MODS // LOADER-FIRST DIRECTORY
IRON NEST Mods: Which Loader to Install and What Works Right Now
UNOFFICIAL GUIDE · Mod list checked August 15, 2026 · Official patch baseline: PATCH 1.0 (1577) · No official mod support
01 // QUICK ANSWER
Quick answer
IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator has no official mod support. The developers have said Steam Workshop is under serious consideration and that tooling has slowly started, but they have promised neither the feature nor a date. Every loader and every mod below is a third-party project, hosted by its own author. Most current mods need MelonLoader; a smaller group needs BepInEx 6 for IL2CPP. This page links only to original author pages — it never hosts or mirrors files. The list was checked on August 15, 2026 and the ecosystem changes weekly.
02 // EVIDENCE CONTROL
How to read the evidence labels
| Label | What it means on this page |
|---|---|
| OFFICIAL | A developer or official channel — Steam news, the official server's FAQ, or a developer's own message — directly confirms the stated fact. |
| LOADER DOCS | The MelonLoader or BepInEx project's own documentation. Authoritative for how the loader behaves; it proves nothing about compatibility with this game. |
| The mod author's platform page or their own message. It proves only that the author said so. | |
| COMMUNITY | A report from a community member on the official server or the Steam forums, including people with Tester or Moderator roles. Community roles are not official policy, and several people repeating each other is not independent verification. |
| CONFLICTED | Sources disagree in a way that cannot be safely merged, so this page shows the conflict instead of picking a winner. |
This site does not install, run, or scan third-party files, and cannot verify that any mod is safe, stable, or compatible with your build. A platform's virus-scan status and a mod's popularity are not safety guarantees either — one co-op project listed below currently shows "Some suspicious files" on its platform scan. Install at your own risk, and back up your save before you start.
03 // LOADER DECISION
Which mod loader does IRON NEST need?
Evidence: AUTHOR-STATED · LOADER DOCS · CONFLICTED bridge
How to install mods for IRON NEST comes down to two questions: which loader, and where the files go. There is no official loader, so the answer to the first depends on the specific mod you want. Read that mod's own page before you install anything — do not infer it from the default below.
1. MelonLoader — the de facto default
Most currently updated IRON NEST mods ask for MelonLoader. Of the 25 entries recorded below, MelonLoader is the majority, and the Thunderstore community for this game contains exactly one package: MelonLoader by LavaGang. Several mods pin or recommend 0.7.3 specifically; one asks for the "latest nightly build" instead. Get MelonLoader from the LavaGang project's own releases — the MelonLoader and BepInEx packages that a community member had uploaded to Nexus were pulled on August 15, 2026 because they had been set up for the Demo/Playtest versions.
2. BepInEx 6 — the IL2CPP exception
A smaller group of mods needs BepInEx. This is where most installs go wrong: BepInEx's stable documentation states that the stable line only supports Mono-built Unity games and does not yet support IL2CPP, and IRON NEST is an IL2CPP build. So "BepInEx" in this ecosystem means the bleeding-edge BepInEx 6, Unity IL2CPP, win-x64 build, not the stable download page.
Three separate mod authors point at the same place for it — the BepInEx project's own bleeding-edge builds site. Two of them name BepInEx-Unity.IL2CPP-win-x64-6.0.0-be.785 specifically; a third says its mod was developed against build 6.0.0-be.764. Checked on August 15, 2026, that artifact exists on the official builds site and #785 is the current latest build.
3. The bridge — exists, unverified
A third project claims to let BepInEx 6 load MelonLoader mods and plugins. It is actively maintained (last updated August 12, 2026), and its author asks that bridge-related problems not be reported to MelonLoader mod authors.
CONFLICTED: as of August 15, 2026, no reviewed source confirms the bridge works for this game, and two mod authors say the opposite for their own mods. The Fog of War author stated on the official server that running BepInEx with the MelonLoader compatibility plug-in will not make that mod work and asked players to use MelonLoader only. The Fire Control System - Smart page states that BepInEx-to-MelonLoader bridge setups are not supported. Treat the bridge as a third path that has to be confirmed mod by mod, not as a way to run everything at once.
