If the Universal Uncrappifier feels like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, try the Appearance Gun mod.
This mod adds a single, craftable weapon that looks like a ray gun. When you shoot yourself (or a friend!) with it, a GUI pops up allowing you to change your hair, clothes, and facial features.
Why I love it: It feels lore-friendly. You aren't breaking the fourth wall; you are just using advanced technology to tweak your genes. It also respects the game's economy—you have to craft the gun using Durasteel and a Manipulator Module.
Pro tip: Backup your storage/player/ folder before installing any save-editing mods. You probably won't break anything, but space is cruel.
To get all these mods playing nicely, follow this simple protocol:
player.config file will conflict. Appearance is smartly coded to avoid this.Starbound is a game about exploration, but the most important frontier is your own identity. No one should feel trapped by a hairstyle they chose at 2 AM during character creation. With mods like Dynamic Character Customization, the power to evolve your look is just a crafted item away.
Whether you’re a roleplayer aging your weary Glitch knight, a builder who finally found the perfect aesthetic, or just someone who wants purple hair to match their rainbow cape, the mods are out there. They are stable, easy to install, and brilliantly maintained.
Install Appearance, visit a mirror, and become the spacer you were always meant to be. The universe won’t change itself—but you can.
Safe travels, and may your pixels always be plentiful.
In the pixelated expanse of , where your identity is often forged in the first few minutes of a new save, the "Appearance Change" mod isn't just a utility—it’s a gateway to a second lease on life. The Mirror of the Multiverse
Kaelen had spent three hundred solar cycles as a grizzled Apex, his fur greyed by the radiation of a thousand moons. He was a warrior, built for the frontlines of the Protectorate. But as he sat in the glow of his ship’s console, staring at the vast, silent void, the reflection in the glass felt like a stranger. He didn't want to be a soldier anymore; he wanted to be a wanderer, light-footed and free. He had heard whispers of a transmutation terminal
—a modded relic forbidden by the strict laws of the universe but whispered about in the dark corners of the Outpost. The Transformation
He found it tucked behind a stack of crates near Beak-Easy. It wasn't much to look at: a sleek, pulsing platform hummed with a low, violet light. Stepping onto it, Kaelen didn't just feel his clothes change—he felt his very molecular structure vibrate.
The interface flickered before his eyes, offering choices that should have been impossible: The Hues of a Nebula: starbound change character appearance mod
He could shift his fur from slate grey to a vibrant, electric blue. The Eyes of a Seer:
His tired, soldier’s eyes were replaced with the glowing, inquisitive pupils of a scholar. The Mark of the Stars:
Intricate, bioluminescent patterns began to trace across his skin, reflecting the constellations he had yet to visit. A New Horizon
As the light faded, the old Kaelen was gone. Standing on the platform was someone new—younger, brighter, and unburdened by the weight of a thousand battles. He walked back to his ship, and for the first time in years, the reflection in the cockpit window smiled back. Appearance Change mod
, the universe hadn't changed, but he had. And in the infinite reaches of Starbound, that made all the difference. specific mods
allow for this in-game, or should we continue Kaelen’s journey to a specific planet type
Overview
Key Features
Technical Summary
Usage
Known Limitations & Compatibility
Security & Safety
Modder Notes (for maintainers)
Credits & Licensing
Example Short Description (for a mod page) "Change Character Appearance" adds a craftable Appearance Editor that lets you change your character’s body, face, hair, skin, and clothing at any time. Save presets, preview edits live, and switch looks without remaking your character — works with most races and cosmetic mods.
If you want, I can:
players, the lack of an in-game "barber" or "plastic surgeon" is a long-standing frustration. While there isn't one definitive "Appearance Mod," several tools and specialized mods solve this problem in different ways. 1. StarExtensions (Highly Recommended) StarExtensions
is widely considered the best modern solution for changing your character mid-game. Steam Community What it does
: It isn’t just a cosmetic mod; it’s an engine extension that unlocks several "hidden" features, including an in-game character editor. Key Feature : You can type /editor open
in the chat to reopen the full character creation menu at any time.
: It’s safer to strip off your cosmetic clothes before using it to avoid potential resets of your worn items. 2. Starcheat (The Classic Power Tool) If you prefer an external program with surgical precision, is the community standard for save editing. What it does
: It is a standalone GUI application that lets you open your
save files and manually change hair, colors, and even your race or name. The Review
: It is incredibly powerful but slightly more technical than an in-game mod. Always back up your save folder
before using it, as corrupting a file is possible if you aren't careful. 3. Cutebound (The Visual Overhaul) If your goal is to change how characters look rather than just your specific hair color, is the most popular choice. Chucklefish Forums What it does
: It replaces the default vanilla sprites with more "chibi" or "cute" versions, including better faces and expressions. The Review If the Universal Uncrappifier feels like using a
: It’s highly rated and "single-handedly" keeps some players engaged for hundreds of hours. However, it can conflict with other mods that modify human or race-specific sprites. Steam Community 4. Manual Save Editing (For Mod-Free Players)
If you don't want to install mods, you can manually swap appearance data by editing JSON files. Steam Community How it works : You use tools like dump_versioned_json (found in the Starbound folder) to convert your encrypted file into a readable The Review
: This is the "hard mode" of customization. It gives you total control over every stat and appearance value but is very easy to mess up if you aren't comfortable with code structures.
Here’s a full-feature guide and overview for changing your character’s appearance in Starbound using mods, since the base game doesn’t allow post-creation edits.
If you want to edit your character without logging into the game, or if you want to edit specific pixel details, the community standard tool is Starcheat.
Warning: Always back up your character files before using an external editor.
Step 1: Find your Save Files
.player. These are your characters. The .json files with the same name are the metadata.Step 2: Download Starcheat
Step 3: Editing
Step 4: In-Game Verification
| Mod Name | Workshop Link ID (if known) | Notes | |----------|----------------------------|-------| | Appearance Gun (by Silverfeelin) | 729426699 | Most stable, well-maintained | | StarExtension – Appearance Changer | 739615629 | Adds a terminal instead of a gun | | Universal Uncrafter (partial) | 732312106 | Includes appearance reset as a side feature |
Yes, the name is a meme. But the Starbound - Universal Uncrappifier (available on the Steam Workshop) is the gold standard for post-creation edits.
This isn't just a character editor; it’s a swiss army knife. It allows you to: Starbound is a game about exploration, but the
How to use it: Install the mod, craft the "Universal Uncrappifier" object at the Inventor's Table (it looks like a strange computer), and interact with it. It will open the exact same character creation screen from Day One.
Warning: Changing your species might make your equipped armor look weird until you re-equip it. Also, don’t use this on a multiplayer server unless you are the admin.