New Race Mods for Kenshi

Kenshi's world is brutal, unforgiving, and, frankly, a little repetitive after a couple of hundred hours. The vanilla races are iconic, of course, but sometimes you want to wander the Great Desert as something other than a human, Shek, or Hiver. That's where Kenshi race mods come in.

These new race mods for Kenshi open up additional playstyles, new lore possibilities, and entirely different ways to experience this world's harsh reality.

JRPG Race Mod (美形種族追加MOD)

Kenshi's default character models have a certain rugged charm. They look like the wasteland chewed them up and spat them out, which fits perfectly. But what if you want a cleaner, more stylized look for your heroes? That's where JRPG Race Mod comes in.

• Modified facial meshes and textures for a distinctive anime/JRPG-style appearance.
• Removes standard muscle textures to create a smoother, more stylized body model.
• Adds plenty of hairstyles designed specifically for the new head shapes.
• Integrates new subraces into the world as slaves and drifters you can find and recruit.

✅ Gameplay changes: Although mostly cosmetic, these changes have a huge effect on role-playing. Your squad feels less like a band of hardened survivors and more like a chosen group of adventurers. It fundamentally changes the atmosphere of your playthrough without upsetting the core balance.

Robotics Limb Base Skeletons

Skeletons are one of Kenshi's coolest races, but the vanilla options are limited. You get the basic model and a couple of subraces, and that's it. This mod dramatically expands the variety of playable Skeletons.

• Adds 12 new Skeleton variants to the game.
• Each new race has Mark I, Mark II, and Mark III versions, offering clear progression.
• Models are based on different robotic limb types, including Hive and KLR Series limbs.
• Each variant has a distinct stat distribution and bonuses, making your choice matter.

✅ Gameplay changes: Skeleton players get far more choice. You can choose a model built for speed, heavy lifting and combat, or all-round use. It makes Skeleton-only playthroughs much more interesting and varied.

Hives Expanded

The Hive is fascinating, but vanilla only gives us a glimpse of its society through the Western and Southern Hives. Hives Expanded does exactly what its name suggests : adds variety to Hivers, making their faction larger and more complex.

• Adds several new Hive subraces to the game.
• Introduces unique models such as the durable Beetle Head Hivers.
• The new variants come with their own armor and distinct visual designs.
• Seamlessly integrates the new Hivers into existing factions and locations.

✅ Gameplay changes: The new subraces have different stats suited to different squad roles. For example, Beetle Heads have greater durability and natural head armor, making them excellent frontline fighters. It encourages a more varied Hive-only squad.

The Juggernaut

Always wanted a solo playthrough, but felt the base races weren't built for it? The Juggernaut is a custom race designed specifically for that.

You're a massive, powerful creature, but that power comes at a price. The Juggernaut is designed as a one-man (or woman) army, capable of handling groups of enemies alone.

• A single, extremely powerful custom race.
• Designed for solo playthroughs.
• Starts with a loyal war dog companion.
• Significantly increased Strength and health, but a much faster hunger rate too.

✅ Gameplay changes: Playing as a Juggernaut completely changes resource management. Forget feeding a squad of ten: keeping yourself fed is a constant struggle. You'll be a beast in combat, but the increased food demand creates a unique challenge.

Kenshi Extra Race Map

If you want variety, look no further. This huge compilation adds an almost absurd number of playable races and subraces. It's an explosion of character-creation content.

It unlocks previously unplayable NPC races such as Cannibals and the Dead Hive, and adds a staggering 33 new Skeleton subraces. This is for players who want the widest possible range of role-playing options. Seriously, you can spend hours in the character creator alone.

• Makes Cannibals a playable human subrace.
• Unlocks the Dead Hive with 3 unique subraces.
• Adds 3 further subraces to the regular Hive.
• Includes a whopping 33 new Skeleton subraces.
• Most of the new races are integrated into the world and can be recruited.

✅ Gameplay changes: This is all about replayability. Start as a Cannibal and try to build a tribe, or create a Skeleton-only squad where each member has a distinct design and stat focus. It opens up countless role-playing scenarios.

Fallout Super Mutant Race

Bringing a piece of the Fallout wasteland into Kenshi feels surprisingly natural. This mod adds the iconic Super Mutants as a playable race, with impressive attention to detail.

You can choose classic green Super Mutants or stealthier Nightkin variants. They tower over humans, with brute strength to match their size.

• Adds both green Super Mutant and Nightkin variants.
• Massive character models with over 200 HP per limb and 250 HP on the chest.
• Larger than humans, with custom proportions that make them look truly impressive.
• Includes two custom game starts to begin your mutant adventure.

✅ Gameplay changes: Your excellent health and Strength make you a fighting machine from the start, but your size can be a disadvantage indoors.

Warhammer 40K Races

For the Emperor! This mod brings the grim darkness of the far future to Kenshi by adding the Adeptus Astartes and Chaos factions.

