Built for handhelds
Targets Android phones and handhelds first. Desktop guides are useful, but mobile has different storage, driver, and testing problems.
Shonk's Pocket Wastelands
A mobile-friendly Tale of Two Wastelands guide for Android handhelds, GameNative, and Droid Mod Loader.
This is a living guide. The goal is simple: build a TTW setup carefully, keep the Android handoff understandable, and avoid wasting time on avoidable setup mistakes.
DML first
Mod installation is written around Droid Mod Loader. PC tools are used only where they still make sense.
TTW is heavier
This setup is larger and more sensitive than a plain New Vegas setup. Test in smaller chunks and keep clean notes.
New to Android modding?
Start with the vanilla check before installing mods. If a term does not make sense yet, use the Glossary before changing settings.
Before you start
Before you start: use the correct GameNative build
Use the current GameNative 1.0.0 standard APK/release path shown in this guide unless a later guide update says otherwise.
A specific older v1.0.0 prerelease modern Android 11+ APK caused problems for this guide because its notes said it had no custom game support and no D: drive access. These guides rely on custom games and shared-storage style setup, so the wrong APK can make the guide fail before mods are involved.
If custom games do not work, or the Windows container cannot see the expected drive, check which GameNative APK/build you installed before changing random settings.
Install New Vegas in shared storage
Do not put Fallout: New Vegas inside locked GameNative App Storage for this guide. DML needs practical access to the same game folder GameNative launches.
/storage/emulated/0/PcGames/Fallout New Vegas/
DML should deploy to the game Data folder, not the game root.
Game
English Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas with all DLC. Ultimate Edition and GOTY-style installs are the clean target.
PC
A Windows PC is needed to generate TTW. Do not try to generate TTW directly on Android.
Android
An Android device running GameNative, plus enough free storage for the generated TTW archive and installed files.
Mod manager
Droid Mod Loader handles Android-side mod import, priority, deployment, load order review, and plugin-file writing.
Vanilla check
- Launch Fallout: New Vegas in GameNative with no mods.
- Reach Doc Mitchell first, then the TTW start after TTW is deployed.
- Make a manual save.
- Quit the game completely.
- Relaunch and load that save.
Guide pages
Setup
GameNative, shared storage, DML profile setup, BethINI Pie, and performance tracking.
Mod List
Required preparation, utilities, core fixes, UI, performance choices, and optional additions.
Load Order
LOOT as a check, DML load order review, starter loadorder.txt, and starter plugins.txt.
Avoid
Tools and mod categories that are not a good fit for this mobile guide right now.
Changelog
Dated guide changes, mod-list changes, removals, compatibility warnings, and save-safety notes.
Reports
Tester report format and GitHub issue instructions.
Compatibility
Device profiles, verified-device rules, and the copyable report template for Android compatibility results.
Glossary
Plain-language definitions for GameNative, DML, Proton/Wine, FEXCore, DXVK, load order, plugin files, shared storage, and report status labels.
Credits
Shonk / SeanBottoms, Deno46, Medusa, the GameNative project, the Droid Mod Loader project, Tale of Two Wastelands, and ModdingLinked's The Best of Times.
This guide uses The Best of Times as the technical source for TTW requirements and essentials, but rewrites the route around Android, DML, and GameNative.