1. More Simple Traits
For players who love adding more traits to build new characters with, this mod is a great choice. There are a variety of different traits added in this mod, both positive and negative. Which makes character building even more dynamic.
What it does:
This mod adds more than twenty new traits in character creation. These traits come in a wide variety and make it easier to build your perfect starting character.
How it makes things fun:
Making your dream character gets a whole lot easier with this mod! Players looking to make a hermit who lives off the land have traits like “Mushroom picker” to increase foraging stats. Or players who want to create more of a gunslinger have traits like “Sniper”!
More Simple Traits Key Features:
- Traits left out in the base game are included (such as cooking, carpentry, and sneaking traits)
- Ten new positive traits
- Eleven new negative traits
- Mutually exclusive traits
2. Skill Recovery Journal
There’s nothing worse than building a character for months on end only for them to die from one small mistake. This mod makes dying in Project Zomboid a bit more bearable by adding an XP regaining system.
What it does:
By crafting a journal, you’ll be able to save your characters skills. Then, once your character dies, you’ll be able to find the journal with your new character and regain the same skills your dead character had.
How it makes things fun:
The addition of the recovery journal makes it easier for players to play in thelong term. Whenever I play, I know I tend to give up a world I dedicated countless hours working on once my long-term character dies. This makes that less of an issue!
Skill Recovery Journal Key Features:
- New craftable journal
- Journals save your character’s XP
- Journals can be read by new characters to gain the XP in the journal
- COOP compatible
3. Post Apocalyptic Occupations
Ever wanted more zombie wasteland-inspired occupations in Project Zomboid? Then this is the mod for you. With the addition of 23 new occupations that are more fitting for survival in the apocalypse, this will make playing a lot more interesting.
What it does:
This mod revamps the current occupations, adding some new occupations and changing old occupations to make the game more apocalyptic. There are plenty of occupations to choose from that all have unique advantages (or disadvantages.)
How it makes things fun:
This mod is perfect for anyone looking to spice up the jobs available when creating your character. It also pairs well with playing 10 years into the apocalypse to create an even more immersive gameplay.
- Post Apocalyptic Occupations Key Features:
- 25 new post-apocalypse jobs
- New traits
- Occupations include: Cultist, Hemit, Bounty Hunter, Psycho, Thief, and many more!
4. Superb Survivors!
Have you always wanted to play Project Zomboid in COOP, but you don’t have people to play with? Then maybe you should consider the Superb Survivors mod, which adds unique NPCs and dialogue to the game!
What it does:
This mod adds two types of NPCs: neutral and hostile. You can invite neutral NPCs to join your group. These NPCs can be assigned different tasks to help around your base and fight alongside your character as you take on hordes of the un-dead! Meanwhile, hostile NPCs attack your player and your group on sight. Hostile NPCs will alsotry to raid your base and take it over!
How it makes things fun:
With the addition of hostile NPCs and raids, it makes Project Zomboid feel a lot more accurate to what a real-life apocalypse would feel like! The unique challenges of having NPCs makes playing the game a lot more fun. Since not only will players need to fend against zombies, but also fellow humans.
Superb Survivors Key Features:
- NPCs will spawn into the game
- Players can create groups
- NPCs in your group can do chores around your base
- Enemy NPCs create raider events
5. Extra Map Symbols
It’s sometimes annoying how limited Project Zomboid’s base-game map annotating symbols are.
What it does:
The Extra Map Symbols mod adds tons of new, unique symbols for annotating your Project Zomboid map. Being able to mark your map makes it easier to know where different important landmarks are without having to type them.
How it makes things fun:
Marking your map better makes it easier to find exactly what you’re looking for. Such a large map means going to the wrong location will take tons of time both in game, and in real life.
Extra Map Symbols Key Features:
- Tons of new symbols available for marking maps
- Symbols come in all the base game pen and pencil colors
- Replaces art of some base game symbols
6. The Only Cure
It’s always upsetting when your character survives a fight with zombies, only to realize they’re infected from a bite. This mod offers a grim alternative to simply letting your character die and turn into a zombie.
What it does:
This mod allows players to amputate limbs that are bitten on their characters. If your character survives the amputation, then you need to try tackling the hurdle of your character having one less limb to protect themselves with.
How it makes things fun:
Being able to avoid zombification means that players will be able to play as their character longer. Since amputation is also available in character creation, it offers a unique challenge that isn’t available in the base game.
