A wrong load order causes half of all the red errors in the log. Mods apply from top to bottom: if two mods change the same thing, the one lower in the list wins. That is why libraries and frameworks must load before content, and patches — after everything else.
The basic mod order template
- 1Core (the game itself) — always first, never move it.
- 2DLC: Royalty → Ideology → Biotech → Anomaly — in release order.
- 3Harmony — the shared patcher, right after Core and DLC.
- 4HugsLib — the utility library, right after Harmony.
- 5Frameworks: Vanilla Expanded Framework, Humanoid Alien Races and other series "core" mods.
- 6Large content mods and gameplay overhauls (Combat Extended, Hospitality and the like).
- 7Small mods: weapons, furniture, apparel, QoL utilities.
- 8Compatibility patches — at the very bottom.
The built-in mod list highlights dependencies and offers a sort button, but do not trust it blindly: mod authors set their requirements by hand, and not always accurately.
Why Harmony has to be first
Harmony does not change your saves — it gives the mods below it in the list a safe patching mechanism. If Harmony ends up below a mod that requires it, you will see a "requires Harmony" error on load and the mod will not work. The same goes for HugsLib: it must sit right after Core, which its description states outright.
Automatic mod sorting
Utilities like RimPy Mod Manager analyse mod dependencies and sort them automatically using a community rule database. It is a good starting point for a 50+ mod list, but always check the final order with your own eyes: auto-sorters do not know about unconventional dependencies and rarely keep up with mod updates.
Typical symptoms of a wrong order
- Red errors on startup mentioning XML, def or duplicate — almost always the order or a conflict.
- A mod claims a feature but it is missing in-game — another mod lower in the list overrode it.
- "Requires Harmony/HugsLib" in the error — the library sits below the dependent mod.
- Items vanished after updating the list — a content mod loaded before its framework.
Change the order one step at a time and restart the game: that way you immediately see which move fixed (or broke) the list.
For finding the culprit among a hundred mods, see the guide on RimWorld mod errors and conflicts. And if the game simply runs slow, start with Performance Fish and RocketMan — they speed RimWorld up regardless of load order.
Harmony
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Harmony — общая библиотека патчей, которую использует большинство модов RimWorld.
HugsLib
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Библиотека общей функциональности для модов RimWorld + публикация логов по Ctrl+F12.
Performance Fish
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Набор патчей производительности от Bradson: стабильный FPS и быстрый тик даже в поздней игре.
RocketMan - Performance Mod
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Мод производительности: кэширование загрузки, фикс освещения и до +500 TPS к игре.