Starbound Change Character Appearance Mod 🚀

A lighter alternative to the above is Appearance (A Simple Mirror). Instead of a craftable item, this mod places a mirror object in the game world (you can also spawn it via admin commands). Interacting with the mirror opens the character customization UI.

It’s less intrusive, feels more immersive (you actually "look in a mirror" to change), but lacks the race-change functionality of Silverfeelin’s version.

In the infinite, procedurally generated universe of Starbound, your character is your avatar of chaos and creation. You spend hours fine-tuning their race, hair color, and clothing in the character creator, only to realize—twenty hours into a sprawling galactic adventure—that you desperately wish you had chosen a different hairstyle. Or perhaps you’ve found the perfect piece of cosmetic armor that clashes horribly with your character’s unchangeable eye color.

For new players, this moment is frustrating. For veterans, it’s a familiar ache. Vanilla Starbound has a glaring omission: no official method to change your character’s appearance after you leave the initial ship locker room.

Thankfully, the Starbound modding community has turned this oversight into a playground of possibility. This article is your deep-dive guide into the world of appearance-modifying mods, from simple in-game salons to complete overhauls of the character customization system.

The most popular mod for this is "Kawa's Character Creator" (often just called the Race Support Mod or Character Customizer). This mod allows you to access the character creation screen while playing, essentially acting as a "barber shop."

Step 1: Install a Mod Manager (Recommended) While you can install mods manually, using the Steam Workshop is significantly easier.

If you are using the GOG version or prefer manual installation:

Step 2: Using the Mod In-Game

Step 3: Saving

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:

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.

| 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 |

There is no excuse to suffer with bad hair in space. While we wait for Chucklefish to ever release a "Beauty Update" (don't hold your breath), the modding community has your back.

My recommendation: Start with the Universal Uncrappifier. It’s ugly, it’s overpowered, and it works flawlessly. Change your look as often as you change your ship’s fuel.

Now go forth, spacefarer. Dye your hair. Switch your tail. And pretend that scar was always there. starbound change character appearance mod

Have you found a hidden gem appearance mod? Did you accidentally turn your Floran into a Novakid? Let me know in the comments below!

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

: 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.

Changing a character's appearance in post-creation is notoriously tricky because the game lacks a built-in "magic mirror" or barber system. While there isn't one definitive "perfect" mod that handles this seamlessly within the UI like other modern RPGs, several community-driven solutions exist—ranging from in-game editors to external save manipulation. Notable Appearance & Customization Mods

StarExtensions: This is widely considered the most modern and "cleanest" solution. It is a client-side extension (found on GitHub rather than Steam) that adds an in-game character editor.

Usage: Once installed, players can type /editor open in the chat to access a customization menu. A lighter alternative to the above is Appearance

Pro Tip: It is recommended to unequip cosmetic items before using it to avoid visual glitches or resets.

Cutebound / Make the Universe a Cuter Place: One of the most popular aesthetic mods, it completely overhauls the default character sprites (faces, bodies, and hair) into a more stylized, anime-inspired look.

Impact: It doesn't give you a menu to change your hair on the fly, but it replaces the global appearance of existing races.

Colorbound: This mod significantly expands the color palette available during character creation and can sometimes be used in conjunction with save editing to access colors that weren't originally available.

Simple Extended Character Creation 2.0: While primarily for starting new characters with modded races, it is essential if you want to swap your current character to a custom race using external tools, as it ensures the UI can handle the additional race slots. Alternative: External Tools & Manual Methods

If you don't want to rely on mods that might break with game updates, the community often uses these manual methods:

Starcheat: A powerful third-party character save editor. It allows you to open your .player file and manually change values for your hair, skin color, and even your race ID.

Warning: Always back up your save before using this, as it is a third-party application.

The "New Character" File Swap: A common workaround is to create a new character with your desired appearance, then use a text editor like Notepad++ to copy the specific appearance data chunks from the new character's .player file into your old one.

In-Game Commands: Players using OpenStarbound (another popular engine extension) can use commands like /run player.setSpecies("race_id") to change their character's race instantly.

