How to Get Mods in Animal Company

Ever felt like your Animal Company experience could be, well, a little more…wild? Maybe you crave new critters to manage, complex economic systems, or just a visual overhaul that makes your zoo truly unique. The good news is, the world of modding opens up endless possibilities for customizing and enhancing your gameplay, allowing you to craft a truly personalized zoo management adventure.

Mods breathe new life into games, and Animal Company is no exception. They empower you, the player, to shape the game according to your desires, expanding its content and tweaking its mechanics in ways the developers might not have even imagined. Learning how to properly install and manage these modifications is key to unlocking the full potential of Animal Company and ensuring countless hours of fresh and exciting gameplay.

What mods can I install, and how do I get started?

What’s the easiest way to install mods in Animal Company?

The easiest way to install mods in Animal Company is by using a mod manager like Thunderstore Mod Manager. This automates the process of downloading, installing, and managing mods, reducing the risk of errors and making it simple to keep your mods up-to-date.

Thunderstore Mod Manager provides a user-friendly interface where you can browse available mods, install them with a single click, and create mod profiles to easily switch between different sets of mods. It handles dependency management automatically, ensuring that all required mods are installed and compatible, which significantly simplifies the modding experience.

To use Thunderstore Mod Manager, first download and install it from the Thunderstore website. Then, launch the manager, select Animal Company, and create a new profile. From there, you can browse the available mods and install the ones you want to use. The mod manager will automatically handle the installation and any necessary dependencies. Remember to launch the game through the mod manager to ensure the mods are loaded correctly.

Are there any safe websites for downloading Animal Company mods?

Finding safe websites for Animal Company mods requires caution, as unofficial mod repositories can sometimes host malicious files. Generally, trusted sources include Thunderstore.io and Nexus Mods. These platforms have community moderation and file scanning processes in place to help ensure the safety of downloads, but it’s still crucial to exercise personal vigilance.

While Thunderstore.io and Nexus Mods are considered safer than many other options, no platform can guarantee 100% safety. Always read user reviews and check the mod’s download count; highly downloaded mods with positive feedback are generally more trustworthy. Before installing any mod, scan the downloaded file with a reputable antivirus program. It’s also a good practice to understand how to install mods and where they are being placed on your system. This allows you to more easily remove any potentially harmful files should you encounter an issue. Backing up your game files before installing mods is another important safeguard, enabling you to revert to a clean state if something goes wrong. If a website seems suspicious or asks for excessive permissions, it’s best to avoid it.

Do Animal Company mods work with the Steam Workshop?

Currently, Animal Company does not natively support the Steam Workshop. This means you cannot directly browse, subscribe to, and automatically download mods from within the Steam client for this game.

Instead of the Steam Workshop, Animal Company relies on external modding communities and websites for distributing mods. This means players need to manually download mod files from sources like Nexus Mods, ModDB, or dedicated fan forums. After downloading the files, users will typically need to manually install them by placing them in the correct folder within the Animal Company game directory. The specific instructions for installation vary depending on the mod, so it’s crucial to carefully read the instructions provided by the mod author.

While the lack of Steam Workshop integration might seem inconvenient to some, it doesn’t necessarily limit the availability or creativity of mods for Animal Company. It simply means that the modding process is a bit more hands-on and requires players to be more proactive in finding, installing, and managing their mods. Always be sure to download mods from reputable sources to avoid potential security risks and ensure compatibility with your game version. Furthermore, check the mod descriptions for dependency requirements, such as needing specific versions of the game or other mods.

How do I uninstall mods in Animal Company if they cause problems?

To uninstall mods in Animal Company that are causing problems, the most straightforward method is to manually remove the mod files from the game’s “Mods” folder. This typically involves locating the mod’s files and deleting them, which should revert the game to its original state, minus the problematic mod.

The specific steps for removing mods usually depend on how you installed them in the first place. If you used a mod manager (like Thunderstore Mod Manager), you can generally uninstall mods through the manager’s interface. Simply select the mod you want to remove and click the “Uninstall” or “Disable” button. If you manually placed files into the “Mods” folder (located within the game’s directory), you will need to manually delete the corresponding files and folders. This can involve navigating to the correct directory, identifying the mod’s files (often named after the mod itself), and deleting them. Before removing any files, it is generally a good idea to take note of which mods you are uninstalling and where you obtained them. This will help you avoid re-installing the same problematic mods in the future and allow you to reinstall working mods if needed. Sometimes, conflicts between mods can also cause issues. If removing one mod doesn’t fix the problem, try uninstalling others one by one to identify the source of the conflict. Verify the integrity of your game files through Steam afterwards to ensure that no residual mod data is causing errors.

What are some essential mods for Animal Company that you recommend?

While the definition of “essential” is subjective and depends on your playstyle, a few mods consistently enhance the Animal Company experience. QoL improvements such as Bottleneck (for identifying production bottlenecks), Production Queue (to manage production more efficiently), and Research Tree (for better research planning) are highly recommended. For deeper gameplay changes, consider mods that introduce new animals, resources, or production chains. The key is to start with a few and gradually add more as you understand how they affect the game.

Mods that address specific pain points are often considered essential by players. For example, the base game can be challenging regarding animal welfare, so mods that provide more granular control over diets or environmental conditions can significantly improve gameplay. Additionally, mods that offer better UI/UX elements can drastically reduce the time spent navigating menus and managing resources. Finding a balance between realism, complexity, and playability is crucial, so choose mods that complement your individual gaming preferences.

Before diving into a large number of mods, it’s wise to test them individually or in small groups to ensure compatibility and avoid conflicts. Many popular mod authors provide detailed descriptions and even compatibility guides. Always check the last updated date and user reviews to gauge the current stability and functionality of a mod, and be aware that major game updates might temporarily break compatibility with existing mods. Regularly updating your mods and reading the authors’ notes is important to maintain a stable and enjoyable Animal Company experience.

Is there a specific mod loader required for Animal Company?

Yes, Animal Company, like its predecessor Lethal Company, relies heavily on the BepInEx mod loader to function correctly with mods. Using any other mod loader is highly unlikely to work and may even cause issues with the game.

To elaborate, BepInEx acts as a bridge between the game’s code and the modifications you install. It allows mods to inject their code into the game without directly altering the original game files, making the modding process safer and easier to manage. The vast majority of mods created for Lethal Company, and by extension Animal Company, are specifically designed to work with BepInEx. Therefore, when seeking mods and installation instructions, ensure they explicitly state compatibility with BepInEx. Most modding communities and websites dedicated to Lethal Company/Animal Company mods will clearly indicate the required mod loader. Ignoring this requirement will likely result in non-functional mods or even game instability. Always prioritize BepInEx when setting up your modding environment for Animal Company.

And that’s all there is to it! Hopefully, this guide has helped you navigate the world of Animal Company mods. Now go forth, experiment, and have a blast customizing your game! Thanks for reading, and be sure to check back soon for more tips, tricks, and mod recommendations!