Wondering which Project Zomboid mods can truly elevate your game? While modding enriches many titles, it’s in expansive sandbox games like Project Zomboid where its potential truly shines. From massive game overhauls to subtle quality-of-life tweaks, the modding community offers endless possibilities.
First released in 2013, Project Zomboid has recently seen a huge resurgence in popularity, especially with the anticipated Build 42 update bringing tens of thousands of players back into its grim world. To enhance your survival experience, countless mods are available, and many dedicated creators are already updating their work for B42. Dive into our hand-picked selection of the absolute best Project Zomboid mods available right now, designed to transform your playthrough into something even more unforgettable.
Here are the top Project Zomboid mods you absolutely need:
- ORGM Rechambered
- Way More Cars
- Computer
- Water Pipes
- Bandits Creator
- SecretZ Pandemic
- Occupation Based Starting Gear
- Week One
- TV and Radio Reinvented
- They Knew
- Generator Time Remaining
- Skateboard!
- Automatic Gates
- Ain’t That a Kick in the Head
- Vehicle Repair Overhaul
- Braven’s Bicycles
- Vanilla Firearms Expansion
- Expanded Helicopter Events
- Unpack
- Common Sense
- Rain Wash
ORGM Rechambered
Version: B42
Normally, relying on firearms in Project Zomboid is a surefire way to attract unwanted attention from the horde. However, with the **ORGM Rechambered mod**, you might just change your tune. This incredible mod completely revamps Zomboid’s gunplay, prioritizing realism and introducing over 100 new firearms to arm yourself with (or, well, get yourself into deeper trouble with!).
Way More Cars
Version: B42
The wonderfully straightforward **Way More Cars mod** not only expands your options for vehicles, making it far easier to find a working ride, but it also playfully addresses the mystery of where all those zombies came from. Creator Gamestamechanic pondered this very question before developing Way More Cars, adding a charming backstory to its practical mechanics.
Computer
Version: B42
The **Computer mod** transforms the humble in-game PC into a fully interactive item. Use it to combat boredom and anxiety, and even give your character a mood boost. Disks found across the map allow you to install new games, but remember, your computer needs electricity to run, so plan your power supply carefully!
Water Pipes
Version: B42
With improved farming mechanics, you might be looking to automate some of your agricultural efforts, similar to Stardew Valley. The **Water Pipes mod** lets you build a sophisticated plumbing system that draws water from lakes, wells, and other sources to keep your crops perfectly hydrated. It can also be used to fill water barrels, ensuring you always have a refreshing drink on hand.
Bandits Creator
Version: B42
Building upon Slayer’s original Bandits mod, **Bandits Creator** introduces new, hostile human NPCs to Project Zomboid – as if the undead weren’t enough to contend with! While the base Bandits mod adds generic hostile characters, Bandits Creator lets you assign unique traits to these humans, influencing how they’ll try to hinder your survival. Imagine an electrician damaging your generators or a mechanic sabotaging your car. You can also customize NPC toughness, spawn frequency, and many other aspects. Since Slayer also developed the incredible Week One mod (further down this list), you know you’re in capable hands.
SecretZ Pandemic
Version: B42
As a map enhancement mod, **SecretZ Pandemic** adds several military checkpoints, outposts, and even a few secret bunkers to the game world. These locations are excellent for gearing up, but proceed with caution, as you might uncover additional items suggesting the military knew more than they let on…
Occupation Based Starting Gear
Version: B42
The **Occupation Based Starting Gear mod** equips each of Zomboid’s starting occupations with a distinct set of inventory items right from the beginning of a new game. It makes perfect sense: a police officer would start with their standard-issue handgun and holster, and a chef would surely have a can opener in their pocket! This mod adds a subtle but impactful layer to your initial occupation choice. That nurse job you usually pass over might now seem like a brilliant decision, given the medical supplies it provides.
Week One
Version: B42
The vanilla version of Project Zomboid throws you directly into the thick of the zombie apocalypse. But what if you wanted to witness the unfolding events? With the epic **Week One mod** by Slayer, your game actually begins a full seven days before the outbreak. While not technically canon, we’re happy to accept this immersive prequel if you are!
TV and Radio Reinvented
Version: B42
It might not seem like the most crucial addition to Project Zomboid, but once you experience the **TV and Radio Reinvented** mod, you won’t want to go back. This mod enhances the interactivity and interfaces of in-game televisions and radios, adding a new level of immersion to the sandbox experience. Now, when your character tunes into ‘Life and Living’ to gain new skills, you can genuinely sit back and enjoy actual television shows playing out.
They Knew
Version: B42
Thanks to new medicine types introduced by the **They Knew mod**, you can now cure yourself of the zombie virus, though you’ll need to do so each time you’re infected. You also gain the ability to delay deterioration, buying you more time to find a cure, and an infection prevention pill offers 24 hours of immunity. While these items are already fascinating additions, the creator has teased an expanded universe for the mod, promising new zombies, items, and a unique NPC trading system. We’ll keep you updated as more details emerge about this exciting expansion.
