Ordered by installs · Not tested by us
The 20 most-installed Starbound mods (2026)
Ordered by Steam Workshop subscriptions, which is a count from Valve rather than a judgement from us. We have not installed these, and say so rather than implying a verdict we have not earned. Everything here installs by clicking Subscribe.
The short version
- Most installed: Frackin' Universe, 647,309 subscribers.
- 2 of 20 updated since the start of 2025, which matters more than subscriber count for whether a mod still works.
- All install through Steam. Subscribe on Workshop and the game picks it up on next launch. Nothing to unzip.
All 20, most installed first
Crafting and BuildingMiscellaneousPlanets and EnvironmentsNPCs and CreaturesWeaponsQuestsDungeonsShipsSpeciesUser InterfaceFurniture and ObjectsFood and FarmingMechanicsVehicles and MountsArmor and ClothesUpdated 1 September 2026
User InterfaceUpdated 18 October 2017
Food and FarmingMechanicsUser InterfaceUpdated 4 December 2017
Updated 26 July 2016
Crafting and BuildingMechanicsUser InterfaceUpdated 4 December 2017
Crafting and BuildingFurniture and ObjectsIn-Game ToolsMechanicsUser InterfaceUpdated 4 September 2021
Musical Instruments and SongsUpdated 26 August 2018
Updated 9 October 2017
Updated 7 February 2017
MiscellaneousUser InterfaceUpdated 24 April 2019
WeaponsArmor and ClothesCrafting and BuildingDungeonsFood and FarmingFurniture and ObjectsMechanicsMiscellaneousNPCs and CreaturesPlanets and EnvironmentsQuestsShipsSpeciesVehicles and MountsUpdated 29 October 2020
Crafting and BuildingNPCs and CreaturesWeaponsQuestsUser InterfaceFurniture and ObjectsCharacter ImprovementsMechanicsUpdated 24 January 2026
Armor and ClothesFood and FarmingFurniture and ObjectsIn-Game ToolsNPCs and CreaturesShipsSpeciesVehicles and MountsWeaponsUpdated 31 March 2023
Food and FarmingMechanicsUser InterfaceUpdated 24 May 2018
Updated 14 May 2019
Updated 10 July 2017
Updated 8 September 2016
Updated 24 August 2017
Updated 16 July 2017
MechanicsSpeciesUpdated 4 August 2020
Subscriber counts and approval scores are Valve's, read on 5 September 2026 and not adjusted by us. Browse the full Workshop.
Common questions
What is the best Starbound mod?
By installs, Frackin' Universe, with 647,309 Steam Workshop subscribers. That is the most-installed rather than the best: subscriber count measures how many people tried it, not whether they kept it. Workshop's own approval score is shown next to each one where Valve publishes it.
How do I install Starbound mods?
Everything on this page is a Steam Workshop item, so installing means clicking Subscribe on its Workshop page and letting Steam download it the next time you launch the game. There is nothing to unzip and no files to move. Unsubscribing removes it. Mods from outside Workshop work differently and are not covered here.
Are these Starbound mods safe?
They are hosted by Valve and distributed through Steam, which is a meaningfully lower risk than downloading files from elsewhere, but Valve does not audit mod code. We have not run any of them. Treat a mod with a large subscriber count and a recent update as better evidence than one with neither.
How is this list ordered?
By Steam Workshop subscriptions, highest first, read on 5 September 2026. That is a count from Valve, not a judgement from us. We have not ranked these by quality and do not have the basis to: nobody here has installed all 20.
Do you get paid for these?
No. Mod authors are not paid by us and cannot pay for a position here. The order is Valve’s subscriber count and nothing else.