Essential Mods

Kenshi's modding scene is so strong that "vanilla" quietly became "vanilla plus the obvious fixes". These are those fixes.

The mods most veterans install before they even start a new game. Quality-of-life so basic it feels like patches.

What This Covers

Essential mods are the near-universal picks — bug fixes, interface improvements and small conveniences that smooth Kenshi's rough edges without changing how the game plays.

Compatibility

Most essential mods are lightweight and compatible with almost everything. Load them high in the order, before large overhauls.

Beginner Friendliness

Safe for new players — they fix annoyances rather than altering balance or content. Install them first, then explore bigger mods later.

Recommended Mods

Dark UI

A cleaner, easier-to-read interface theme — almost universally installed.

Attack Slots +

Lets more characters attack a single enemy at once, fixing the awkward vanilla "queue".

Recruitable Prisoners

Lets you recruit captured enemies, opening unique squad members.

Compressed Textures Project

Reduces memory use and stutter with no visible quality loss.

Wanderer's Note

“Skeletons ignore hunger, sleep and acid rain. They are the wasteland’s explorers.”

Essential Mods

Category: Quality of life
Risk: Very low
Load order: High (before overhauls)
Beginner: Recommended