Monster Train mods: install steps and Workshop picks

The 2020 game uses its built-in Mod Settings menu and Steam Workshop. Start with the Mod Loader, then add one gameplay change at a time.

How to install Steam Workshop mods

The publisher’s Official Modding Guide documents this sequence. Its instructions were re-read on 9 November 2026; installation status is 1 source · official guide.

In Monster Train’s main menu, open Mod Settings in the lower-right corner.
Enable the Mod Loader, apply the change, then restart Monster Train.
Open the game’s Steam Workshop, or choose Browse Mods from Mod Settings. Open the item you want and select Subscribe.
Restart the game after changing subscribed mods so it recognizes the new set. Read each item’s dependency and compatibility notes before combining it with another mod.

For troubleshooting, begin with the loader and one mod, then add the others separately. This is an editorial troubleshooting approach. The official guide locates Workshop files under Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\1102190. Keep a backup before experimenting with a save you want to preserve.

Three Workshop mods to compare

These picks cover three different goals rather than claiming a universal ranking. Each behavior below comes from its author’s Workshop description, also returned by Steam’s published-file API. Those are two ways to read the same source, so the status remains one source.

Mod	Why choose it	Author’s scope or compatibility note	Status
Dual Champions	Adds the secondary clan’s champion to your opening deck.	The added champion gets a random upgrade path and advances when your primary champion upgrades. The author lists compatibility with their Upgrade Champions mod.	1 source · mod author
Restart battle button	Adds a button that restarts the current battle from its beginning.	A practice-oriented choice if you want to revisit a fight; it changes the normal run experience.	1 source · mod author
Unofficial Balance Patch	Changes cards and champion paths to broaden the strategies the author considers viable.	The author designed the balance changes with The Last Divinity DLC in mind. Compare its patch notes before combining it with other balance mods.	1 source · mod author

Monster Train 1, Monster Train 2 and trainers

Workshop app 1102190 belongs to the original Monster Train. The sequel uses a separate Monster Train 2 mod setup; its Thunderstore packages are not this installation route. A trainer is a separate third-party program rather than a Workshop subscription. This guide recommends the linked Workshop items and provides no trainer download.

For the expansion targeted by the balance patch, read The Last Divinity. For the rules the mods can change, use the original-game mechanics guide.

FAQ

Do I need the Mod Loader?

Yes. The official guide instructs you to enable it in Mod Settings, and the Mod Loader’s Workshop description says other mods require it.

Why did my new subscription not appear?

The official guide says to restart the game after changing installed mods so the game recognizes the new set.

Which mod adds a second champion?

Dual Champions adds the secondary clan’s champion and assigns it a random upgrade path, according to its author’s Workshop description.

Sources

Shiny Shoe / Good Shepherd — Official Modding Guide — checked 2026-11-09
Steam Workshop — Mod Loader — checked 2026-11-09
Steam Workshop — Dual Champions — checked 2026-11-09
Steam Workshop — Restart battle button — checked 2026-11-09
Steam Workshop — Unofficial Balance Patch — checked 2026-11-09
Steam Workshop — original Monster Train — checked 2026-11-09