |
| 7 | Hell2Modding | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Hades II | Windows; Steam Deck through Proton |
| 8 | Everest | 6.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Celeste | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 9 | Northstar | 6.6 | No | — | Yes | — | Titanfall 2 | Windows; Linux |
| 10 | Cyber Engine Tweaks | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Cyberpunk 2077 | Windows; Linux via Proton |
| 11 | Hollow Knight Modding API | 5.9 | No | — | — | — | Hollow Knight | Windows, Linux, macOS |
| 12 | Ultimate ASI Loader | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | GTA San Andreas; Resident Evil 5 | Windows (Win32 and Win64) |
| 13 | Baldur's Gate 3 Script Extender | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Baldur's Gate 3 | Windows, Linux via Proton |
| 14 | CLEO | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | GTA III, GTA Vice City, GTA San Andreas, GTA IV, Bully, GTA: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition, re3, reVC, GTA Liberty City Stories, GTA Vice City Stories | Windows PC, iOS, PSP, PS2 |
| 15 | Fallout 4 Script Extender (F4SE) | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Fallout 4 | Windows |
| 16 | RED4ext | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Cyberpunk 2077 | Windows |
| 17 | ScriptHookVDotNet | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Grand Theft Auto V | Windows PC |
| 18 | Starfield Script Extender | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Starfield | Windows |
| 19 | Venice Unleashed | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Battlefield 3 | Windows |
| 20 | xNVSE | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Fallout: New Vegas | Windows |
| 21 | xOBSE | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion | Windows; Linux via Steam Proton |
| 22 | REDmod | 5.6 | No | — | Yes | — | Cyberpunk 2077 | Windows |
| 23 | UE4SS | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | — | Windows |
| 24 | Sonic | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | Unity | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which game mod loader is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
Satisfactory Mod Loader is ranked #1 of 25 with a score of 7.2. MWSE is second and SMAPI third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.
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