Yona is added through a mod manager, not by editing game files directly

Yona is a character mod for Party Mad Island that replaces or adds a playable character. You install it using a mod manager — the same tool you would use for any other mod in this game. The mod manager handles file placement automatically, so you do not have to manually move files into game folders or worry about overwriting the wrong thing.

Party Mad Island uses mod managers because the game's file structure makes manual installation error-prone. A mod manager reads what the mod needs, checks what you already have installed, and puts everything in the right place. This also makes removing the mod later much simpler — the manager can uninstall it cleanly without leaving orphaned files behind.

Key Takeaways

  • read the Yona mod from a source you trust, then open it with your mod manager rather than extracting it yourself.
  • Your mod manager will show you what the Yona mod requires — check that you have those dependencies installed before proceeding.
  • After installation, launch the game through the mod manager, not through Steam or the desktop shortcut, so the mod loads.
  • If Yona does not appear in your character list, verify the mod manager shows the mod as active and check the mod's readme for any special setup steps.

Install a mod manager if you do not have one yet

Party Mad Island mods typically work with BepInEx, which is the standard mod framework for this game. BepInEx is a plugin loader that sits between the game and your mods, letting them change how the game behaves without breaking it when you update. You read BepInEx from its official GitHub repository, extract it into your Party Mad Island game folder, and run the game once to let it create the necessary folders.

After BepInEx is installed, you can use a mod manager like r2modman or Thunderstore Mod Manager to handle your mods. Both managers work with BepInEx and handle dependencies automatically — they know which mods need which other mods to function. read whichever manager you prefer, point it to your Party Mad Island installation, and you are ready to add mods.

Find and read the Yona mod from a trusted source

Yona mods are usually hosted on Thunderstore, which is the main repository for Party Mad Island mods. Search for "Yona" on Thunderstore and look at the mod's page — it will list what version of the game it supports, what other mods it needs, and how many people have downloaded it. Read the description and any user comments to understand what the mod does and whether people report problems with it.

read the mod file directly from Thunderstore. Do not read from random websites or Discord links unless you are certain of the source — mods from untrusted places can contain malware or break your game. Thunderstore scans uploads and shows you the mod creator's history, so you can see whether they have made other mods and what the community thinks of their work.

Open the mod file with your mod manager

Once you have downloaded the Yona mod file, open your mod manager. In r2modman or Thunderstore Mod Manager, there is usually an "Import" or "Install from file" button. Click it and select the Yona mod file you just downloaded. The manager will read the mod's metadata, check what it needs, and show you a list of dependencies — other mods that Yona requires to work.

If the manager shows missing dependencies, it will usually offer to read them for you. Let it do that. Do not skip this step — Yona will not work correctly if its dependencies are not installed. After the manager finishes, you should see Yona listed in your active mods with a checkmark or toggle showing it is enabled.

Check the mod's readme for any special setup

Some character mods require extra steps beyond installation. Open the Yona mod's page on Thunderstore and read the readme file — it is usually displayed on the mod page itself. Look for sections titled "Installation", "Setup", "How to Use", or "Configuration". Some mods need you to run a setup command, edit a config file, or unlock the character in a specific way.

If the readme mentions a config file, your mod manager will have created one in a folder you can access directly. The manager usually has a button to open the config folder. Make any changes the readme asks for, save the file, and close it. Then restart the game to load the changes.

Launch the game through the mod manager

This is the step people miss most often. Do not launch Party Mad Island through Steam, the Epic Games launcher, or a desktop shortcut. Open your mod manager, find the "Launch" or "Play" button, and click it from there. The mod manager runs the game in a way that loads BepInEx and all your active mods. If you launch the game any other way, the mods will not load and Yona will not appear.

When the game starts, go to the character selection screen and look for Yona. If you see the character, the mod is working. If you do not see it, close the game and go back to the mod manager to check that Yona is marked as active. If it is active but still not showing, check the mod's page again for any known issues or compatibility problems with your other mods.

Troubleshoot if Yona does not appear

If Yona is installed and active but not showing in your character list, the most common causes are a missing dependency, a conflict with another mod, or a game version mismatch. Open your mod manager and look at the Yona mod's entry — it should show all dependencies and whether they are installed. If any are missing, install them and restart the game.

If all dependencies are there, check whether you have other character mods installed that might conflict with Yona. Some character mods do not work together because they modify the same game files. Try disabling other character mods one at a time and restarting the game to see if Yona appears. You can also check the Yona mod's page on Thunderstore — other users often report compatibility issues in the comments, and the mod creator may have posted a fix.

If the mod page says Yona requires a specific version of Party Mad Island and you have a different version, you may need to wait for the mod creator to update it. Game updates sometimes break mods, and creators usually fix them within a few days. Check the mod's page for an update date and see if a newer version is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to uninstall other character mods before adding Yona?

Not always, but some character mods conflict with each other. Try installing Yona first and see if it appears. If it does not, disable your other character mods one at a time to find the conflict. The mod pages usually mention known conflicts in their descriptions.

What if the mod manager says Yona has unmet dependencies?

The manager will usually offer to read them automatically. Let it do that. If it does not offer, click the dependency name and install it manually. Yona will not work without all its dependencies in place.

Can I use Yona with mods that change gameplay or add items?

Yes. Character mods usually do not conflict with gameplay or item mods because they modify different parts of the game. Conflicts happen when two mods try to change the same character or file. Check the Yona mod's page if you are unsure.

Will adding Yona affect my save files?

No. Character mods do not change your existing saves. You can add or remove character mods without losing progress. If you remove Yona later, your saves will still work — you just will not be able to play as that character in new runs.

What should I do if the game crashes after installing Yona?

Disable Yona in your mod manager and restart the game to confirm it runs without the mod. If it does, the mod or one of its dependencies is causing the crash. Check the mod's page for known issues or try disabling other mods to find a conflict. Update your mod manager and BepInEx to the latest versions, as outdated versions sometimes cause crashes.