Looking to enhance your Project Zomboid gameplay? Sandbox titles truly shine with community-made modifications, transforming the core experience and adding endless possibilities. Project Zomboid, a prime example, offers an incredible array of mods that range from massive game overhauls to subtle but impactful quality-of-life upgrades.
Even though it launched in 2013, Project Zomboid has recently seen a huge surge in popularity, especially with the anticipated Build 42 update. Thousands of players are returning, eager to explore new content. To make your survival journey even better, dedicated modders are actively updating their creations for Build 42. Below, we’ve curated a list of the absolute best Project Zomboid mods available today, perfect for boosting your experience in this intense survival game.
ORGM Rechambered
Version: B42
Typically, firing a gun in Project Zomboid is a fast track to becoming zombie chow. However, the ORGM Rechambered mod might just tempt you to reconsider your stealth strategy. This mod completely revamps the game’s firearms system, placing a strong emphasis on realism. It also introduces over 100 brand-new weapons, offering even more ways to bravely face—or tragically succumb to—the horde.
Way More Cars
Version: B42
The wonderfully straightforward Way More Cars mod does more than just give you a wider selection of vehicles, making it significantly easier to find a working ride. It also cleverly addresses a common player thought: “Where did all these zombies even come from?” The mod’s creator, Gamestamechanic, pondered this very question before developing Way More Cars, weaving a compelling backstory directly into the mod’s practical gameplay mechanics.
Computer
Version: B42
With the Computer mod, a seemingly ordinary PC transforms into a fully interactive game element. You can now use computers to combat boredom, ease anxiety, and even improve your character’s mood. Across the map, you’ll discover disks that allow you to install new games onto your PC. Remember, though, that these electronics require power, so ensure you have a reliable electricity source to keep the screens glowing.
Water Pipes
Version: B42
As farming becomes a more robust feature, you might be keen to automate some of your agricultural efforts, much like in Stardew Valley. The Water Pipes mod enables you to build an intricate plumbing network that siphons water from various sources, such as lakes and wells, directly to your crops. It can also automatically fill water barrels, ensuring you always have a fresh supply of drinking water.
Bandits Creator
Version: B42
An enhanced iteration of Slayer’s original Bandits mod, Bandits Creator introduces aggressive human NPCs into Project Zomboid – as if battling hordes of the undead wasn’t challenging enough! While the base Bandits mod provides generic hostile characters, Bandits Creator lets you assign unique traits to these human adversaries, influencing how they disrupt your survival efforts. For instance, an electrician might target your generators, and a mechanic could sabotage your vehicle. You can also customize their difficulty, spawn rates, and other characteristics. Given that Slayer is also responsible for the outstanding Week One mod, featured later in this list, you can be assured of its quality.
SecretZ Pandemic
Version: B42
The SecretZ Pandemic mod enriches the game map by introducing several military checkpoints, fortified outposts, and even hidden bunkers. These locations are excellent for finding valuable gear, but proceed with caution; you might uncover additional items hinting that the military possessed more knowledge about the unfolding pandemic than initially revealed…
Occupation Based Starting Gear
Version: B42
The Occupation Based Starting Gear mod thoughtfully equips each of Project Zomboid’s starting occupations with a unique set of items directly in your inventory from the moment you begin a new game. It just makes sense: a police officer would naturally start with a standard-issue handgun and holster, while a chef would undoubtedly have a can opener close at hand. This mod introduces a subtle yet strategic layer to your initial career choice. You might have previously dismissed the nurse profession, but now, starting with a comprehensive array of medical supplies, it could prove to be an incredibly wise decision for long-term survival.
Week One
Version: B42
While standard Project Zomboid thrusts you directly into the height of the zombie apocalypse, the Week One mod offers a fascinating alternative: experience the outbreak unfold. With this mod, your game begins a full seven days before the zombie plague strikes, allowing you to witness the initial chaos and prepare for the impending doom.
This incredible mod by Slayer is a personal favorite. Although Week One isn’t officially part of the game’s lore, its immersive prequel experience makes it easy to embrace as a “what if” scenario.
TV and Radio Reinvented
Version: B42
While it might not seem like the most crucial addition, once you experience the TV and Radio Reinvented mod, you’ll wonder how you ever played without it. This mod brings a significant boost in interactivity and user interfaces to the in-game televisions and radios, layering on a new level of immersion.
Now, when your character tunes into “Life and Living” to learn new skills, you can actually enjoy engaging television shows alongside them, making skill progression a more entertaining affair in this sandbox game.
They Knew
Version: B42
With the They Knew mod, you gain access to new types of medicine that allow you to cure the zombie virus, though you’ll need to administer treatment each time you’re infected. This mod also provides options to temporarily slow down your zombification, giving you precious extra time to locate a cure, and even an infection prevention pill that grants 24 hours of immunity.
Beyond these immediate benefits, the mod’s creator has hinted at an expanded universe, promising new zombie variants, additional items, and a distinctive NPC trading system in future updates.
Generator Time Remaining
Version: B42
It’s incredibly frustrating to be left guessing how much longer your generator fuel will last, especially considering it’s a critical resource for survival. The Generator Time Remaining mod addresses this by clearly displaying the remaining days and hours of fuel alongside the percentage indicator.
While this mod currently only tracks fuel and not the generator’s overall condition—a feature arguably just as vital—knowing your exact fuel reserves provides a much-needed advantage for planning your scavenging trips.
