After scaling a successful Android portfolio, I moved into game modding to deliberately sharpen a different skill set: reverse-engineering undocumented systems, extending live game engines, and shipping features without official tooling or support. This transition marked the creation of the Braven persona.
Braven was intentionally designed as an anonymous, neutral identity, detached from personal background, nationality, or ego. By being purposefully secretive and offering no personal context, I created a vacuum that the community naturally filled with speculation. Many assumed Braven was a collective or group rather than an individual. This mystique became a powerful distribution mechanism, driving organic attention, word of mouth, and sustained engagement while keeping the focus on output quality and velocity.
The catalyst for this journey was Project Zomboid. I identified a glaring logical flaw: in a world overrun by slow zombies where fuel is scarce, there were no bicycles. The game's vehicle system made implementing them seem impossible, so I made it possible. After months of dedicated reverse-engineering, I rebuilt core components of the engine logic and released Braven's Bicycles. It was a runaway success that cemented my reputation overnight.
From a Single Mod to a Global Ecosystem
That first mod was the catalyst. I went on to build an entire ecosystem of content, shipping over 260 mods that enhanced every aspect of the game. My work ethic was relentless, at times releasing complex, game-altering mods every three days.
This wasn't just about code; it was about building a global brand. Key metrics of my "Braven" persona include:
- 11,000,000+ Global Users: My mods are actively used by millions of players across every continent.
- #1 Modder for Project Zomboid: I rose to become the most popular and influential creator in the community.
- Top-Tier Global Distribution: My portfolio consistently ranks within the most downloaded content on the Steam Workshop, achieving a scale shared by only a fraction of the global creator community.
- 29+ Languages Supported: Believing that language should never be a barrier to quality content, I established a volunteer network to translate every mod. If a language exists, my work supports it.
I built a persona and a standard of quality that copycats failed to replicate. It was never about the money, but the financial success that followed far surpassed what any conventional developer role in my home country could offer. My driving principle has always been to make a mark and make someone's day better.
Featured Works
While many of my mods were private commissions, the following are a hand-picked selection of public releases that showcase the breadth and depth of my work.
Common Sense
This became the most popular Project Zomboid mod of all time, surpassing 4,000,000+ unique downloads and retaining the top position for over two years. Its longevity was achieved despite the game’s unstable beta cycle and frequent breaking updates. Continued support was eventually sunset as upstream engine changes made maintenance inefficient and I chose to step away from modding work.
Braven's Bicycles
Serving as the proof of concept for the entire persona, this release successfully integrated a silent transportation system that the community deemed technically impossible. It secured over 800,000+ unique downloads and remains a foundational piece of the ecosystem, validating the approach of reverse-engineering core engine logic to bypass official limitations.
Obvious Collecting
By streamlining core survival loops through intuitive resource gathering, this mod accumulated 770,000+ unique downloads. It removed significant friction from the user interface, allowing direct interaction with the world and becoming a staple for players seeking a more immersive, "flow-state" early-game experience.
First Aid Overhaul
This complete reimagining of the game’s medical systems garnered 530,000+ unique downloads by introducing depth and mechanical realism. It balanced technical complexity with gameplay necessity, providing a rewarding experience for players focused on long-term survival and detailed character health management.
Days Gone Counter
Drawing inspiration from the narrative pacing of its namesake, this mod reached 485,000+ unique downloads by adding a persistent sense of time to the apocalypse. It functioned as a subtle psychological layer, marking the weight of survival through a simple, aesthetically consistent UI element that tracked the player's endurance.
Stairs Alert
Addressing one of the game's most notorious engine-driven "cheap deaths," this tactical utility provided essential intel and reached 425,000+ unique downloads. It was designed to maintain tension while removing the unfair randomness caused by camera limitations, effectively becoming a mandatory safety feature for hardcore players.
Kilometers Per Hour
Catering to a massive international audience, this utility mod reached 321,000+ unique downloads by offering a metric alternative to the default speedometer. It demonstrated how even minor technical adjustments can significantly improve accessibility and user satisfaction for a global player base.
Hide
This expansion introduced a dynamic stealth mechanic that allowed players to utilise the environment in ways the base game did not natively support. Reaching 300,000+ unique downloads, it expanded the strategic depth of encounters by enabling a more cautious, calculated playstyle through custom environmental interaction.
Braven's Achievements
By bridging the gap between sandbox play and structured progression, this mod reached 245,000+ unique downloads. It introduced a proprietary framework that provided players with concrete long-term objectives and a way to track survival milestones in a world without inherent goals.
Cordyceps Spore Zones
Inspired by "The Last of Us," this mission-based expansion reached 140,000+ unique downloads by introducing high-stakes "dead zones." It pushed the limits of the engine’s event-triggering systems to offer a tailored narrative experience, requiring players to adapt to entirely new environmental hazards.
The Next Chapter
After dabbling in Project Zomboid for over three years, I eventually reached a point of boredom. I had reimagined the game in every way possible. I had created so much content that I could no longer conceive anything new. Every potential idea became just another meaningless number. There was no challenge left, and when there is no challenge, there is no fun.
I briefly moved on to HumanitZ, an Unreal Engine title that was heavily reminiscent of the Zomboid style. Even though the game lacked any official modding support, I collaborated with other early adopters to successfully develop mods. I single-handedly reverse-engineered the game's systems and even authored modding guides to help others.
However, the lack of support and infrequent updates led me to move on. The experience was still wonderful, and I was thrilled to complete such a complex reverse-engineering job in just a few days. Having done everything I wanted to do in the modding space, I have now moved toward greener pastures, channeling that same passion into new projects and challenges.