The Only Cure Key Features:
- Infected arms and legs can be amputated to avoid turning into a zombie
- Prosthetic limbs can be crafted
- Traits to start the game with an amputation are available
7. Ambient Color
There isn’t a better way to add some color, literally, to a game than by finding some mods to add different lightings that go hand-in-hand with the day cycle!
What it does:
The Ambient Color mod adds several different light and color effects that change depending on the time of day in-game.
How it makes things fun:
Adding new lighting doesn’t only make Project Zomboid more aesthetically pleasing, but it’s also helpful to know the time of day even when you don’t have a watch!
Ambient Color Key Features:
- Sunshine effects added
- Sunshine takes place between 6 am to 9 am and 6 pm to 8 pm
- Different lighting according to the time of day
- Dawn, dusk, and night lighting added
8. Bedford Falls
Some veteran Project Zomboid players may run into the issue of getting bored with the map, or just wanting to spice up their gameplay by going somewhere new. Well, there are plenty of amazing mods that add custom maps, and Bedford Falls is one of the best out there!
What it does:
In this mod, there is a new city added to Project Zomboid, Bedford Falls. Bedford Falls is located just to the right of Muldraugh, connected by a long stretch of highway. The city contains all the bells and whistles that other cities and towns have, such as shopping centers and houses just waiting to be looted.
How it makes things fun:
The new location lets players have a new whole city to explore! With more loot to be found, it means your characters can survive longer with better equipment.
Bedford Falls Key Features:
- A full new city
- Works with the in-game map system
- Includes hundreds of new buildings to explore and loot
9. The Motorious Zone
For car enthusiasts, there aren't many mods as good as the Motorious Zone car mod.
What it does:
The Motorious Zone adds in dozens of new cars. Including cars that were made in the US, import cars, and rare cars. Some cars added include the GT40, R32 Skyline, and Mustangs!
How it makes things fun:
Players will be seeing all sorts of new cars in Project Zomboid with this mod, which not only makes driving around more fun, but it also makes fixing up cars a lot more rewarding.
The Motorious Zone Key Features:
- Dozens of new cars
- Cars are in the base game style
- Cars are appropriate to the time period the game is set in
- Includes cars from the US, imported cars, and rare/exotic cars
10. RV Interior Addon
Most people are familiar with “van-life,” well, this mod takes it to Project Zomboid.
What it does:
The RV interior Addon makes it possible for players to enter certain vehicles like they’re rooms. Some of the vehicles in this mod that can be entered are ambulances, vans, and buses.
How it makes things fun:
Being able to enter vans and buses means that players can make their own houses in the back of their car!
RV Interior Addon Key Features:
- Allows players to enter select cars
- RVs and Vans can be redecorated inside
- Allows players to sleep inside of vehicles
11. Greenhouse Building Set
People who focus on long-term survival in Project Zomboid know how important farming is and this mod helps make farming more fun.
What it does:
The Greenhouse Building Set adds a new section to carpentry, with the ability to build custom greenhouses. These greenhouses come in various colors to go with your base, and they are perfect for growing all your plants.
How it makes things fun:
Being able to build greenhouses is both fun, and it makes your base look prettier. Since all your plants can be contained in one neat space.
Greenhouse Building Set Key Features:
- Players can build their own greenhouses
- Comes in white, brown, green, and black
- Functional for growing plants indoors
12. Dynamic Monologue
Have you ever thought Project Zomboid was just a little too quiet? Well, this mod adds monologues for your character!
What it does:
The Dynamic Monologue mod adds tons of monologues for your character throughout the day. They have different monologues that appear when fighting zombies, eating, feeling hungry, or even finding items!
How it makes things fun:
This mod adds more life and personality to your Project Zomboid characters. Giving a more realistic feeling to the game.
Dynamic Monologue Key Features:
- More lifelike characters
- Characters will talk about things they hear and see
- Characters also have unique reactions to different loot based on their traits
- Adds more life and dimension to characters
13. Container Tags
One of the most annoying parts of playing games like Project Zomboid is managing and organizing your loot. This mod makes it a whole lot easier.
What it does:
The Container Tags mod makes it possible to label different containers! From lockers to crates, they can be labeled with custom text in a variety of colors. This makes putting away loot easier than ever before.
How it makes things fun:
Being able to organize your loot better makes it easier to loot more, and to find your things if there’s an incoming horde that you need to fight off!