Generator Time Remaining
Version: B42
It can be incredibly frustrating to not know precisely how long your generator fuel will last, especially given it’s a vital resource for survival. The **Generator Time Remaining mod** solves this by displaying the exact days and hours you have left, right alongside the percentage. While it doesn’t yet show remaining condition (which is arguably just as important), knowing your fuel levels gives you a much better idea of when to embark on your next scavenging run.
Skateboard!
Version: B42
Not quite as speedy as a car, but undeniably cooler, the **Skateboard! mod** introduces a ridable skateboard to Project Zomboid, letting you cruise from point A to point B with serious style. Amazingly, you can press G to pop an ollie, and if your board takes a beating, it can even be repaired. This is an absolute must-have for any survivor who values flair!
Automatic Gates
Version: B41/B42
Several Project Zomboid mods offer automatic gate functionality, and we’ve got options for both B41 and B42 here. The **Automatic Gate mod for B41** does exactly what it says on the tin: it adds automatic gates. A seemingly minor change, but a huge safety improvement when you consider the potential deadly encounters lurking just outside your vehicle. The **Automatic Gates mod for B42** works similarly, allowing you to flash your car lights to open your gate. Both mods require you to construct the gate first, but they significantly reduce your risk of becoming zombie fodder on your way home. Due to vehicle sizes, automation is restricted to double doors, double metal pole gates, and double metal wire gates.
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 a couple of unique starting scenarios for your new playthrough, both inspired by the opening of Fallout New Vegas. The ATAKITH (much easier to type!) mod spawns you into the world with a bullet wound to the head, with the added challenge that the round is still lodged in your cranium. You’ll need to desperately search for medical supplies, and fast!
Vehicle Repair Overhaul
Version: B41/B42
For the mechanics among us, the lack of robust options for fixing up your in-game ride in vanilla Project Zomboid can be frustrating. Thankfully, that all changes with the incredible **Vehicle Repair Overhaul mod**, designed with real-life mechanics and welders in mind! Fix flat tires, salvage parts from derelict vehicles, and weld them onto your own car to restore your favorite broken-down transport. You’ll spend countless satisfying hours tinkering in your garage, and that’s a good thing! Vehicle Repair Overhaul is available for both B41 and B42, though the salvage option is not yet implemented for B42.
Braven’s Bicycles
Version: B41
While a bicycle might not be your immediate go-to for outrunning a zombie horde, it’s certainly preferable to your own two feet! The fantastic **Braven’s Bicycles mod** introduces a variety of bike types, each boasting unique stats. You can even attach a trailer to haul your scavenged resources back to base. Of course, the advantage of a bike is its independence from gas or batteries, but remember that pedaling will tire you out and leave you more vulnerable to unexpected attacks.
Vanilla Firearms Expansion
Version: B41
**Vanilla Firearms Expansion** adds a wide array of new weapons and also replaces the textures of existing guns, creating a completely overhauled arsenal. Blast zombies away with weapons like the semi-automatic SPAS-12 shotgun, the Uzi SMG, or the classic AK-47. New attachments allow for alternate ways to customize your weapons, including magazines for faster reloads and stabilizing bipods. Perhaps the best feature of VFE is its rework of the jamming mechanic: now, when you clear a jammed firearm, your lost round is returned if the gun is completely unloaded before clearing. The Vanilla Firearms mod is a community favorite for good reason, but it is currently restricted to B41. Sadly, a founding creator of the mod passed away in February 2025, which has understandably put progress on its B42 update on hold.
Expanded Helicopter Events
Version: B41
In the base game, a single helicopter event typically occurs early in your playthrough, drawing massive zombie hordes towards your location with its loud sirens. With the **Expanded Helicopter Events mod**, you’ll experience far more of these chaotic incidents, including crashed choppers, additional sirens, and much more. As one of the community’s most beloved mods, Expanded Helicopter Events was a must-include on our list. However, please note it is currently only compatible with Build 41. One of the creators, Chuckleberry Finn, has stated plans to update it for B42.
Unpack
Version: B41
We are eagerly awaiting this mod’s update to B42, but it’s so incredibly useful that we couldn’t leave it off this list for those still enjoying Build 41. The **Unpack mod** automatically moves and sorts items from your inventory into your home storage, saving you precious time and energy after a grueling day of scavenging. It’s an absolute game-changer for base management.
Common Sense
Version: B41
The **Common Sense mod** introduces several quality-of-life changes that, well, just make sense! Being able to pry open doors with a crowbar, craft makeshift spears from brooms, and open cans with knives are all highly plausible actions. With this mod, you can now perform these intuitive tasks in Project Zomboid, enhancing realism and convenience.
Rain Wash
Version: B41
The **Rain Wash mod** adds a subtle yet immersive feature: your clothes will gradually become clean if you remain exposed to the rain. Covered in blood? No problem! The blood will slowly transform into dirt, which will then gradually wash away, provided you stay outside during a downpour. While it’s not a substitute for a proper washing machine, it’s a handy solution in a desperate situation.
These are just a few of the fantastic Project Zomboid mods we’ve discovered so far, but we’re constantly on the lookout for more great additions to this list. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned survivor returning for the latest build, be sure to check out how combat is improved in Build 42, among many other significant changes!