Changes

A ''mod'' is just a package of files which changes Stardew Valley in some way. Mods can add features (like showing NPCs on the map), change game mechanics (like making fences decay more slowly), make cosmetic changes (like making your house look like a hobbit home), and more.

A ''mod'' is just a package of files which changes Stardew Valley in some way. Mods can add features (like showing NPCs on the map), change game mechanics (like making fences decay more slowly), make cosmetic changes (like making your house look like a hobbit home), and more.

There are generally two types of mods:

There are three types of mods:

* '''SMAPI mods''' use SMAPI (a modding API) to run code within the game. These mods are powerful and convenient. After installing SMAPI, you can install mods by dropping them into a folder and uninstall them by deleting their folder. You can use multiple SMAPI mods, and they'll rarely conflict. Ideally you would only use SMAPI mods.

* '''SMAPI mods''' use SMAPI (the Stardew Valley mod loader) to run code within the game. These mods are powerful and convenient. After installing SMAPI, you can install mods by dropping them into a folder and uninstall them by deleting their folder. You can use multiple SMAPI mods, and they'll rarely conflict.

* '''XNB mods''' replace the game's data files (which have an <tt>.xnb</tt> extension, thus the name). These are harder to manage (you'll need to keep track of which files you overwrote and keep backups), and you can't use two mods that change the same files. These are often used to change images in the game, since they don't require any programming knowledge.

* '''SMAPI content packs''' are loaded by a SMAPI mod. As a player, you can just install them the same way as SMAPI mods.

 

* '''XNB mods''' are discouraged and not documented here (see [[Modding:Using XNB mods|using XNB mods]]).

If you're just starting out, you should avoid XNB mods. It's easier for something to go wrong with those, and harder to fix when it does. However, you can use XNB and SMAPI mods together.

===What is SMAPI?===

===What is SMAPI?===

[https://smapi.io/ SMAPI] is a modding API — it launches the game with mod support and lets mods interact directly with the game code. It's safely installed alongside your normal game, and you can uninstall it anytime.

[https://smapi.io/ SMAPI] is the mod loader for Stardew Valley — it launches the game with mod support and lets mods interact directly with the game code. It's safely installed alongside your normal game, and you can uninstall it anytime.

===Can I use mods on Linux, Mac, Windows, or consoles?===

===Can I use mods on Linux, Mac, Windows, or consoles?===