DEAD AS DISCO: HOW TO MOD ON PC

Dead as Disco is one of the easiest games to mod on PC; no complicated tools, no injectors. Just create one folder and drag three files into it. This guide covers everything from the 30-second mods folder setup, to three different ways to install mods (manual, community mod manager, and Vortex), to the best character and utility mods available right now. Also includes a full file path reference, troubleshooting for the most common problems, and the difference between the Demo and Early Access versions and why it matters for mods.

How to Mod Dead as Disco (Nexus Mods Guide)

How to Mod Dead as Disco on PC

Dead as Disco runs on Unreal Engine 5, which means modding it is actually one of the simplest setups in PC gaming. No REFramework. No complicated injectors. Most mods are drag-and-drop; you literally copy three files into a folder and you're done.

This guide covers:

• The difference between the Demo and Early Access versions and why it matters for mods
  
• How to set up your mods folder (takes 30 seconds)
  
• Three ways to install mods: manual, Vortex, and the community mod manager
  
• The best mods available right now
  
• Troubleshooting when things go wrong
  
• Safety tips and what to avoid

Good news: Dead as Disco is one of the easiest games to mod on PC. If you have ever copied a file, you can do this.

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Quick Links:

• Nexus Mods — Dead as Disco page[www.nexusmods.com]
  
• Dead as Disco Vortex Extension[www.nexusmods.com]
  
• Dead as Disco Mod Manager (community tool)[www.nexusmods.com]
  
• DiscoMaps — Community Beatmaps[discomaps.com]

Demo vs Early Access: Read This First

Demo vs Early Access: Which One Are You On?

This is the most confusing thing about Dead as Disco modding and it trips up a lot of people. The game has two separate versions on Steam and they behave differently.

Version	Mods Work?	DiscoMaps Leaderboards?	Notes
Demo	✔ Yes	✔ Yes; full leaderboard + tournament support	Free. Most mods and guides are written for this version
Early Access	✔ Yes	✘ View only; cannot submit scores	Paid ($19.99). More content but different scoring system

The practical difference: Mods install the same way on both versions. The only thing that changes is DiscoMaps leaderboard submission; that is locked to the Demo because the scoring system works differently in EA.

Most players keep both versions installed and switch between them:

• Demo → for competing on DiscoMaps leaderboards and tournaments
  
• Early Access → for all the new content and progression

Path difference to know: Demo folder is named Dead as Disco Demo and EA folder is named Dead as Disco in your Steam library. Make sure you are installing mods into the correct one.

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Which file paths to use:

Demo version:

\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Dead as Disco Demo\Pagoda\Content\Paks\

Early Access version:

\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Dead as Disco\Pagoda\Content\Paks\

This guide uses the Demo paths in examples. Just swap the folder name if you are on Early Access.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Mods Folder

Setting Up Your Mods Folder

Before you can install any mod, you need to create the folder Dead as Disco looks for when loading mods. This is a one-time setup that takes about 30 seconds.

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Step 1: Find your game folder

1. Open Steam
   
2. Right-click Dead as Disco (or Dead as Disco Demo) in your library
   
3. Click Manage → Browse local files
   
4. This opens the root folder of the game

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Step 2: Navigate to the Paks folder

From the root folder, open these folders in order:

Pagoda → Content → Paks

You should see files like pakchunk0-WindowsNoEditor.pak inside. This is the right place.

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Step 3: Create the ~mods folder

1. Right-click inside the Paks folder
   
2. Select New → Folder
   
3. Name it exactly: ~mods

The tilde (~) is mandatory. Unreal Engine 5 uses the tilde to identify which folders contain mod files. A folder named "mods" without the tilde will be ignored by the game entirely.

Your full mod path should now look like this:

-- Demo version
\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Dead as Disco Demo\Pagoda\Content\Paks\~mods\
 
-- Early Access version
\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Dead as Disco\Pagoda\Content\Paks\~mods\

You are ready to install mods. That is the entire setup.

Step 2: Installing Mods (3 Methods)

Three Ways to Install Mods

Pick the method that suits you. Method A is the fastest and what most people use. Methods B and C are better if you plan to manage many mods at once.

