DLC and Mods

Install downloadable content and apply mods to enhance your games in Ryujinx

Ryujinx supports both official downloadable content (DLC) and community-created modifications. This guide covers installing DLC, applying mods, and managing game modifications.

Downloadable Content (DLC)

Ryujinx can manage add-on content and DLC packages through the GUI:

DLC File Formats

NSP Files

Standard DLC Format

• Most common DLC format
• Can contain multiple DLC packages
• Easy to install via GUI

XCI Bundled

Cartridge Dumps with DLC

• DLC bundled with game cartridge
• Automatically detected
• Cannot be disabled separately

Installing DLC

1. Access DLC Manager

   Right-click a game in the library and select:

   Manage Downloadable Content

   This opens the DLC Manager window for that specific game.

2. Add DLC Files

   In the DLC Manager:

   1. Click the + (Add) button
   2. Browse to your DLC NSP file(s)
   3. Select one or multiple DLC packages
   4. Click Open

   Only DLC matching the game’s Title ID will be shown and can be added.

3. Enable/Disable DLC

   Each DLC entry has a checkbox:

   • ☑ Enabled - DLC is active and loaded
   • ☐ Disabled - DLC is installed but not loaded

   Toggle checkboxes to enable or disable specific DLC packages.

4. Save Configuration

   Click Save to apply your DLC configuration

   You must restart the game for DLC changes to take effect.

DLC Information Display

The DLC Manager shows details for each package:

Title ID: 0100ABCD12345001
Container: dlc_pack1.nsp
Type: NSP / Bundled (XCI)

• Title ID: Unique identifier (base game ID + DLC suffix)
• Container Path: Location of the DLC file
• Bundled Notice: XCI files with bundled DLC show a warning

Autoload Directories for DLC

Automatically detect and load DLC from specified folders:

1. Configure Autoload Directories

   Navigate to Settings > UI > Autoload Directories

2. Add DLC Folders

   Click Add and select folders containing:

   • DLC NSP files
   • Game updates
   • Additional content
3. Refresh Library

   Ryujinx scans autoload directories when you:

   • Refresh the game library
   • Restart the application
   • Load a game

DLC from autoload directories is automatically matched to the appropriate games based on Title ID.

Managing DLC

Enable All DLC

Click Enable All button to activate all installed DLC packages at once.

Disable All DLC

Click Disable All button to deactivate all DLC while keeping them installed.

Remove DLC

To remove DLC from the list:

1. Uncheck the DLC package
2. Click the - (Remove) button
3. Select the DLC to remove
4. Confirm removal

Removing DLC from the manager doesn’t delete the NSP file from disk - it only removes the reference.

Bundled DLC (XCI)

If your game was loaded from an XCI file containing DLC:

• Bundled DLC appears in the manager
• Cannot be disabled individually
• Shows a notice: “This DLC is bundled with the game”
• Removing the game removes bundled DLC

Game Modifications (Mods)

Ryujinx supports three types of mods:

RomFS Mods

File Replacement Mods

Replace game files like textures, models, and audio.

ExeFS Mods

Executable Patches

Modify game code and executables.

Cheats

Runtime Modifications

In-memory code modifications and cheat codes.

Mod Directory Structure

Mods are organized in two locations:

Global Mods Directory

Location:

<RyujinxFolder>/mods/contents/<TitleID>/

Structure:

mods/
└── contents/
    └── 0100ABCD12345000/
        ├── My Texture Mod/
        │   └── romfs/
        │       └── ... (mod files)
        └── Code Patch/
            └── exefs/
                └── ... (patch files)

SD Card Mods (Atmosphere)

Location:

<RyujinxFolder>/sdcard/atmosphere/contents/<TitleID>/

Structure:

sdcard/
└── atmosphere/
    └── contents/
        └── 0100ABCD12345000/
            ├── romfs/
            ├── exefs/
            └── cheats/

The SD card location mimics Nintendo Switch’s Atmosphere CFW structure for compatibility with existing mods.