A lore-accurate Space Marine would essentially be a god in Kenshi, but the author has done a good job balancing them for gameplay. They're still incredibly powerful without removing all the challenge. It's a fantastic crossover for Warhammer fans.

• Adds playable Adeptus Astartes and Chaos Space Marine races.
• Contains iconic armor and character models from the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
• Balanced for Kenshi gameplay: strong, but not invulnerable.

✅ Gameplay changes: Playing a Space Marine gives a significant combat advantage, letting you challenge stronger enemies early on. It's certainly a power fantasy, but a well-considered one that still fits Kenshi's constant struggle for survival.

Xenomorph and Predator Races

If you want some genuine science-fiction horror in Kenshi's already terrifying ecosystem, these mods are for you. They introduce two of cinema's most iconic alien species, and they're as deadly as you'd expect.

• Xenomorph Mod: Adds playable Xenomorph variants, including Drones, Warriors, and a Queen. They have natural armor, high Strength, and self-healing abilities.
• Predator Mod: Introduces Yautja (Predators) as a playable race. These skilled warriors have unique technological advantages and abilities that fit their hunting lore.
• Both mods include custom starting scenarios to get you straight into the action.

✅ Gameplay changes: These races are deliberately powerful, offering a completely different playthrough. A Xenomorph is a biological weapon relying on speed and strength. A Predator encourages a more tactical, stealthy approach.

Playable Races and Sub-Races

Ever looked at a Cannibal, Fishman, or one of those strange Dead Hive Fogmen and thought, "I want to play as one of them"? This mod is the simplest, most direct way to do just that.

It unlocks almost every NPC-only vanilla race in the character creator. This is a purely vanilla-friendly mod for role-players who want to experience Kenshi through its most unfortunate or despised inhabitants. My favorite.

• Unlocks many previously unplayable NPC races.
• Play as Cannibals, Fishmen, the Dead Hive, Southern Hive variants, and many others.
• Includes all the different Skeleton variants found in the world.
• Makes no changes to these races' stats or balance: it simply unlocks them.

✅ Gameplay changes: A role-player's dream. Starting as a Fishman in the Swamp or a Cannibal on the northern plains completely changes the early game. You'll face immediate hostility in most "civilized" places, forcing you to find new ways to survive and build your faction on society's fringes.

Feline, Goblin, Fox and Rodent Races

For anyone who wants to move further from the humanoid norm, this mod introduces a collection of high-quality anthropomorphic animal races (furries). If you've ever wanted to lead cat people or stealthy fox warriors, it's worth a look.

• Adds several anthropomorphic races: Felines, Goblins, Foxes, and Rodents.
• Each race has a distinct visual design and character model.
• The mod is regularly updated with new content and improvements.
• High-quality textures and models that look excellent in-game.

✅ Gameplay changes: These races often have stat distributions matching their animal archetypes. For example, Felines may have Athletics and Dodge bonuses, while Rodents may excel at Thievery and Stealth. That adds another strategic layer to squad composition and role-playing.

Fennec Race Mod v1.1

For players who want an unusual anthropomorphic perspective on Kenshi, this substantial mod introduces a fully playable Fennec fox race alongside a new settlement. It adds visual variety and meaningful gameplay content well beyond character customization.

• A fully customizable Fennec fox race, with detailed options for eyes, mouth, nose, cheekbones, and ear size.
• A complete visual overhaul, including new faces, eye colors, and compatible hairstyles.
• Three distinct recruitable NPCs: Fidget III and Ren (at the Salvage bar), plus Artemis at the Salvage team headquarters, whose recruitment requires a quest.
• A large new settlement, Salvage, with many functional buildings: a bar, team headquarters, market, travel shop, smithy, mechanics/robotics shop, trading post, fish and drug trader, police station, and Shadowsteel Thieves Guild.
• Four unique starting scenarios: Lone Rescuer, Last Rescue, Save Your Debt or Life, and Unholy Potato.

✅ Gameplay changes: This greatly expands character creation while adding an entirely new area to explore and interact with. The Fennec furry race offers fresh role-playing possibilities, and Salvage creates trade routes, recruitment opportunities, and quests. Multiple starts provide different story premises that can change your entire playthrough.

Mod Installation and the Correct Load Order

How to organize your mods:

1. Base game files (highest priority)
2. UI, graphics, and performance mods
3. Main race mods
4. Race patches and compatibility fixes
5. Animation mods
6. Faction and world-content mods

Most mods on this list install through the Steam Workshop, but there are some details to watch. Read the full installation guide for every method.

A Few Final Thoughts on Race Mods

These are just a few of the incredible race mods made by Kenshi's community. Each offers a different perspective, from a cosmetic change to a full crossover. The right race mod can breathe new life into the game and give you a reason to begin that 20th playthrough.

If you know a mod I've missed that works without bugs, share it. I'll test it and add it. I'm always looking for options that don't break your setup after an hour of play.