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Method A: Manual Install (Drag and Drop)

This is the standard method. Almost every mod on Nexus uses this.

1. Go to https://www.nexusmods.com/deadasdisco and find a mod
   
2. Log in to your free Nexus account (required to download)
   
3. Go to the Files tab and click Manual Download
   
4. Extract the downloaded archive (.zip or .rar)
   
5. Inside the extracted folder you will find .pak, .ucas, and .utoc files
   
6. Copy those three files (not the folder they are in) directly into your ~mods folder
   
7. Launch the game; the mod is now active

Important: Drop the files, not the folder. If you drag the whole extracted folder into ~mods the game will not see the mod. The .pak, .ucas, and .utoc files need to sit directly inside ~mods.

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Method B: Dead as Disco Mod Manager (Community Tool)

This is a free community-made mod manager built specifically for Dead as Disco. It has a clean neon-dark interface and lets you enable/disable mods with a single click; no more manually moving files.
Download: https://www.nexusmods.com/deadasdisco/mods/427

How to set it up:

1. Download and extract the manager
   
2. Run the .exe file
   
3. On first launch, set your game path: navigate to your Dead as Disco Demo folder and select Pagoda.exe
   
4. Set your custom mods folder; this is where the manager stores your downloaded mods
   
5. To install a mod: download the .zip from Nexus and use the Add Mod button directly on the zip file; the manager handles everything else
   
6. Toggle mods on or off with one click, then launch the game

Note on antivirus warnings: The manager may trigger a false positive from Windows Defender or other antivirus software. This is common for apps built with PyInstaller (a Python packaging tool). The project is fully open source; you can verify the code yourself at https://github.com/Elotq64/DAD_Mod_Manager.

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Method C: Vortex Mod Manager

If you already use Vortex for other games (Skyrim, Cyberpunk, etc.), there is an official Dead as Disco extension that adds full support.

Download the extension: https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/1626

How to set it up:

1. Install Vortex[www.nexusmods.com] if you do not already have it
   
2. Download and install the Dead as Disco extension from the link above
   
3. Open Vortex and select Dead as Disco as your active game
   
4. Vortex will automatically detect your install path
   
5. From now on, click Vortex on any Nexus mod page to install directly; no manual file moving needed

What Vortex handles automatically:

• UE5 .pak/.ucas/.utoc mods → goes straight into Paks/~mods
  
• UE4SS script mods → goes into ue4ss/Mods
  
• Config files (.ini) → installed to the correct folder

Important limitation: Vortex requires your game folder, mod staging folder, and user folder to all be on the same drive (e.g. all on C:\). If your Steam library is on a secondary drive (D:\, E:\, etc.) you may run into symlink issues. The community DAD Mod Manager (Method B) does not have this limitation.

Best Mods to Download Right Now

Best Mods Available (May 2026)

Dead as Disco launched into Early Access on May 5, 2026 and already has 378+ mods on Nexus. Here are the standouts worth grabbing first.

All mods available at https://www.nexusmods.com/deadasdisco.

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Character Skin Mods

These replace Charlie Disco's character model with someone else. Install method: drop .pak/.ucas/.utoc files into ~mods.

Spider-Man (Advanced Suit + Black Suit Pack)
Two model swaps in one pack with fully custom materials. One of the most polished character mods on Nexus. Very clean implementation.

Jotaro Kujo (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
Replaces the default character with Jotaro. The author notes the fingers are slightly long and a model revamp is in progress; functional and recognizable regardless.

Yuji Itadori + Ryomen Sukuna (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Two separate model options from JJK. Very popular; one of the most-downloaded mods on the page right now.

Satoru Gojo: Shinjuku Showdown Arc
Replaces Charlie with Gojo in his Shinjuku outfit. Extract the zip and drop files into ~mods.

Sybil from Pseudoregalia
The indie darling gets a spot in Dead as Disco. Uploaded May 5, 2026; one of the mods of the month.

Meguna from JJK
Replaces Charlie with Meguna. Part of the wave of JJK mods that hit at launch.