Container Tags Key Features:
- Containers can be labeled with custom text
- Text color can be changed
- Can be used in COOP
14. Training Target
One of the most grueling skills to level up has to be aiming and reloading. Unless you start with a couple levels in these skills, it’s difficult to even start leveling them without being overwhelmed by the undead.
What it does:
This mod adds targets that your character can use to improve their aiming skill without risking their life by fighting zombies.
How it makes things fun:
Being able to improve aiming without actually fighting makes fighting more fun when the time comes to gun down hordes.
Training Target Key Features:
- Four new target recipes
- Gives XP for aiming as you as players shoot targets
- A safe way to build aiming and reloading skills
- COOP compatible
15. Weather Events
The potential for dangerous weather creates new challenges for any player!
What it does:
The Weather Events mod adds both blizzards and thunderstorms. These events even have their own in-game menu to change the duration of the storms, and how often they happen.
How it makes things fun:
This mod makes it possible to trigger weapon events everyday, or to have an infinite storm! This is a great custom challenge since players will need to face harsh weather along with the zombies.
Weather Events Key Features:
- Weather events that trigger at 12AM
- Blizzards and thunderstorms are added
- Custom events can be infinite
- Events only trigger during certain months
- Custom menu for the mod in-game
16. Basements
One of the best parts of base building in Project Zomboid is making your base unique to you! This mod adds another dimension to building bases.
What it does:
No one should be surprised to hear that the Basements mod adds basements and basement building to Project Zomboid. By finding basement magazines players will be able to add their own basement in three different sizes.
How it makes things fun:
Building your own basement makes it even more fun to work on your base. It means more space to decorate and more room to store your precious loot.
Basements Key Features:
- Three different size basement options
- Custom panels for electricity
- 152 different basement locations
- Magazines added to learn to build your own basements in your base!
17. Weapon Condition Indicator
The instant panic and feeling of your heart dropping when your character’s weapon breaks in the middle of fighting zombies is awful. This mod helps prevent that.
What it does:
When using the Weapon Condition Indicator mod you’ll easily be able to see your current weapon’s health, and you’ll get a notification when your weapon deteriorates. Making it easier to know when you need to repair your gear.
How it makes things fun:
Knowing exactly when to repair your weapons means you’ll be less likely to lose your character in battle. Meaning you have more time to level up your character instead of completely restarting.
Weapon Condition Indicator Key Features:
- Icon and progress bar indicators
- Blinking notification tells players when the condition of their weapon lowers
- Notification appears when players trip and drop a weapon
- Ammo counter display
- Battery charge display
18. Become Desensitized
It’s pretty hard to avoid most characters from panicking in Project Zomboid when faced with hordes of the un-dead, but this mod makes the desensitization system more complex.
What it does:
The Become Desensitized mod does exactly what its name says. Over time as your characters kill zombies, they will slowly become desensitized. This makes fighting zombies easier, since your character won’t panic.
How it makes things fun:
Creating an in-game system to become desensitized makes playing Project Zomboid feel more realistic, and gives motivation to kill more zombies.
Become Desensitized Key Features:
- After killing 500 zombies players may become desensitized to killing zombies with melee weapons or guns
- After 2000 zombies are killed characters are guaranteed to become desensitized
- Traits and occupation change the chance to become desensitized
19. More Traits
Players who spend a lot of time in character creation will love the More Traits mod to level-up their characters.
What it does:
This mod adds tons of new, fun traits to Project Zomboid. Some of these traits include “Prepared” traits, that will start your game with some extra gear on your character such as weapons or food.
How it makes things fun:
Adding more traits makes it possible for players to create more dynamic, stronger, and more fun to play characters!
More Traits Key Features:
- Traits that give characters starting equipment
- Traits that impact starting levels
- Compatible with plenty of other mods
20. Minimal Display Bars
Sometimes checking all your characters stats and also having inventories open takes up too much space on your screen. Leading to a lot of clutter while playing. The Minimal Display Bars mod solves that issue.
What it does:
The Minimal Display Bars mod makes a small organized series of bars that will show players their character’s more important stats. Health, endurance, calories, and more are all captured with color coded bars.
How it makes things fun:
Overall, this mod helps make playing Project Zomboid a lot more fun. Since managing your characters stats is made easier. Leaving players with more time to focus on fighting zombies or working around your base.
Minimal Display Bars Key Features:
- Displays stats
- Shows a characters health, hunger, thirst, endurance, boredom, temperature, and calories consumed
- Health bar changes colors and flashes when injured
- Extra settings are available in-game