4. Do not install both loaders
BepInEx and MelonLoader are separate loaders that conflict under normal conditions. One co-op mod's install notes warn in bold against installing both. A player who unpacked both reported that the game stopped part-way through startup and closed itself. If you want to switch loaders, uninstall the first one properly (see Update, uninstall and roll back) before installing the second.
04 // INSTALL LOCATIONS
Where the mod files go
MelonLoader
Evidence: LOADER DOCS · COMMUNITY
- Manual install per the project's own README: unpack the
MelonLoaderfolder into the game directory, and placeversion.dllanddobby.dllin the game's root folder, next to the executable. - After installation the loader creates
MelonLoader/,Mods/,Plugins/,UserData/(containingLoader.cfg) andMelonLoader/Logs/. - IL2CPP games need the .NET 6.0 Desktop Runtime installed.
- COMMUNITY: put a mod's
.dlldirectly into the game-rootMods/folder rather than a subfolder — community guidance on the official server is that subfolder support is uncertain. IfMods/does not exist yet, launch the game once so MelonLoader creates it, or create it next to the executable. - COMMUNITY: the usual sign that loading worked is a MelonLoader log or console line reporting how many mods loaded.
BepInEx 6
Evidence: LOADER DOCS · AUTHOR-STATED · COMMUNITY
- Per BepInEx's own installation documentation: unpack into the game's root folder and run the game once so the configuration files are generated.
- Plugins go in
<game folder>\BepInEx\plugins\. - AUTHOR-STATED: several mod authors warn that the first launch can sit on a black screen or a black console for several minutes while support files are generated, and that this first launch needs an internet connection because base Unity libraries are downloaded then. MelonLoader on IL2CPP can also take several minutes on first launch while assemblies are generated.
- COMMUNITY, unverified: when BepInEx stops loading correctly, community members delete
BepInEx/interopandBepInEx/unity-libsto force a rebuild on the next launch.
CONFLICTED path note: one shared-library page gives its install path as MelonLoader/Mods, while every other reviewed source points to a Mods/ folder in the game root. This page follows the majority and records the disagreement.
Linux and Proton
Evidence: OFFICIAL · LOADER DOCS · COMMUNITY (second-hand)
- The official FAQ states there is no plan for native Linux support and that the game runs under Proton 10.0. BepInEx's own Proton/Wine documentation requires a
winhttpDLL override. The Steam launch option circulating in the community isWINEDLLOVERRIDES="winhttp.dll=n,b" %command%— treat it as second-hand: the person who published it later said it came from another user's feedback and that they do not play on Linux themselves. It is consistent in direction with the official BepInEx documentation, and it is described as a BepInEx-specific need.
05 // WHERE MODS ARE HOSTED
Where IRON NEST mods are hosted
Nexus Mods is where this ecosystem actually lives. On August 15, 2026 the Nexus Mods IRON NEST section held 30 entries, all 30 filed under the same Miscellaneous category — which is exactly why this page groups them by function instead. Be aware that platform counters for "files" and "mods" are not the same unit, so the number shown on a game hub page and the number on a listing page can differ; the table below counts individual mod pages.
Thunderstore's iron-nest community currently contains one package — MelonLoader — despite the section describing itself as a mod database. Its download counter is a cross-game total for that package and says nothing about IRON NEST usage.
Some older articles state that IRON NEST has no file-replacement mod ecosystem and that modding requires memory editors. The August 15, 2026 check does not support that: there is an active Nexus section, two loaders in use, a bridge project, and a shared asset library.
This page links only to author pages and original platform pages. It does not mirror files, and it does not link to file CDNs.
06 // MOD DIRECTORY
Current IRON NEST mods by category
Checked August 15, 2026 · Evidence: AUTHOR-STATED
What is in this list. The Nexus listing held 30 entries on August 15, 2026. This table records the 25 entries whose platform page showed a last-updated date of August 1, 2026 or later, plus one deliberate exception — VR. Co-op. PvP., kept because VR is a recurring search and it is one of only two VR projects. The five entries left out are named at the end of this section, so nothing is silently truncated.