Installing RomFS Mods

RomFS mods replace game files:

1. Get Mod Files

   Download your desired mod (usually as a .zip file)

2. Access Mod Manager

   Right-click a game in the library and select:

   Manage Mods

3. Add Mod via GUI

   1. Click the Add button
   2. Select the mod folder (containing romfs/ or exefs/)
   3. The mod is automatically installed

   Mods must contain either a romfs/ or exefs/ folder to be recognized.

4. Manual Installation

   Alternatively, manually copy mods:

   1. Right-click game > Open Mods Directory
   2. Create a folder for your mod
   3. Extract mod contents maintaining structure:
      ModName/
      └── romfs/
          └── ... (replacement files)
      
   4. Refresh the mod manager
5. Enable the Mod

   In Mod Manager:

   • Check the box next to the mod name to enable
   • Uncheck to disable without removing
   • Enabled mods are applied on game launch

Installing ExeFS Mods

ExeFS mods patch game executables:

1. Prepare ExeFS Mod

   Ensure mod structure:

   ModName/
   └── exefs/
       ├── main (executable patch)
       └── ... (other patches)
   
2. Install via Mod Manager

   Same process as RomFS mods:

   1. Open Mod Manager for the game
   2. Click Add and select mod folder
   3. Enable the mod
3. Verify Compatibility

   ExeFS mods are game version-specific. Ensure the mod matches your game’s version.

Installing Cheats

Cheats are runtime code modifications:

1. Locate Cheat Files

   Cheats are .txt files containing cheat codes:

   [Infinite Health]
   580F0000 12345678
   780F0000 00000100
   640F0000 00000000 000003E7
   
2. Install Cheats

   Manual Installation:

   1. Navigate to mod directory:
      <RyujinxFolder>/sdcard/atmosphere/contents/<TitleID>/cheats/
      
   2. Create cheats/ folder if it doesn’t exist
   3. Place .txt cheat files in this folder
   4. Name format: <BuildID>.txt or use any name
3. Enable Cheats

   Cheats appear in the Mod Manager:

   • Check to enable specific cheats
   • Multiple cheat files can be active
   • Changes apply on game restart

Cheats use Atmosphere cheat format. Build ID is the first 16 hex characters of the game’s build ID.

Managing Mods

Enable/Disable Mods

In the Mod Manager:

• Enable All - Activates all installed mods
• Disable All - Deactivates all mods without removing them
• Individual Toggle - Check/uncheck specific mods

Mod states are saved in:

<RyujinxFolder>/games/<TitleID>/mods.json

Remove Mods

To delete a mod:

1. Select the mod in Mod Manager
2. Click Delete button
3. Confirm deletion

Deleting a mod permanently removes it from disk. Make backups if needed.

Delete All Mods

Delete All button removes all mods for the current game.

This is useful for troubleshooting or starting fresh.

Search Mods

Use the search box in Mod Manager to filter mods by name:

• Type to filter visible mods
• Useful when managing many mods
• Search is case-insensitive

Mod Containers

Mods can also be packaged as containers:

romfs.bin

Single-file RomFS replacement:

ModName/
└── romfs.bin

Ryujinx loads this as the complete RomFS replacement.

exefs.nsp

Packaged ExeFS mod:

ModName/
└── exefs.nsp

Contains executable patches in NSP format.

