Modrix vs Stardrop

Modrix is a game mod manager with graphical, terminal and command-line frontends built over one shared engine. It is presented as an open-source alternative to Vortex and has built-in support for 86 games, with additional games available through a community plugin registry. A browser extension passes Nexus Mods download links and session cookies to Modrix so it can download and stage files without a Nexus API key. On Linux, the project describes Steam and Proton as first-class options and says Modrix usually detects Steam-installed games for a one-click add-and-switch action. Deployment uses hardlinks where possible, backs up files before overwriting, journals changes for crash recovery and supports reversing deployments. Modrix surfaces conflicts between enabled mods and offers rules and per-file overrides to resolve them. The CLI supports scripting and JSON output, and an MCP server exposes engine functions as tools for agents. The project states that it has zero telemetry and that Lua game plugins are sandboxed. It is GPL-2.0-only and costs nothing.

Stardrop is a free, open-source mod manager for Stardew Valley on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Built with Avalonia UI, it uses SMAPI to manage applicable mods and check for updates. Profiles keep separate mod groups for different gameplay or multiplayer sessions. Stardrop connects to the Nexus Mods API, including in-app mod endorsements, and offers built-in mod-source access and automatic updates. Downloading updates through Stardrop requires a premium Nexus Mods account. The manager uses copy-based deployment, and documentation says uninstalling it leaves SMAPI, Stardew Valley, and the original mod folder unaffected. Downloads are available from GitHub Releases and Nexus Mods; GitHub instructions direct users to choose the ZIP matching their operating system. GitBook covers installation, updates, and usage. The repository is licensed under GPL-3.0.