, changing a character's physical appearance (hair, colors, species) after creation is not a built-in feature. You must use either specific utility mods or manual save-editing tools to achieve this. Top Mods for Appearance & Customization

If you want to change your appearance through gameplay or dedicated interfaces, these are the most reliable options: StarExtensions or xStarbound : These are engine-level mods that add a powerful

: Allows you to open the full character creator menu at any time to modify your current character's hair, colors, and other traits. Compatibility : Both are compatible with major overhauls like Frackin' Universe , though xStarbound may require a compatibility patch. Wardrobe Interface

: Focuses on outfit management rather than physical body changes.

: Provides an interface to instantly access and equip any clothing or armor piece in the game without needing to craft them. Integration : Works with Green's Dye Suite

to allow for advanced color palette customization of your gear. Appearance Change Station

: A standalone mod that adds a craftable station for mid-game visual shifts. While some older versions are outdated, many players find similar "Mirror" or "Station" mods on the Steam Workshop Nexus Mods Non-Mod Alternatives (Tools & Editing) scripts/

If you prefer not to add gameplay mods, you can use external tools to edit your character save file directly: : A popular graphical save editor for Starbound.

: It provides a user-friendly interface to change your character's species, name, pose, and hairstyle.

: It uses an RGB color picker, allowing for colors not normally available in the vanilla game. Manual File Editing : For advanced users, you can unpack your file located in the Starbound/storage/player folder using tools like and Starbound's own dump_versioned_json.exe

: You must decompile the file to JSON format, edit the appearance values (like personalityIdle or color hex codes), and then recompile it using make_versioned_json.exe Quick Setup Guide Starbound how to add Custom Races

The Ultimate Guide to Starbound Character Appearance Mods and Re-customization

In the vast, procedurally generated universe of Starbound, your character is your primary representative. While the initial character creator offers a solid foundation of seven races—Apex, Avian, Floran, Glitch, Human, Hylotl, and Novakid—players often find themselves wanting to refresh their look hundreds of hours into a save. Unfortunately, vanilla Starbound does not include a built-in "barber shop" or magic mirror to change your base appearance mid-game.

To truly customize your identity after the initial creation screen, you’ll need to rely on specific mods or external tools. Here is everything you need to know about Starbound character appearance mods and manual re-customization. Top Mods for Changing Appearance Mid-Game

While traditional mods struggle to alter hardcoded save file data, a few advanced tools and UI-focused mods make the process significantly easier.

StarExtensions: This is widely considered the best "all-in-one" solution. Unlike most workshop mods, it features an in-game character editor that can be accessed by typing /editor open in the chat. It allows for real-time editing of your character's base features.

Wardrobe Interface: Available on the Starbound Workshop, this mod is designed specifically for managing your character's outfits and dyes while playing, though it focuses more on clothing than base physical features like hair or skin color.

Starcheat: Although technically an external software rather than a mod, Starcheat is a powerful character editor for Starbound. It allows you to open your .player files and change almost any attribute, including race, gender, and hair style, through a user-friendly interface. Essential Character Enhancement Mods

If you are starting a new character or want to expand the options available for your current one, these mods are "must-haves":

[COLORBOUND]: Adds over 1,500 new color selection options for both player characters and NPCs, making it much easier to find a unique palette.

CuteBound: A massive overhaul mod that gives the game's races a "cute" or anime-inspired aesthetic, reworking everything from body shapes to facial features and hair.

AnTiHair - Big Bag of Long Hairstyles: Adds 275 new hairstyles to the game, providing far more variety than the vanilla selection.

Character Creation Extenders: If you want to play as a custom race (like skeletons, rabbits, or snakes), you must install a "Character Extender" mod first. This expands the UI to include more selection boxes for modded species. How to Manually Change Appearance (No Mods Required)

If you prefer not to install third-party software like StarExtensions, you can change your appearance by manually editing your save files using built-in Starbound utilities.

There are two primary ways to do this: using an in-game interface (easiest) or using an external program (most powerful).