Every loader name, version, and compatibility claim in this table is the author's own statement. The categories are this site's editorial grouping; the platform files all 30 entries as Miscellaneous. Where a platform page's "Created by" and the listing's uploader name differ, the table uses Created by.
1. Fire control and aiming
| Mod | Author | Loader (as stated) | Platform last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Control System | svr2kos2 | MelonLoader | August 10, 2026 |
| Fire Control System - Smart | hysonMod | MelonLoader; author states bridge setups are not supported | August 13, 2026 |
| Vertical Bearing Mod | kai481 | MelonLoader v0.7.3 | August 12, 2026 |
| IronNestBearingControl | EightySixFan | BepInEx | August 10, 2026 |
The Fire Control System page carries the author's own warning not to use it on the leaderboard — see Mods, trainers and cheat tables.
2. Map, scouting and enemy intel
| Mod | Author | Loader (as stated) | Platform last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Nest Tactical Map Tools | N3M0T8000 | MelonLoader x64 0.7.3 or newer | August 14, 2026 |
| Accurate Scouts | knmc | MelonLoader 0.7.3 | August 10, 2026 |
| Enemy Tracker | kevstep | MelonLoader | August 10, 2026 |
3. Camera, UI and quality of life
| Mod | Author | Loader (as stated) | Platform last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| IronNestFreecam | acalhoun78 | MelonLoader (IL2CPP / x64) | August 13, 2026 |
| Iron Nest Aide | WEEZER123 | Not stated on the page | August 12, 2026 |
IronNestFreecam is an F5 free-camera toggle, not a field-of-view adjustment, and its page says not to install it alongside the same author's dev-cheats mod. If you came here looking for a mod to hide the interaction prompt or raise the FOV, neither exists yet — see VR, interaction prompt and FOV.
4. Custom media and cosmetics
| Mod | Author | Loader (as stated) | Platform last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Records | svr2kos2 | MelonLoader | August 10, 2026 |
| Custom Record and Albums | TuxiKhan | BepInEx 6.0.0-be.785 (Unity IL2CPP win-x64); all-in-one package bundles and preconfigures it | August 12, 2026 |
| Custom Flags | N3M0T8000 | MelonLoader 0.7.3 Open-Beta | August 13, 2026 |
| Bosanska Artiljerija custom track | FestivalUA88 | MelonLoader | August 13, 2026 |
| Custom Cat | vZVXv | BepInEx | August 6, 2026 |
The Custom Records description still contains a Demo-era folder path even though the page was updated during the release period; see Compatibility and version limits.
5. Resources, pacing and cheat-style
| Mod | Author | Loader (as stated) | Platform last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinite Requisition Points | Pyramidyes | MelonLoader "latest nightly build" | August 12, 2026 |
| Iron Nest Dev Cheats | acalhoun78 | MelonLoader (IL2CPP / x64) | August 12, 2026 |
| Iron Nest Speed Mod-FIXED | N3M0T8000 | MelonLoader | August 13, 2026 |
| Atomic Annihilation (ATMC) | Blackworths | MelonLoader (author's recommendation — built for it) | August 10, 2026 |
This group is listed for completeness, not as a recommendation. Note that its MelonLoader requirement is not uniform: the requisition mod asks for a nightly build while the rest of the ecosystem pins 0.7.3.
6. New missions and scenarios
| Mod | Author | Loader (as stated) | Platform last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fog of War - Advanced Skirmish Mission | N3M0T8000 | MelonLoader 0.7.3 Open-Beta; the author states the bridge will not run it | August 12, 2026 |
For the official Campaign, see the IRON NEST Campaign missions hub.
7. Co-op, VR and multiplayer
| Mod | Author | Loader (as stated) | Platform last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Nest co-op | Jager2251 | BepInEx 6 for IL2CPP (64-bit) bleeding-edge, "ideally build 6.0.0-be.785"; a standalone package bundles it, and a DLL-only download exists | August 11, 2026 |
| Open Nest Co-op | Tong317 | Both — separate BepInEx 6 and MelonLoader 0.7.3 builds; the page warns against installing both loaders | August 13, 2026 |
| VR NEST - A VR Port Mod | koka64 | MelonLoader 0.7.3 | August 14, 2026 |
| VR. Co-op. PvP. | Blah64 | BepInEx 6 bleeding-edge (IL2CPP win-x64), "developed against build 6.0.0-be.764" | July 1, 2026 |
Player counts, sync limitations, and the state of official multiplayer are covered on the IRON NEST multiplayer and co-op status page, not here. VR is covered in the status cards below.
