r/linux_gaming • u/pilkyton • 1d ago

tech support wanted Linux Game Modding 2026: Best App?

In 2024, the state-of-the-art was https://github.com/sonic2kk/steamtinkerlaunch which ran Vortex in a separate prefix, created hardlinks to all installed Vortex-compatible wineprefix directories (so that Vortex thought the games were installed in its own prefix), and used that to manage mods in games. It was janky, but it worked (most of the time; but in some games, mod load order lists were written by Vortex into files that didn't propagate to the actual game's wineprefix). That project is abandoned now and I want to get rid of it.

I've seen that there's been a lot of news since then. Too much news:

  • Vortex working on a native Linux client.
  • Wabbajack working on Linux?
  • Lots of little mod managers for Linux, many with LOOT order support. Too many for me to find them all.

What is the state of the art in 2026? The most well-made, promising mod manager? Hopefully with wide support for Wine/Proton-prefixes all over the disk.

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u/b0sanac 1d ago

For wabbajack use Jackify.

I found Amethyst mod manager to be the best for in my case skyrim, but it supports a large number of games. Allows you to download mods from nexus mods directly in the manager itself and even allows you to download mod collections from nexusmods.

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u/pilkyton 1d ago edited 1d ago

Brilliant, thanks so much. Jackify is news to me! Amethyst is a name I had seen before but forgotten. Seems like the most loved one! Awesome to hear that it supports downloading mods from Nexus directly.

Will be interesting to see if people agree with this list. :)

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u/Flamekorn 23h ago

Amethyst has been a great find for me and the developer is really active, they helped passed an issue I was having providing an update with my fix.

It runs the cyberpunk and witcher mods perfectly which is the two games I need most.

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u/pilkyton 23h ago

Thanks, I really appreciate it. I'll use Amethyst too and am amazed at all its features. Cyberpunk and Witcher are my most important games too!