Getting Started with Hades Modding
Mod Importer install, dropping mods into Content/Mods/, and run-iterating
Hades modding uses Mod Importer, a community Lua framework. The setup is straightforward but Hades's modding scene is smaller than the major Bethesda or Capcom games. This guide walks the standard install.
Step 1 — Install Mod Importer
Mod Importer is the community mod loader. Download and run the installer.
Mod Importer modifies Hades's Lua loading flow so it can detect mods in the Content/Mods/ folder.
Step 2 — Drop mods into Content/Mods/
Each mod is a folder containing a modfile.txt plus Lua and asset files. Place the folder into:
Hades/Content/Mods/<mod_name>/
The mod's modfile.txt declares which Hades systems it modifies.
Step 3 — Install your first mods
Three popular picks:
- Mod Utility — a foundational utility library many other mods reference.
- Various aspect mods — new weapon aspects with custom mechanics.
- Cosmetic mods — character/Zagreus appearance changes.
Drop each into Content/Mods/. Launch Hades; mods load automatically.
Step 4 — Run-based testing
Hades runs are short (~20-40 minutes). Iterating on mod changes is fast — start a run, see the changes, restart if testing.
For save-affecting mods, back up your %AppData%/../LocalLow/Supergiant Games/Hades/ saves before installing.
Common gotchas
- Mod Importer didn't take effect. Re-run the installer; sometimes it fails silently on first install.
- Mod requires Mod Utility. Most do. Install it first.
- Patch broke mods. Supergiant patches occasionally invalidate Mod Importer's hooks. Wait for the community to update.
- Save game corruption. Removing a content mod from a save that used it can corrupt the save. Cosmetic mods are usually safe.
Hades's modding scene is friendly and conceptually clean, but smaller than the major RPG modding communities. The Lua-based approach makes authoring accessible for anyone with scripting experience.