REFramework

What it is

REFramework is an open-source modding framework (MIT license, praydog's repo) for games built on Capcom's RE Engine, including Monster Hunter Wilds. It provides a Lua scripting API and an injection system that lets other mods hook the game. It's free and is the infrastructure much of the PC mod ecosystem leans on.

The problem it solves

Without a common framework, each mod would have to reinvent how it accesses the game's memory and functions. REFramework standardizes that: it offers a stable layer so modders can write scripts and overlays without fighting the engine internals. For the player, it means tools like HunterPie and many QoL mods have a foundation to run on.

Differentiation

It doesn't compete with HunterPie or a mod manager: it enables them. HunterPie is the app you see; REFramework is what lets it read the game state. Fluffy Mod Manager organizes and installs mods; REFramework is the technical base many of those mods require. It's infrastructure, not an end product.

What people use it for

• Overlay base: enabling HunterPie and other overlays that read game state.
• Running Lua scripts: using QoL mods written on its API.
• Developer menu: accessing in-game debug and inspection tools.
• Modding foundation: a prerequisite for much of the mod catalog.

Who it isn't for

Console players can't use it. If you're not going to install mods, you don't need it. And if you expect a polished ready-to-use interface, this is a technical layer: its value is in what it enables, not its own UI.

How it's used in practice

1. Download REFramework from praydog's repo (the build matching Wilds).
2. Place the file (typically dinput8.dll) in the folder with the game's executable.
3. Launch the game: the framework loads alongside it.
4. Install the mods or overlays that depend on it.
5. Update the framework after each big game patch.

Honest limitations

• PC only: doesn't apply to consoles.
• Indirect use: its value is enabling other mods, not a function of its own for the casual player.
• Fragile after patches: the game's anti-tamper can break compatibility until it updates; crashes have been reported.
• Online mod risk: using mods in public multiplayer carries risk; respect the game's rules.

How to get started

Download the REFramework build for Wilds from praydog's GitHub and place it in the game folder. If what you want is an overlay, a mod manager like Fluffy simplifies installing the framework and mods together.