VEIN runs on Unreal Engine, so its mods are Unreal .pak files, not BepInEx plugins. They live on Nexus Mods (there is no Steam Workshop). This guide covers the most popular VEIN mods and exactly how to install them on your DoomHosting server.
How VEIN mods work
There are two kinds of VEIN mod:
- Plain .pak mods: drop-in content and balance tweaks that need no loader.
- Script and Blueprint mods: gameplay scripts that require UE4SS (Unreal Engine Scripting System). Install the "UE4SS Prepackaged for VEIN" mod first, then these load from a LogicMods folder or the ue4ss/Mods folder.
The most important rule for multiplayer: a mod usually has to be installed on the server AND on every player's client, with matching versions, or players cannot join or the change does nothing. Many mods ship two downloads for this reason, a Windows client pak and a Linux dedicated-server pak. Always grab the matching pair.
Best VEIN mods
- UE4SS Prepackaged for VEIN: the loader that every script, Lua, or Blueprint mod depends on. Install it first if any mod below needs UE4SS.
- Zombie Tweaks: raises the zombie cap and tunes spawn and despawn distances, so the world feels as empty or as overrun as you want. Fixes runners popping in right behind you.
- 7 Days To VEIN: adds 7 Days to Die style scheduled hordes that hit every seventh day, configurable in a config.lua file. Needs UE4SS.
- More Zombies Over Time: slowly increases the zombie count the longer a save runs, so long-lived servers stay tense. Works on existing saves.
- Carry Capacity mods: raise the player weight limit far above vanilla, removing most of the encumbrance grind. A clear example of the client plus server pak pairing.
- Survival Overhaul: a quality-of-life bundle with bigger storage, higher stack sizes, and more vehicle capacity in one install.
- Vein Server Manager: not a gameplay mod but a host-side GUI with an auto-installer, config editor, crash watchdog, backups, and a safe interface for managing server .pak mods.
How to install mods on your server
- Download the mod from Nexus Mods. If it offers a separate dedicated-server or Linux pak, use that one for the server.
- In your DoomHosting control panel, open the FTP details and connect with a client like FileZilla.
- Upload the .pak file into the Vein/Content/Paks folder.
- For script or Blueprint mods, install UE4SS first, then place Lua and DLL mods in ue4ss/Mods and Blueprint paks in Vein/Content/Paks/LogicMods.
- Restart the server from the panel.
- Give the same client-side pak to every player, on the matching version, so they can connect.
Manage mods safely
Hand-copying paks is easy to get wrong. Tools like Vein Server Manager and the Vein Mod Manager give you a GUI to enable, disable, and conflict-check mods without corrupting the install. They are the recommended way to run a modded server.
Common issues
- Players cannot join after adding a mod: almost always a version mismatch or a missing client-side pak. Everyone needs the same mod at the same version.
- A mod does nothing: check it is in the right folder, that world-affecting mods (zombies, hordes) are on the server, and that script mods have UE4SS installed.
- Crashes after stacking mods: remove mods one at a time to find the conflict, or use a manager's conflict checker. Watch load order when several paks change the same thing.
Want more RAM headroom for a busy modded server? Our VEIN RAM calculator estimates what you need. New to hosting VEIN? Start with our VEIN server setup guide.