Gnamod - Hardcore Survival Overhaul
Challenge Warning: Gnamod is designed for players who find vanilla too easy. Expect to die frequently while learning.
Gnamod is a comprehensive overhaul mod developed since Alpha 14 by Haidr'Gna. What began as personal tweaks has grown into a complete reimagining of 7 Days to Die's survival mechanics, bringing back the hardcore survival experience many veteran players crave.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Creator | Haidr'Gna |
| Development Start | Alpha 14 |
| New Items | 130+ items |
| Difficulty | Hard to Extreme |
| Focus | True survival, self-sufficiency |
| Pacing | Slower than vanilla |
Core Philosophy
Gnamod is aimed at players who find vanilla lacking challenge. It brings back the survival aspect with slower pacing and forces you to become extremely self-sufficient to survive.
Reversed Progression
Unlike vanilla where you start with nothing and get better over time, Gnamod reverses this:
- You start with a backpack full of good supplies
- Resources become scarcer over time
- Animals provide less meat as the game progresses
- Self-sufficiency becomes critical for long-term survival
Resource System Overhaul
New Resource Categories
Gnamod completely overhauls resources into distinct categories:
| Category | Description | Examples |
|---|
| Mineral | Ores, soil, and stone | Copper, Zinc, Lead, Iron, Silver, Gold, Coal, Niter, Shale |
| Harvest | Items from animals/world | Meat, hides, plant materials |
| Junk | Loot for selling/scrapping | Broken items, trinkets |
| Resource | From human-made items | Car parts, building materials |
| Material | Construction items | Building blocks, structural components |
| Component | Weapon/ammo parts | Gun parts, ammo components |
New Ores
Gnamod adds realistic ore variety:
- Copper
- Zinc
- Lead
- Iron
- Silver
- Gold
- Coal
- Niter
- Shale
Gameplay Changes
Day One Danger
Forget about easy early game exploration:
- More numerous and tougher zombies around POIs
- Spitting cops, screamers, and dogs can appear at lonely POIs on Day 1
- Generally higher zombie spawn rates
- Every POI is a potential death trap
Resource Scarcity
- Low loot percentages
- Fewer animals spawn
- Animals provide less meat over time
- Food becomes critically scarce
Horde Night Changes
No more easy hordes - Day 7, 14, and 21 hordes are equally difficult. You can't rely on "easy early hordes" to stockpile resources.
Crafting System
Key Differences
- Must stay in inventory to scrap or craft (intentional design)
- Ways to decrease crafting time through progression
- No wood frames early game - use palisades instead
- Hard building materials come later via blueprints
- Blueprints can be looted or created
Mod Structure
Core Mods
Gnamod is built around two essential components:
| Mod | Purpose |
|---|
| Gnamod Core | Main mod with all gameplay changes |
| Gnamod CoreUI | All UI changes required for Gnamod |
Modular Design
Additional versions are modlets that alter or activate specific features within Gnamod, allowing some customization.
Available Versions
- Gnamod Core - Base overhaul
- Gnamod World - Extended world changes
- Gnamod UI - Standalone UI improvements
Installation
Requirements
- Check current compatible game version on mod page
- Fresh world strongly recommended
- EAC must be disabled
- Both Core and CoreUI required
Installation Steps
- Download Gnamod Core and CoreUI
- Back up your existing saves
- Extract to your Mods folder
- Start a new world
- Prepare to die (a lot)
Survival Tips
- Use your starting supplies wisely - They won't last forever
- Build palisades early - Wood frames come later
- Establish farming ASAP - Food scarcity will kill you
- Avoid POIs until prepared - Day 1 cops are no joke
- Mine diverse ores - You'll need all the new materials
- Learn the new crafting chains - Vanilla recipes don't apply
- Accept death as a teacher - Each death teaches you something
Who Is This Mod For?
- Perfect for: Veterans bored with vanilla, masochistic survival fans, players wanting meaningful resource management
- Not recommended for: New players, casual gamers, those frustrated by frequent deaths
Community Resources
- GitHub: github.com/haidrgna/Gnamod-World
- 7daystodiemods.com: Download and documentation
- Steam Discussions: Community support