8. Loaders and shared infrastructure
| Mod | Author | Loader (as stated) | Platform last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| BepInEx MelonLoader Loader IL2CPP | Tong317 | Bridge — claims to let BepInEx 6 run MelonLoader mods and plugins (v2.3.4) | August 12, 2026 |
| OpenNestCore AssetBundle loader | Tong317 | Shared library, stated as compatible with both loaders; usually bundled by the mods that depend on it | August 14, 2026 |
Not in this list
Five entries from the same August 15, 2026 listing fall outside the cut-off because their platform pages showed an update older than August 1, 2026: MapDrawer, Synchrony, Turret Optimization, ARCHIVED - Additional Requisitions, and Deja's misc. mod. Synchrony is discussed anyway in the next section because it is a common source of version confusion.
07 // COMPATIBILITY
Compatibility and version limits
Evidence: OFFICIAL baseline · AUTHOR-STATED per mod
The official release baseline is PATCH 1.0 (1577), published in Steam news on August 9, 2026 and described there as the third patch; an earlier 1.0 (1547) patch was published on August 8, 2026.
Read this before you use the dates above. Most of the 25 entries do not state which game version they support. A recent update date is not a compatibility statement. This page separates the two:
| Compatibility signal | What it means | Examples from the list |
|---|---|---|
| Stated — full release | The author explicitly names the release build | Iron Nest co-op: "Versions 2.0.0 and up are for the full release"; Open Nest Co-op: title states GAME PATCH 1.0 (1577) |
| Stated — Demo only | The author explicitly names a Demo build | Synchrony: Demo v0.4.0 with MelonLoader 0.7.3, last updated July 2, 2026; VR. Co-op. PvP.: install steps tell you to right-click the demo |
| Not stated — inferred from update date only | The page says nothing about the game version; all you know is when it was last touched | The majority of entries above |
| Mixed signals | Page text and update date disagree | Custom Records: updated during the release period, but the description still contains a Demo-era folder path |
The loader side has the same split. The MelonLoader and BepInEx packages that a community member had uploaded to Nexus were pulled on August 15, 2026 specifically because they were configured for the Demo/Playtest versions, and the recommendation reverted to downloading loaders from their official links. MelonLoader 0.7.3 itself was asked for both during the Demo period and after release, and no reviewed source claims the release build needs a different MelonLoader version.
Do IRON NEST demo mods work with the full game?
Assume no unless the page says otherwise. A Demo-era mod can still sit at the top of a listing long after release — Synchrony is the clearest example. If you played the demo, see the IRON NEST demo vs full game page for what changed on the game side.
Compatibility fields used on this page: game version stated · loader · loader version stated · platform last updated · last checked. All entries above share last checked: August 15, 2026.
08 // UNINSTALL AND ROLL BACK
Update, uninstall and roll back
Every step below is reversible. Back up your save folder before you change loaders.
Removing MelonLoader
Evidence: LOADER DOCS — from the project's own README, re-read on August 15, 2026.
- Delete
version.dllfrom the game's root folder. - Delete the
MelonLoaderfolder. - For a full clean-up, also delete
Plugins/,Mods/andUserData/— the README lists these as optional.
The README's uninstall section does not mention dobby.dll, although the manual install section tells you to place that file in the game root. This page reproduces the official wording as-is; if you installed manually, that file is one you put there.
Removing BepInEx
Evidence: AUTHOR-STATED, single source — BepInEx's own documentation has no uninstall section (the installation page does not cover it and the FAQ page returned 404 when checked on August 15, 2026). The file list below is assembled from a single mod author's instructions, so treat it as a tidy-up guide rather than an official procedure.
- Delete the
BepInEx\folder. - Delete the
dotnet\folder. - Delete
winhttp.dll,doorstop_config.iniand.doorstop_versionfrom the game root.
To disable BepInEx temporarily without deleting anything, the same author suggests editing its configuration instead.
