SnowRunner How to Install Mods Manually

On mod.io we can sometimes find interesting mods that require a manual installation. While going through the Steam forum I found several topics with people questioning where they have to put the mods, and how to install it.Generally, you do not have to install mods manually. The modder will tell you in his description if the mod needs to be installed manually. Only then, this guide is helpful for you! Also – a lot of modders give a little tutorial on how to install mods. Now I know it is a little bit different to the EPIC-version of the game in terms of paths – so I got you covered if you continue reading.

Bear in mind:

I use an example here. With this example, we have to edit the initial.pak. This file is used for 99.9% of all mods, so this is the best example you can get! Always read the modder’s description!

Installing mods manually requires you to edit base game files, that cannot be touched by subscribing to a mod via mod.io. Mods you have to install manually are typically marked as such on mod.io.

But wait, doesn’t this create issues with multiplayer?

No. The game does not check or verify base game files. So if you modded a winch to be 2 times longer or your trucks to have more fuel, it will work for you in multiplayer without breaking the game. It won’t work for anybody else playing with you who has not installed the mod.

Make sure you do NOT install a huge load of mods! Chances are, you are going to install a mod that shares its files with another mod and you end up with a different function as intended.

Always read what the mod does!

Make sure you backup your game files before editing. If something goes wrong you can easily fix the game with these backups.

Before we start installing mods manually we will need to have one program installed.

WinRAR in its latest version.

You can find it for free at: https://www.win-rar.com/download.html?&L=1

Using WinRAR will make any further step incredibly easy because WinRar can open the file type we are about to edit by default!

DO NOT use 7zip or similar software. It doesn’t work properly with *.pak files and will break your game!

Find the mod you want to install and open the zip file with WinRAR. It is probably going to look like in this example with the realistic fuel capacities mod:

Also, open the initial.pak with WinRAR. Drag and drop the files from the mod into the initial.pak like in the image:

When being asked how you want to add the files, choose add and replace in WinRar and click okay!