Starbound Change Character Appearance Mod -

, there is no official in-game method or "magic mirror" to change your character's base appearance (hair, skin color, or gender) after creation

. To achieve this without starting over, you must use specific mods or manual save file editing. Steam Community Recommended Mods & Tools

While most "appearance" mods focus on clothing or crew, these tools allow you to modify your actual character: StarExtensions

: This is widely considered the most effective modern solution. It adds an in-game character editor that you can open by typing /editor open

in the chat. It allows you to re-access the character creation screen for your existing character.

: A powerful external save editor. Although it is older (designed for version 1.2x), it remains a popular choice for changing species, names, and appearance settings like RGB color pickers for skin and hair. Always backup your player files

before using this, as it can corrupt saves if used incorrectly. OpenStarbound : A source-port project that includes commands like /run player.setSpecies("race_id") to change your character's race on the fly. Manual File Editing (The "Proper Paper" Method)

If you prefer not to use a mod, you can manually "unpack" your save file, edit the data, and "repack" it. This requires a text editor like Character appearance :: Starbound General Discussions

Whether you’ve spent hundreds of hours building the perfect lunar base or you’re just tired of looking at the same hairstyle you picked three planets ago, the desire to change your character's look in Starbound is a common one.

While Chucklefish’s sandbox epic offers deep customization at the start, the vanilla game famously lacks a "barber shop" or "plastic surgeon" mechanic to let you tweak your appearance post-creation. Thankfully, the modding community has stepped in.

Here is everything you need to know about the best Starbound change character appearance mods and how to use them. Why Use an Appearance Mod?

In most RPGs, your character evolves. In Starbound, your character might start as a simple Protectorate recruit and end up as a galaxy-hopping god. It feels immersion-breaking when your "hardened veteran" still has the same bright pink mohawk and goofy grin they had on Earth. Appearance mods allow you to:

Change Hairstyles and Colors: Switch up your look to match your new high-tier armor.

Modify Body Scars or Details: Add "battle scars" as your campaign progresses.

Fix Mistakes: Realize ten hours in that your character’s skin tone looks weird under alien suns? Modding is the only way to fix it without restarting.

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 starbound change character appearance mod

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.

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 , there is no official in-game method or

: 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)

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 How to Install (Steam Workshop vs

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.

’s vanilla game restricts character customization to the initial creation screen

, several community-developed tools and mods allow you to change your appearance mid-game. Because the game hardcodes appearance data into your save file, "changing" a character often requires external editors or powerful script extensions rather than a simple in-game furniture item. Steam Community Top Tools for Mid-Game Appearance Changes

How to Install (Steam Workshop vs. Manual)

Steam Workshop (Easiest): Subscribe to the mod. Launch Starbound. At the main menu, click "Options" > "Mods" and ensure the mod is toggled ON.
Manual (Chucklefish Forums): Download the .pak file. Drop it into Starbound/mods/ folder. Restart the game.

Pro tip: Backup your storage/player/ folder before installing any save-editing mods. You probably won't break anything, but space is cruel.

Option B: Save File Editing (No Mods)

For players who don’t want to use mods.

The Problem: Why Can’t You Change Your Look in Vanilla?

First, let’s address the elephant in the warp drive. Unlike games such as Terraria (which has the Dresser) or Skyrim (with the Face Sculptor), Chucklefish’s space sandbox was designed with a "linear" character identity. The game treats your character’s JSON file as a static document. Race, gender, body type, hairstyle, hair color, and eye color are hard-coded at creation.

You can change clothes easily (vanilla armor and dye are robust), but the fundamental biological and stylistic traits? Immutable. This is particularly painful for roleplayers who want their character to age, get a space-haircut, or change their appearance after a lore-friendly "accident."

Enter the mods.

A Note for Frackin’ Universe Players

If you are playing the massive Frackin' Universe (FU) overhaul, do not install random appearance mods. FU changes the character creation logic significantly.

Instead, use the built-in "Character Creation Interface" item included in FU. You can craft it at the Genetics Lab or Medical Station. It works similarly to the Universal Uncrappifier but is specifically patched to handle FU's unique races and traits.