Best Game Mod Loaders in 2026
Updated
In short: Everest is ranked #1 of 25 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Satisfactory Mod Loader and BepInEx. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Satisfactory Mod Loader.
A mod loader needs to fit the games and platforms you use, while giving you ways to manage how mods interact. Compared on mod loading method, dependency handling, and load-order control, these entries can also be assessed for profiles and plugin support. Supported games and platforms are central compatibility checks; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add access context. Everest and Satisfactory Mod Loader are among the named options, along with BepInEx. Use the listed criteria to consider how each loader fits your setup, whether you need profile or plugin support, and how much control over mod order and dependencies matters for the games you play.
25 game mod loaders ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Game Mod Loaders, one module each. A lit port is something its maker publishes; 1 of the 25 on this page have a public API.
- 01 Everest API yesOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 7.0
- 02 Satisfactory Mod Loader API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 6.0Free
- 03 BepInEx API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 04 Hell2Modding API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 05 MelonLoader API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 06 ModTek API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 07 MWSE API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 08 SMAPI API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 09 Northstar API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.6
- 10 Ultimate ASI Loader API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.2Free
- 11 Cyber Engine Tweaks API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1Free
- 12 Fallout 4 Script Extender (F4SE) API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 13 RED4ext API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 14 ScriptHookVDotNet API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 15 Starfield Script Extender API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 16 Venice Unleashed API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 17 xNVSE API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 18 Baldur's Gate 3 Script Extender API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.0
- 19 CLEO API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.0
- 20 Hollow Knight Modding API API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.0
- 21 REDmod API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.0
- 22 UE4SS API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.0
- 23 xOBSE API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.0
- 24 Sonic API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 4.9
- 25 Unity API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 4.8
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Platform | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported games | Supported platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everest | 7.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Celeste | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 2 | Satisfactory Mod Loader | 6.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Satisfactory | Windows, Linux |
| 3 | BepInEx | 5.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 4 | Hell2Modding | 5.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Hades II | Windows; Steam Deck through Proton |
| 5 | MelonLoader | 5.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Unity games using Mono or Il2Cpp | Windows, Linux (WINE/Steam Proton/native), macOS, Android and Oculus Quest (WIP) |
| 6 | ModTek | 5.9 | Free plan | Free | — | — | BattleTech | Windows, Linux, macOS |
| 7 | MWSE | 5.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind | Windows; Linux via Wine |
| 8 | SMAPI | 5.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Stardew Valley | Linux, macOS, Windows, Steam Deck, Android |
| 9 | Northstar | 5.6 | No | — | Yes | — | Titanfall 2 | Windows; Linux |
| 10 | Ultimate ASI Loader | 5.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | GTA San Andreas; Resident Evil 5 | Windows (Win32 and Win64) |
| 11 | Cyber Engine Tweaks | 5.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Cyberpunk 2077 | Windows; Linux via Proton |
| 12 | Fallout 4 Script Extender (F4SE) | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Fallout 4 | Windows |
| 13 | RED4ext | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Cyberpunk 2077 | Windows |
| 14 | ScriptHookVDotNet | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Grand Theft Auto V | Windows PC |
| 15 | Starfield Script Extender | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Starfield | Windows |
| 16 | Venice Unleashed | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Battlefield 3 | Windows |
| 17 | xNVSE | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Fallout: New Vegas | Windows |
| 18 | Baldur's Gate 3 Script Extender | 5.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Baldur's Gate 3 | Windows, Linux via Proton |
| 19 | CLEO | 5.0 | 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 |
| 20 | Hollow Knight Modding API | 5.0 | No | — | — | — | Hollow Knight | Windows, Linux, macOS |
| 21 | REDmod | 5.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Cyberpunk 2077 | Windows |
| 22 | UE4SS | 5.0 | No | — | — | — | — | Windows |
| 23 | xOBSE | 5.0 | No | — | — | — | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion | Windows; Linux via Steam Proton |
| 24 | Sonic | 4.9 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | Unity | 4.8 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which game mod loader is ranked first on Inferse?
Everest is ranked #1 of 25 with a score of 7.0. Satisfactory Mod Loader is second and BepInEx third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it.