Mod Compatibility

Game Version Matching

Mods, especially ExeFS patches and cheats, are often version-specific:

• Check mod requirements
• Verify game version matches mod version
• Update mods when updating games
• Disable incompatible mods to prevent crashes

Multi-DLC Mods

Some mods require specific DLC:

1. Check Mod Requirements

   Read mod documentation for DLC dependencies

2. Install Required DLC

   Ensure all required DLC is installed and enabled

3. Enable Mod

   Only enable the mod after DLC is active

Mod Load Order

Mods are loaded in the order they appear in mods.json:

• Later mods can override earlier ones
• Important for texture/model replacement priority
• Reorder by editing mods.json manually if needed

Advanced Modding

Atmosphere-Style Mods

Ryujinx supports Atmosphere CFW mod structure:

sdcard/atmosphere/
├── contents/
│   └── <TitleID>/
│       ├── romfs/
│       ├── exefs/
│       └── cheats/
├── exefs_patches/
│   └── <PatchName>/
├── nro_patches/
└── kip_patches/

This allows using mods designed for Switch CFW directly in Ryujinx.

Stubbing Files

Create .stub files to remove game files:

ModName/
└── romfs/
    └── Movie/
        └── intro.mp4.stub

The .stub extension tells Ryujinx to exclude that file, effectively removing intro videos or unwanted content.

Mod Metadata

Mods can include metadata for better organization:

mods.json format:

{
  "Mods": [
    {
      "Name": "HD Texture Pack",
      "Path": "/path/to/mod",
      "Enabled": true
    }
  ]
}

Troubleshooting Mods and DLC

DLC not appearing in game

Solutions:

1. Verify DLC is enabled in DLC Manager
2. Ensure DLC Title ID matches game (base ID + DLC suffix)
3. Restart the game after enabling DLC
4. Check DLC compatibility with game version
5. Verify DLC NSP file is not corrupted

Mod not working

Common causes:

• Mod is disabled in Mod Manager
• Incorrect folder structure (missing romfs/ or exefs/)
• Game version mismatch
• Conflicting mods

Solutions:

1. Verify mod is enabled (checked in Mod Manager)
2. Check folder structure matches requirements
3. Ensure game version matches mod requirements
4. Disable other mods to test for conflicts
5. Check mod documentation for installation steps

Game crashes with mods enabled

Debugging steps:

1. Disable all mods:
   • Use “Disable All” in Mod Manager
   • Test if game runs without mods
2. Enable mods one by one:
   • Identify which mod causes the crash
   • Remove or update problematic mod
3. Check mod compatibility:
   • Verify game version
   • Check for mod conflicts
   • Read mod documentation
4. Review logs:
   • Check <RyujinxFolder>/Logs/ for error messages
   • Look for mod-related errors

Cannot add DLC - 'No DLC found'

This error means:

The NSP file either:

• Contains no DLC (it’s a game or update)
• Contains DLC for a different game

Solutions:

1. Verify the NSP is actually DLC (not base game/update)
2. Check Title ID matches your game
3. Ensure NSP file is not corrupted
4. Try a different DLC package

Mod directory not found

If ‘Open Mods Directory’ doesn’t work:

1. Manually create the directory:
   <RyujinxFolder>/sdcard/atmosphere/contents/<TitleID>/
   
2. Refresh the Mod Manager
3. Restart Ryujinx if needed

Cheats not working

Solutions:

1. Ensure cheat file name matches Build ID
2. Verify cheat codes are in Atmosphere format
3. Enable cheats in Mod Manager
4. Restart game after enabling cheats
5. Check if game version matches cheat version
6. Test with known-working cheats to verify functionality

Best Practices

1. Backup Saves Before Modding

   Always backup your save data before installing mods:

   Save location:

   <RyujinxFolder>/games/<TitleID>/save/
   
2. Document Your Mods

   Keep track of:

   • Installed mods and versions
   • Game versions they work with
   • Load order if applicable
   • Source/download location
3. Test Mods Individually

   When installing multiple mods:

   • Add and test one mod at a time
   • Ensure each works before adding more
   • Easier to identify conflicts
4. Keep Mods Updated

   Update mods when:

   • Game receives updates
   • Mod creator releases new version
   • Experiencing compatibility issues

Next Steps

Game Loading

Learn how to load and manage games

Configuration

Configure system and emulator settings

Troubleshooting

Diagnose and fix common issues

Graphics Settings

Optimize visual quality and performance