Risk of Rain 2 r2modman: Complete Setup and Modding Guide

Getting Started with r2modman for Risk of Rain 2

Modding Risk of Rain 2 transforms the chaotic roguelike experience by introducing custom survivors, expanded item pools, balance overhauls, and essential interface tweaks. While players originally installed plugins by manually moving files into game directories, this method frequently corrupted game folders, complicated updates, and made multiplayer troubleshooting nearly impossible.

The community standard solution is r2modman, an open-source, profile-based mod manager developed by ebkr. Designed specifically for Unity games using the Thunderstore ecosystem, r2modman keeps your original game directory clean. Instead of overwriting core assets, it injects mods at runtime, enabling you to switch between heavily modded runs and clean vanilla gameplay with a single click.

Warning

Due to the popularity of the manager, third-party sites frequently re-host outdated or modified executables claiming to be official. Only obtain the software from verified outlets: the official Thunderstore page, the developer's GitHub repository (ebkr/r2modmanPlus), or ebkr.dev.

How to Install r2modman on Windows and Linux (Steam Deck)

The installation procedure varies depending on whether you are running a standard Windows desktop or a Linux-based environment such as the Steam Deck.

Windows Installation Steps

1. Visit the verified r2modman listing on Thunderstore and select Manual Download.
2. Extract the downloaded .zip archive to find the installer executable (r2modman Setup X.X.X.exe).
3. Run the installer and complete the brief setup wizard.
4. Launch the application. The manager automatically checks for software updates each time it opens and applies them upon closing.

Linux and Steam Deck Setup

Linux users should avoid running the Windows .exe through Proton prefixes and instead use native packages:

• Steam Deck Gaming Mode: The recommended route is the Flatpak build. You can run the included flatpak-setup.sh script or enter the terminal command: flatpak remote-add --user --if-not-exists r2builds; flatpak install --user io.github.ebkr.r2modman.
• Desktop Mode / Standalone Linux: If you prefer not to use Flatpak, download the standalone AppImage. Make sure to grant execution permissions by running chmod +x <filename>.AppImage in your terminal or toggling executable permissions in your desktop environment's file properties.
• Proton Compatibility Workaround: Community reports note that if the modded game fails to hook properly through Proton on Linux, placing an empty file named .forceproton in the Risk of Rain 2 root game folder forces the correct runtime environment.

Setting Up Essential Dependencies: BepInEx and R2API

Once r2modman is running, select Risk of Rain 2 from the game selection menu and create or select a profile. Before installing gameplay tweaks or custom characters, you must install the fundamental framework:

• BepInExPack (by bbepis): This all-in-one modding pack provides the core patcher and detour libraries required for Unity engine modding. Without BepInExPack, the game client will not load external .dll files.
• R2API (by tristanmcpherson): R2API acts as a central communication bridge between your mods and Hopoo Games' underlying codebase. It splits functionality into lightweight submodules (such as item creation, language adjustments, and networking), ensuring distinct mods do not conflict when altering game data.

To install both, open your profile in r2modman, click Online in the left sidebar, search for the package, and click Download. The manager automatically resolves all stated dependencies.

Managing Profiles, Configurations, and Multiplayer Sync

One of r2modman's most powerful features is isolated profile management. Profiles allow you to maintain distinct mod collections without re-downloading files.

Creating Dedicated Profiles

You can configure a minimalist "Quality of Life" profile containing utility mods like ColoredPingChat or NoMoreMath, alongside an "Overhaul" profile loaded with custom survivors, expanded item pools, and community artifacts. Keeping profiles segregated prevents abandoned code from breaking your casual co-op games.

In-App Config Editing

Rather than manually digging through nested Windows AppData roaming directories, click the Config editor tab in the sidebar. Select any installed mod from the list to display its editable parameters, adjust values (such as UI opacity or damage multipliers), and save directly inside the interface.

Exporting Profiles for Multiplayer

Multiplayer modding in Risk of Rain 2 requires consistency. While simple client-side mods only affect your personal HUD, gameplay overhauls require every participant in the lobby to run the mod to prevent network desyncs. To sync your mod list, navigate to Settings > Profile, click Export profile as code, and share the generated string with your friends to import via the manager.

Launching the Game: Modded vs. Vanilla

r2modman lets you choose how the game launches through two dedicated buttons in the upper-left corner:

• Start modded: Launches Steam (if not already running), injects BepInEx and your active profile's plugins, and boots the modified game.
• Start vanilla: Bypasses all manager scripts and launches Risk of Rain 2 in its completely unmodded, original state.

Because r2modman maintains mod files in its own isolated application directory rather than altering your Steam common/Risk of Rain 2 installation, you never have to verify game files or reinstall the game when joining official, unmodded public lobbies.

Troubleshooting Common Modding Issues

• Game Fails to Boot: Outdated mods are the primary cause of launch crashes following official game patches. Navigate to the Installed tab, check for mods with blue update arrows, and update them to their latest revisions.
• Dependency Conflicts: If custom survivor or enemy models fail to render, verify that optional library packages (such as mod-specific shared utility libraries) were not accidentally uninstalled or disabled.
• Console Log Inspection: If an error occurs during runtime, review the built-in BepInEx console window that opens alongside the game. Red error text usually identifies the specific .dll file causing game freezes or network drops.
• Community Assistance: If manager-level errors persist, refer to the community wiki or join the official modding community Discord linked within the manager's help tab to get verified advice from mod authors.