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Utility Mods

Dead as Disco Mod Manager
https://www.nexusmods.com/deadasdisco/mods/427
Already covered in Section 4. Manage all your mods and custom songs from one interface. Highly recommended if you plan to install more than a few mods.

Dead as Disco Auto Advanced Beat Mapper
https://www.nexusmods.com/deadasdisco/mods/450
A standalone tool that automatically detects the tempo of your audio files, lets you adjust the beat grid visually, and exports the required audio.ogg and meta.json files directly into the game's custom songs directory. No extraction needed; just run the .exe. Essential for anyone importing custom music.

DiscoMapsLB
https://discomaps.com
Adds global online leaderboards and tournaments for community beatmaps directly into the Dead as Disco UI. Tracks and submits scores automatically. Required if you want to compete on DiscoMaps. Demo version only for score submission. Get the mod from the DiscoMaps site, not Nexus.

Xbox → PlayStation Button Icons
Replaces the default Xbox button prompts with PlayStation face button icons. Small but very satisfying if you play on a DualSense.

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A Note on Streamer-Safe Mods

If you stream Dead as Disco, you do not need a mod for DMCA safety; the game has a built-in Streamer Mode under Settings → Audio that replaces licensed tracks with original music. No download required.

File Path Reference (Quick Cheat Sheet)

File Path Reference

Use this when you are unsure where something goes.

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Demo Version Paths

-- Game root folder (where Pagoda.exe lives)
\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Dead as Disco Demo\
 
-- Mod files (.pak .ucas .utoc) go here
\Dead as Disco Demo\Pagoda\Content\Paks\~mods\
 
-- UE4SS script mods go here
\Dead as Disco Demo\ue4ss\Mods\
 
-- Custom music files go here
\Dead as Disco Demo\Pagoda\Content\CustomMusic\
 
-- Save files (for backup)
%localappdata%\Pagoda\Saved\SaveGames\

Early Access Version Paths

-- Game root folder
\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Dead as Disco\
 
-- Mod files (.pak .ucas .utoc) go here
\Dead as Disco\Pagoda\Content\Paks\~mods\
 
-- Custom music files go here
\Dead as Disco\Pagoda\Content\CustomMusic\

Your Steam library may be on a different drive (D:\, E:\, etc.). The Browse local files method in Steam will always find the correct path regardless of where your library is installed.

Troubleshooting & Common Problems

Troubleshooting

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Mod installed but not showing in game

Most likely cause: You put the folder inside ~mods instead of the files themselves.

Fix:

1. Open your ~mods folder
   
2. If you see a folder instead of .pak/.ucas/.utoc files directly, you did it wrong
   
3. Open that inner folder, select the .pak, .ucas, and .utoc files, and move them directly into ~mods
   
4. Delete the empty inner folder
   
5. Relaunch the game

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Game crashes immediately on launch after adding a mod

Most likely cause: The mod is incompatible with the current version of the game, or two mods are conflicting.

Fix:

1. Remove all mods from ~mods temporarily and confirm the game launches clean
   
2. Add mods back one at a time, launching the game after each one to find the culprit
   
3. Check the mod's Nexus page comments; other users will usually flag broken mods quickly
   
4. Check if the mod has been updated since the last game patch; old mods break after updates

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Game crashes to desktop mid-session

Most likely cause: Two mods are editing the same file (load order conflict).

Fix:

1. Disable the last 1–2 mods you added
   
2. Re-enable one at a time to find the conflict
   
3. If you are using the community Mod Manager, use its toggle system rather than manually moving files

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~mods folder not being recognized

Fix:

1. Confirm the folder is named exactly ~mods with the tilde at the front; not "mods", not "Mods", not "~Mods"
   
2. Confirm the folder is inside Pagoda\Content\Paks\; not in the root folder or anywhere else
   
3. Try verifying your game files in Steam (Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity) and then recreating the ~mods folder

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Mods broke after a game update

Fix:

1. This is normal; game patches often break mod compatibility
   
2. Check each mod's Nexus page for an updated version (mod authors usually push fixes quickly)
   
3. Verify game files in Steam to restore clean base files, then re-add mods one by one
   
4. If a mod has not been updated yet, leave it disabled until the author patches it

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Custom music file not appearing in game

Fix:

1. Make sure your audio file is 44.1kHz; files encoded at 48kHz crash the game
   
2. Supported formats: mp3, wav, ogg, flac, aiff, m4a, wma, aac; OGG is the most stable
   
3. The CustomMusic folder may not exist by default — create it manually at the path listed in Section 6
   
4. Do not put files inside subfolders inside CustomMusic; the game only scans the top level
   
5. On Steam Deck: the correct path is /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/3404260/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Local/Pagoda/Saved/MusicFiles/

Safety Tips & Good Habits

Staying Safe While Modding

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Where to download safely

• Nexus Mods[www.nexusmods.com] — primary source, most mods are here
  
• GameBanana[gamebanana.com] — secondary source, some mods appear here first
  
• DiscoMaps[discomaps.com] — for the DiscoMapsLB mod and community beatmaps
  
• GitHub[github.com] — for the community mod manager source code

Red flags: avoid these

• Mods shared only via Discord with a Google Drive or Mediafire link and no Nexus page
  
• Any file with a .bat or .vbs extension; legitimate mods are .pak/.ucas/.utoc or .zip/.rar archives containing those
  
• "Unlimited Neon Tokens" or "God Mode" tools from random websites — these are usually memory editors or malware dressed up as mods
  
• Anything asking you to disable your antivirus before running

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Good habits

• Back up your save files before installing gameplay-altering mods; saves are at %localappdata%\Pagoda\Saved\SaveGames\
  
• Read mod comments on Nexus before downloading; bugs, conflicts, and broken versions get flagged fast
  
• Check the mod's requirements; some mods need UE4SS installed first, which is a separate download
  
• Keep mods updated; after every Dead as Disco patch, check your mods still have current versions
  
• Only keep mods you are actively using; every extra .pak adds a small overhead and potential conflict

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Uninstalling mods cleanly

• For manual mods: delete the .pak/.ucas/.utoc files from the ~mods folder
  
• For Mod Manager mods: toggle them off in the manager, which moves the files out of ~mods automatically
  
• For Vortex mods: disable or uninstall them from the Vortex interface
  
• For a full clean reset: delete everything in ~mods and verify game files in Steam to restore originals

Happy modding. If the guide helped you, give it a thumbs up and drop your questions in the comments. Updated as the mod scene grows.

[Delta Zero PL VT]

No character mods are working on newest update.

[the greater gator]

the game updated and there's a new method of adding mods that i can't seem to understand, can you update the guide for that?

[DarkHelmutt]

Needing an account to download maps is utter cancer.

[LexWasHere]

I’ve followed this exactly and I’ve downloaded a character pack from Nexus and extracted it properly but it still agent changed the model

[ᴺᵉˣᶦ]

Hey I tried to put Characters in the mod manager through Linux but it manged to detect the character but not in-game JUST the main menu screen.

[Lei]

Hey, I think the issue is you dropped the files straight into the Paks folder instead of into a ~mods subfolder inside it. The game only reads mods from a folder specifically named ~mods (with the tilde), anything just sitting loose in Paks won't get picked up correctly, which is probably why the skin isn't actually swapping even though the game still runs fine.
Fix:

1. Go into ...\Pagoda\Content\Paks\

2. Make a new folder there named exactly ~mods (tilde has to be there)

3. Move your .pak, .ucas, and .utoc files directly into that ~mods folder (not inside another subfolder, they need to sit right inside ~mods)

4. Relaunch the game

That should make the character model actually change. If it still doesn't work after that, double check you're not also using an old default model file that's overriding it, or try removing other mods temporarily to rule out a conflict.

[sullimon16]

ok so i just dropped the pak and wahtever into the stuff with all of the paks and it worked but i cant change from the models

[с дороги шлендры]

[meddconn690]

actully i figured it out now i am micheal jackson hee hee

[meddconn690]

how do u see ur mods folder i dont think i have it its my first time getting mods btw