Skateboard!
Version: B42
While not as swift as a car, the Skateboard! mod offers a significantly cooler way to traverse the zombie-infested landscape. This mod introduces a rideable skateboard, allowing you to travel with unparalleled style. You can even pop an ollie by pressing G, and if your board takes too much damage, don’t worry—it’s fully repairable. A definite must-have for the stylish survivor!
Automatic Gates
Version: B41/B42
Several Project Zomboid mods offer the convenience of automated gates, and we’ve highlighted versions compatible with both Build 41 and Build 42 here. The Automatic Gate mod for B41 delivers exactly what its name suggests, providing gates that open automatically. This seemingly minor tweak offers a huge advantage, significantly reducing your exposure to danger when entering or exiting your base.
Similarly, the Automatic Gates mod for B42 allows you to open your gate with a simple flash of your car lights. Both mods require you to construct the gate yourself before automation can be applied. To accommodate larger vehicles, these mods currently support only double doors, double metal pole gates, and double metal wire gates, ensuring a safer return to your sanctuary.
Ain’t That A Kick In The Head
Version: B41/B42
More than just a classic tune, the Ain’t That A Kick In The Head mod introduces exciting new starting scenarios inspired by the iconic opening of Fallout New Vegas. This mod (ATAKITH for short) drops you into the world with a severe bullet wound to the head, and to make matters worse, the projectile is still lodged in your skull. Your immediate priority is clear: find crucial medical supplies, and fast, to survive this grim beginning.
Vehicle Repair Overhaul
Version: B41/B42
For the meticulous Project Zomboid mechanic, the limited options for vehicle repair can be a source of constant frustration. Thankfully, the expansive Vehicle Repair Overhaul mod completely changes this, having been meticulously crafted with real-world mechanics and welders as inspiration.
Now you can expertly repair flat tires, salvage usable parts from derelict vehicles, and weld them onto your prized but broken-down car. Prepare to spend hours engrossed in your garage, meticulously restoring your favorite ride – and enjoying every moment of it. While Vehicle Repair Overhaul supports both Build 41 and Build 42, the advanced salvage feature is still awaiting implementation in B42.
Braven’s Bicycles
Version: B41
While a bicycle might not be your initial escape vehicle of choice from a relentless zombie horde, it’s certainly preferable to traveling on foot! The fantastic Braven’s Bicycles mod introduces a variety of bike types, each boasting distinct stats. You can even attach a trailer to haul your scavenged supplies back to base. The clear advantage of a bicycle is its independence from gas or batteries, though remember that all that pedaling will deplete your stamina and potentially leave you more exposed to attacks.
Vanilla Firearms Expansion
Version: B41
The Vanilla Firearms Expansion introduces a plethora of new weapons and revitalizes the aesthetics of existing firearms, delivering a completely overhauled arsenal. Decimate zombie hordes with powerful options like the semi-automatic SPAS-12 shotgun, the Uzi SMG, or the iconic AK-47. Furthermore, new attachments provide diverse ways to customize your weapons, including magazines for quicker reloads and stabilizing bipods.
Perhaps the most brilliant enhancement VFE offers is its redesigned jamming mechanic. Now, when you clear a jammed firearm, any lost round is cleverly returned to you if the weapon is fully unloaded before the action. This mod remains a community favorite for good reason, though it is currently limited to Build 41. Progress on the Build 42 update has unfortunately been paused following the passing of a founding creator in February 2025.
Expanded Helicopter Events
Version: B41
The vanilla game features a singular helicopter event early in your playthrough, an alarming occurrence that inevitably attracts massive zombie hordes with its blaring sirens. The Expanded Helicopter Events mod amplifies this chaos, introducing a wider variety of intense incidents, including crashed choppers, unexpected siren calls, and other dynamic events.
This mod is a community staple for its ability to inject more unpredictability into the game, but currently, it is only compatible with Build 41. One of its creators, Chuckleberry Finn, has confirmed plans for a future update to support Build 42.
Unpack
Version: B41
Though we’re eagerly awaiting its Build 42 update, the Unpack mod is simply too good to omit for those still enjoying Build 41. This brilliant mod streamlines your post-scavenging routine by automatically moving and organizing items from your inventory into your designated home storage. It’s a true game-changer, saving you immense time and precious energy after a grueling day in the apocalypse.
Common Sense
Version: B41
The aptly named Common Sense mod introduces a suite of quality-of-life improvements that simply make logical sense within the game’s grim reality. Imagine prying open locked doors with a crowbar, improvising spears from common household brooms, or using a knife to open canned goods. These plausible actions are now possible in Project Zomboid thanks to this mod, making your survival efforts feel far more intuitive.
Rain Wash
Version: B41
The Rain Wash mod introduces a minor yet highly immersive feature: your clothing will gradually become clean if you’re caught in the rain. Covered in zombie blood and grime? No problem! Blood slowly transforms into dirt, which then gradually washes away as long as you stay exposed to the natural elements. While it might not be a substitute for a thorough scrubbing, it’s a lifesaver when proper laundry facilities are out of reach.
This list highlights just some of the outstanding Project Zomboid mods we’ve encountered, and we’re always on the lookout for more fantastic additions. Whether you’re a newcomer to this crafting game or a veteran returning for the latest build, be sure to explore how combat has been enhanced in Build 42, alongside other significant updates.