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SPECIFICTION
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HFW Mod Manager

hfw-mm.gitbook.io

Free plan WindowsLinux
Visit hfw-mm.gitbook.io
Spec score 8.2 #19 of 79 in Game Mod Managers

What it is

HFW Mod Manager is a free graphical tool for managing and packing mods for supported Decima-engine games. The listed games are Horizon Forbidden West, Death Stranding 2, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, which is marked as a work in progress. Users can add mod folders or ZIP files by drag and drop, choose variations, preview them with metadata, and pack enabled mods. Named presets save mod lists, and packing follows list order so later entries can override earlier ones. The manager can detect a known game directory and check game-version compatibility. Supported archive formats include .zip, .rar, .7z, .gaia, .forbidden, and .hfwz. Other features include hair patching, batch hair patching, and experimental face-shading fixes for custom face meshes. The Cauldron tab offers asset export, streaming-file building, and animation conversion; some functions require HFW Tools or DS2 Tools. The app is built natively for Windows. Windows users extract the ZIP into its own folder and launch HFW_MM.exe; it is not installed locally. Linux use requires adding it to Steam and running it with Proton 10.0-4 or newer.

Spec sheet

Purpose
HFW Mod Manager simplifies managing and packing mods for supported Decima-engine games through a graphical interface.Read 12 Oct 2026 · nexusmods.com
Support
The listing directs users to its Discord server for quicker support.Read 12 Oct 2026 · nexusmods.com
Additional utilities
The Cauldron tab provides asset export, streaming-file building, and animation conversion, with some features requiring HFW Tools or DS2 Tools.Read 12 Oct 2026 · nexusmods.com
Archive formats
The listed supported archive formats are .zip, .rar, .7z, .gaia, .forbidden, and .hfwz.Read 12 Oct 2026 · nexusmods.com
Game detection
It can automatically detect a known game directory and check game-version compatibility.Read 12 Oct 2026 · hfw-mm.gitbook.io
Install mods
Users can add mod folders or ZIP files by drag and drop, then select variations and pack enabled mods.Read 12 Oct 2026 · hfw-mm.gitbook.io
Loadouts and order
The manager can save named mod-list presets and pack mods in list order, with later entries able to override earlier ones.Read 12 Oct 2026 · hfw-mm.gitbook.io
Mod profiles
YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · hfw-mm.gitbook.io
Mod source access
manual importRead 22 Sep 2026 · hfw-mm.gitbook.io
Patch tools
Features include hair patching, batch hair patching, and experimental face-shading fixes for custom face meshes.Read 12 Oct 2026 · hfw-mm.gitbook.io
Portable setup
On Windows, users extract the ZIP into its own folder and launch HFW_MM.exe; the manager is not installed locally.Read 12 Oct 2026 · hfw-mm.gitbook.io
Restore files
The Restore Files action clears package/ar, removes installed mods, and restores backups of streaming_graph.core and streaming_links.stream.Read 12 Oct 2026 · hfw-mm.gitbook.io
Security status
The Nexus Mods listing labels the file's virus scan status “Safe to use.”Read 12 Oct 2026 · nexusmods.com
Supported games
The page lists Horizon Forbidden West, Death Stranding 2, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered as supported games, with Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered marked W.I.P.Read 12 Oct 2026 · nexusmods.com
Supported platforms
multi-platformRead 22 Sep 2026 · hfw-mm.gitbook.io
Variation previews
Users can choose mod variations and view visual previews alongside metadata.Read 12 Oct 2026 · hfw-mm.gitbook.io
Windows and Linux
The app is built natively for Windows; Linux use requires adding it to Steam as a non-Steam game and running it with Proton 10.0-4 or newer.Read 12 Oct 2026 · hfw-mm.gitbook.io

Plans and prices

HFW Mod Manager Free Downloadable mod manager for supported Decima-engine games Read 12 Oct 2026 · nexusmods.com

Every HFW Mod Manager plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Save named mod-list presets
  • Preview variations alongside metadata
  • Checks game-version compatibility
  • Supports several archive formats

Limits

  • Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered support is marked W.I.P.
  • Linux use requires Proton 10.0-4 or newer
  • Some Cauldron features require HFW Tools or DS2 Tools
  • Windows use requires extracting the ZIP; it is not installed locally

Who it suits

It suits players organizing mods for the listed Decima-engine games, particularly on Windows. Linux users need to be comfortable adding it to Steam and using Proton.

Verdict

HFW Mod Manager provides mod organization, previews, packing, and additional patching and asset tools. Note the work-in-progress game support, Linux setup requirement, and external tool dependencies for some features.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to HFW Mod ManagerAll alternatives →