Removing a single mod
Delete that mod's .dll — from Mods/ for MelonLoader, from BepInEx\plugins\ for BepInEx. Two extra things to check: some mods ship a shared library that other mods also use (the AssetBundle loader above is normally bundled by whatever depends on it), and some mods leave configuration or data files behind in UserData/ or BepInEx/config/. Also note that mods can exclude each other — the free-camera mod's page tells you not to install it alongside the same author's dev-cheats mod.
What this page cannot tell you
Roll-back is close to undocumented for this game. A search of the official server for uninstall discussion returned two unrelated results. In particular, this page does not claim anything about whether verifying game files through Steam removes loader files — no reviewed source establishes that either way. If a clean uninstall does not resolve your problem, reinstalling the game is the only step supported by the available sources.
09 // STATUS CARDS
VR, interaction prompt and FOV: current status
Is there an IRON NEST VR mod?
Status as of August 15, 2026: two separate community projects, neither official. Evidence: AUTHOR-STATED · COMMUNITY
| VR. Co-op. PvP. | VR NEST | |
|---|---|---|
| Author | Blah64 | koka64 |
| Loader | BepInEx 6 bleeding-edge, developed against build 6.0.0-be.764 | MelonLoader 0.7.3 |
| Game version stated | Demo — install steps say to right-click the demo | Not stated; published during the release period |
| Last updated | July 1, 2026 | August 14, 2026 |
| Author's own framing | — | "Beware, it's early access, expect it to be buggy" |
| Extra requirements | openxr_loader.dll next to the executable; first launch takes 1–3 minutes | Author suggests avoiding high graphics settings (tested on a single high-end card) |
Older material about VR on this game traces back to a June 18, 2024 Steam discussion in which the community author explained that IRON NEST is a Unity title, that UEVR does not apply, and that the project was not publicly released at the time. That only shows what the author described on that date. There is no official VR support — the developers' only public statement in this area concerns Steam Workshop, not VR. Early player feedback on the newer project is positive but comes from individual sessions and is not a stability finding.
Is there a mod to hide the interaction prompt?
Status as of August 15, 2026: no. Evidence: COMMUNITY
No mod on the checked listing hides the "press E to interact" prompt, and there is no in-game setting for it either. The request is real and documented: a player asked how to turn the prompt off in the official server's general chat on release day, August 6, 2026, and received no answer; a suggestion thread titled Remove "press E to interact" prompt was opened on June 28, 2026, asking either for removal or for a settings toggle, with support in the replies. No developer reply appears in the reviewed thread, so there is no timeline to report — this page does not claim the feature is coming. The same thread notes why the prompt exists: some players did not realise the map table was interactive without it.
Is there a mod to increase the FOV?
Status as of August 15, 2026: no mod exists; the game has an FOV slider with a low cap. Evidence: OFFICIAL explanation · COMMUNITY demand
Nothing on the checked listing adjusts field of view. The free-camera mod listed above is a camera toggle, not an FOV control.
The useful part of the answer is why the cap is low. On August 6, 2026 the developer explained in the official server's general chat that the clipboard, clock, and other UI elements exist in 3D space, and that a higher FOV breaks them because they end up far away from the screen and impossible to read. That is a design constraint rather than an oversight, quoted here with its date — a later build could change it.
Demand is documented: a suggestion thread asking for 90+ FOV was opened on June 16, 2026 and was still being seconded on August 12, 2026, in both cases by players describing motion sickness.
10 // BOUNDARIES
Mods, trainers and cheat tables
These are three different things, and search results mix them constantly. This page covers only the first:
- Mods
- — third-party code or assets loaded by MelonLoader or BepInEx, distributed on the author's own page.
- Trainers
- — separate programs that modify the running game's memory.
- Cheat tables
- — memory-editing scripts for a generic editor.
Trainers and cheat tables are out of scope here. This page does not host, link, or evaluate them.
Will mods affect the leaderboard?
No developer policy on mods and the leaderboard appears in any source reviewed for this page, so this page cannot tell you the rule. What can be reported:
- Players are asking. A Steam discussion opened on July 11, 2026 asked directly whether using a custom-music mod from Nexus would be treated as cheating on the leaderboard.
