Mods in Balatro work through a built-in system that loads custom code when you start the game

Balatro has native mod support built directly into the game. You don't need to patch the game or use a launcher — you create a folder, drop mod files into it, and they load automatically when you start Balatro. The game reads from a specific directory every time it launches, so once you set it up once, your mods stay active.

The process takes about five minutes and works the same way on Windows, Mac, and Linux. You'll need to know where your game files live and be comfortable creating a folder, but you don't need to edit code or use command lines.

Key Takeaways

  • Balatro stores mods in a folder called Mods inside your game's main directory, which you create yourself if it doesn't exist.
  • You download mod files (usually .lua files or folders) from community sites and place them directly into the Mods folder with no additional setup.
  • The game loads mods automatically when it starts, so you don't need to activate them in a menu or restart anything special.
  • Mods can conflict with each other or break when the game updates, so start with one or two and test them before adding more.

Find your Balatro game folder

Before you can create a Mods folder, you need to locate where Balatro is installed. The path depends on which platform you're using and where Steam (or your game store) put it.

On Windows: Open Steam, right-click Balatro in your library, select Properties, then Local Files, then "Browse". This opens the folder where the game lives. You should see files named balatro.exe and folders like resources and src.

On Mac: Open Steam, right-click Balatro, select Properties, then Local Files, then "Browse". The folder structure is the same as Windows.

On Linux: Right-click Balatro in Steam, select Properties, Local Files, Browse. The path is usually something like ~/.steam/steamapps/common/Balatro, but Steam will show you the exact location.

Keep this folder open or write down the path — you'll need it in the next step.

Create the Mods folder in the right location

Inside the Balatro game folder you just found, create a new folder and name it exactly Mods (capital M, no spaces). This is where all your mod files will go. If a Mods folder already exists, you can skip this step.

To create a folder on Windows or Mac, right-click in the empty space inside the Balatro folder, select "New Folder" (or "New" then "Folder"), and type Mods. On Linux, right-click and select "Create Folder" or use the command mkdir Mods in the terminal if you're comfortable with that.

The final path should look like this: [Balatro folder]/Mods/. You can verify it's in the right place by checking that the Mods folder sits alongside the resources and src folders.

Download mods and place them in the folder

Mods for Balatro come from community sites like ModWorkshop, GitHub, or the Balatro Discord. Most mods are distributed as either a single .lua file or a folder containing multiple files. Download the mod file or folder to your computer.

Once downloaded, move or copy the mod file or folder into the Mods folder you just created. If the mod is a .zip file, extract it first — don't put the .zip itself into the Mods folder. The mod files themselves (the .lua files or the folder containing them) go inside Mods.

For example, if you download a mod called "ExampleMod", your folder structure should end up looking like this:

[Balatro folder]/Mods/ExampleMod/

or

[Balatro folder]/Mods/ExampleMod.lua

Both structures work — it depends on how the mod creator packaged it.

Start Balatro and verify mods are loading

Launch Balatro normally through Steam. The game reads the Mods folder automatically when it starts, so you don't need to do anything else. If the mods are working, you'll see them active in the game — new cards, new mechanics, or new UI elements will appear depending on what the mods add.

Some mods display a message in the game's console or log file to confirm they loaded. To check if a mod loaded, look for a console window that appears when you start the game (on some systems), or check the game's log file. On Windows and Mac, the log is usually in the same folder as balatro.exe. On Linux, check ~/.local/share/Balatro/ for a log file.

If a mod doesn't appear to be working, the most common reasons are: the mod file is in the wrong location, the mod folder structure is wrong, or the mod is incompatible with your version of Balatro. Start by double-checking the folder path and file names.

Troubleshoot mods that don't work or cause crashes

If Balatro crashes when you start it, or if a mod doesn't load, remove mods one at a time to find the problem. Delete or move one mod out of the Mods folder, start the game, and see if it works. If it does, that mod was the issue. If it still crashes, try the next mod.

Mods can conflict with each other — two mods that modify the same game system might not work together. If you have multiple mods and one causes a crash, test them individually first, then add them back one at a time to find which pair conflicts.

When Balatro updates, some mods may break because the game's code changed. Check the mod's download page or the creator's Discord to see if an updated version is available. If the mod is abandoned, you may need to remove it and find an alternative.

Manage multiple mods and load order

You can have as many mods as you want in the Mods folder, and they'll all load when the game starts. However, more mods means more things can go wrong, and some mods may slow down the game slightly.

Balatro doesn't have a built-in mod manager or load-order system like some other games do. Mods load in the order the operating system lists them, which is usually alphabetical. If you need to control which mod loads first, you can rename the folders with numbers at the start (like 01_ModName, 02_ModName) to force an order, but most mods don't require this.

If you want to disable a mod without deleting it, rename the folder or file to add .disabled at the end (like ExampleMod.disabled). Balatro won't load files with that extension, so you can turn mods on and off by renaming them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart the game for mods to load?

Yes. Mods load only when you start Balatro, not while it's running. If you add a new mod to the folder, close the game completely and reopen it for the mod to appear.

Will mods disable achievements or break my save file?

That depends on the mod. Some mods are designed to not interfere with achievements, while others disable them. Check the mod's description before installing it. Your save file itself won't break, but some mods may make old saves incompatible if they change how the game stores data.

What happens if a mod breaks after a game update?

The mod will either fail to load silently or cause the game to crash. Check the mod creator's page to see if they've released an updated version. If not, remove the mod and look for an alternative that's still being maintained.

Can I use mods on console versions of Balatro?

No. Mod support is only available on the PC version (Windows, Mac, and Linux). Console versions do not support mods.

Where do I find mods to download?

The main community sources are ModWorkshop (modworkshop.net), GitHub (search "Balatro mods"), and the official Balatro Discord server. Always download from the creator's official page, not from random third-party sites.