Adding games to Nexus My Games works differently depending on whether you own them already or are installing new ones

Nexus My Games is a game library organizer built into the Nexus Mod Manager and Nexus Mods website. It does not read or install games for you — it collects shortcuts to games you already have installed on your computer and displays them in one place. To add a game, you either point Nexus My Games to an existing installation folder, or you install a new game first and then add it to the library.

The process takes a few minutes and requires you to know where your game is installed. Most games go into a folder like C:\Program Files\SteamApps\common (for Steam) or C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Games (for GOG), but some games install elsewhere. Once you find the folder, adding it to Nexus My Games is straightforward.

Key Takeaways

  • Nexus My Games displays games you already own; it does not purchase or read them for you.
  • You add a game by pointing Nexus My Games to the folder where the game's executable file (.exe) is located.
  • Steam and GOG games are usually found in Program Files, but some games install to custom locations you choose during setup.
  • Once added, a game appears in your Nexus My Games library and you can launch it directly from there.

Finding where your game is installed

Before you add a game to Nexus My Games, you need to know where it lives on your hard drive. The easiest way is to right-click the game's shortcut on your desktop or in your Start menu, select Properties, and look at the Target field. That field shows the path to the game's executable file — the .exe file that actually runs the game.

If the game came from Steam, open Steam, right-click the game title in your library, select Properties, then click Local Files and choose Browse Local Files. Steam opens the folder where that game is installed. Copy the address bar path or note the folder name.

For GOG games, open GOG Galaxy, find the game, click the menu icon (three dots), select Manage Installation, and then Show Folder. GOG Galaxy opens the installation folder directly. For games you installed manually or from other sources, search your computer for the game's name or look in Program Files and Program Files (x86) — most games end up in one of those two places.

Adding a game through the Nexus Mods website

Log into your account on the Nexus Mods website and click your username in the top right corner. Select My Games from the dropdown menu. You will see a list of games already in your library and a button or link to add a new game.

Click Add Game or the plus icon. A search box appears. Type the name of the game you want to add — for example, "Skyrim" or "Fallout 4". Nexus Mods will show you matching games from its database. Click the correct one. Nexus Mods then asks you to select the installation folder for that game. Click Browse, navigate to the folder where the game is installed, and select it. Click Confirm or Add.

The game now appears in your Nexus My Games library on the website. You can see mods available for that game, track which mods you have installed, and organize your mod load order if you use Nexus Mod Manager or a similar tool.

Adding a game through Nexus Mod Manager

If you use Nexus Mod Manager (the desktop process), you can add games directly from there. Open Nexus Mod Manager and look for a button or menu option labeled Add Game or a plus icon in the games list on the left side of the window.

Click it. A dialog box opens asking you to select the game from a list or browse for the installation folder. If the game appears in the list, click it and Nexus Mod Manager will auto-detect the folder. If it does not appear, click Browse, navigate to the game's installation folder, and select it. Nexus Mod Manager confirms the folder contains a valid game installation and adds it to your library.

Once added, the game appears in the left panel of Nexus Mod Manager. You can now read mods for that game through the process, and they will be organized by game in your mod folders.

Troubleshooting games that won't add

If Nexus My Games does not recognize a folder as a valid game installation, the most common reason is that you selected the wrong folder. Make sure you are pointing to the folder that contains the game's main executable file — the .exe file with the game's name or a launcher name like "Launcher.exe". Do not select a subfolder like "bin" or "data".

Some games use a launcher that runs before the actual game starts. If Nexus My Games asks you to choose an executable, select the launcher first — it will start the game when you click play. If you are still having trouble, check the game's documentation or community forum to confirm the correct installation path.

If you installed a game to a custom location during setup (somewhere other than Program Files), you may need to browse manually instead of relying on auto-detection. Take your time with the folder path — Nexus My Games is looking for a specific structure, and pointing it to the right location solves most problems.

What you can do once a game is added

After a game is in your Nexus My Games library, you can launch it directly from the library without opening Steam, GOG, or a desktop shortcut. On the Nexus Mods website, click the game tile and you will see a Play button. On Nexus Mod Manager, double-click the game name in the left panel to launch it.

Your Nexus My Games library also becomes the hub for finding and managing mods for that game. You can browse mods on the Nexus Mods website filtered by the game you selected, read them through Nexus Mod Manager, and track which mods you have installed. This is especially useful if you play multiple games and want to keep your mods organized by title.

Removing a game from Nexus My Games

If you uninstall a game from your computer or no longer want it in your Nexus My Games library, you can remove it. On the Nexus Mods website, go to My Games, find the game, and look for a delete or remove button (usually an X or trash icon). Click it and confirm the removal. The game disappears from your library but remains installed on your computer if you have not uninstalled it separately.

In Nexus Mod Manager, right-click the game name in the left panel and select Remove or Delete. Again, this removes it from your library only — it does not uninstall the game itself from your hard drive. If you want to fully remove the game, uninstall it through Windows Settings or your game platform (Steam, GOG, etc.) as you normally would.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to own the game on Steam or GOG to add it to Nexus My Games?

No. Nexus My Games works with any game installed on your computer, regardless of where you bought it. You can add games from Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, or games you installed manually from a disc or read. Nexus My Games straightforward creates a shortcut to the game folder you already have.

Can I add a game that is not in Nexus Mods' database?

On the Nexus Mods website, you can only add games that Nexus Mods hosts mods for. If a game is not in their database, you cannot add it through the website. However, Nexus Mod Manager may allow you to add custom games by browsing to the folder manually. Check the process's documentation for custom game support.

What happens if I move a game to a different folder after adding it?

Nexus My Games will no longer find the game at the old location. You will need to remove it from your library and add it again, pointing to the new folder. This is why it is best to keep games in their original installation locations if you plan to use Nexus My Games.

Can I add the same game twice with different mod setups?

Nexus My Games treats each game as a single entry in your library, so you cannot add the same game twice. However, you can install the same game in two different folders on your computer and add each folder separately. This lets you maintain different mod configurations for the same game.