- At least one author self-restricts: the Fire Control System page carries a prominent warning against using it on the leaderboard.
- One reply in that discussion recalled an opt-out checkbox in the demo's settings. That is a single community recollection, it refers to the demo, and it has not been verified in the release build.
If leaderboard standing matters to you, the conservative reading of those three points is to keep a clean, unmodded install for leaderboard runs.
11 // FIELD QUESTIONS
FAQ
Does IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator officially support mods?
No. There is no first-party channel for IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator mods. The official FAQ says Steam Workshop is being seriously considered and that work on tooling has slowly begun, with no commitment and no date. Until that changes, every loader and mod is third-party. Official plans are tracked on the IRON NEST roadmap and updates page.
Which mod loader do I need — MelonLoader or BepInEx?
Whichever the mod you want names on its own page. MelonLoader covers most current mods, with 0.7.3 the commonly pinned version. BepInEx here means the bleeding-edge BepInEx 6 IL2CPP win-x64 build, not the stable release.
Where do I put IRON NEST mod files?
MelonLoader mods go in the Mods/ folder in the game root, as loose .dll files. BepInEx plugins go in <game folder>\BepInEx\plugins\. If Mods/ is missing, launch the game once so MelonLoader creates it.
Do IRON NEST demo mods work with the full release?
Assume not. Some Demo-era mods still rank highly on the listing — one still names Demo v0.4.0 and MelonLoader 0.7.3 and has not been updated since July 2, 2026. Only trust an explicit statement from the author, not the update date.
Can I install BepInEx and MelonLoader at the same time?
No. They are separate loaders that conflict, one co-op page warns against it in bold, and a player who installed both reported the game closing itself during startup. A bridge project claims to let BepInEx 6 run MelonLoader mods, but no reviewed source confirms it works here and two mod authors say it does not work for their mods.
How do I uninstall an IRON NEST mod?
Delete the mod's .dll from Mods/ or BepInEx\plugins\. To remove MelonLoader itself, delete version.dll and the MelonLoader folder. BepInEx has no official uninstall documentation; the file list in Update, uninstall and roll back comes from a single mod author.
Will mods affect the IRON NEST leaderboard?
No official policy has been published in any source reviewed here. Players have asked, one mod author warns against leaderboard use, and a single community reply recalled a demo-only opt-out checkbox. Keep an unmodded install for leaderboard runs if it matters to you.
Is there an IRON NEST VR mod?
Two community projects, neither official: one from July 1, 2026 targeting the demo through BepInEx 6, and one published on August 14, 2026 using MelonLoader 0.7.3 whose author calls it early access.
Is there a mod to hide the interaction prompt or raise the FOV?
Neither exists as of August 15, 2026. Both requests have open suggestion threads. For FOV, the game has a slider with a low cap, and the developer has explained that the cap protects 3D-space UI readability.
The game crashes after I installed a mod — is that a mod problem or a base-game problem?
Test it: remove the mod's .dll, launch, and see whether the crash persists. This page covers only failures introduced by mods and how to roll them back; it does not cover base-game crashes or performance issues, which are unrelated to modding.
12 // SOURCES AND LAST CHECKED
Sources and last checked
Mod list and platform data checked: August 15, 2026. Official patch baseline at that check: PATCH 1.0 (1577).
-
Official:
Steam news, IRON NEST - PATCH 1.0 (1577), August 9, 2026; the official server's FAQ on Steam Workshop (August 1, 2026) and on Linux/Proton (March 10, 2026); the developer's explanation of the FOV cap in general chat (August 6, 2026).
-
Loader documentation:
the MelonLoader project README and releases; BepInEx's installation and Proton/Wine documentation; the BepInEx bleeding-edge builds site.
-
Platform pages:
the 25 linked Nexus mod pages plus the Thunderstore community page, all checked August 15, 2026.
-
Community reports:
messages on the official IRON NEST server and two Steam discussion threads, each dated where quoted above.
The Nexus listing changes weekly — 24 of the 25 entries above show a platform update from the first half of August 2026. If an entry is out of date, or a loader requirement has changed, tell us and we will re-check and re-date this page.