Darkness Falls Pre-Generated Worlds in 7 Days to Die

Updated 5 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to use the pre-generated world maps that come with the Darkness Falls mod for 7 Days to Die. Instead of generating a new random world, you can load one of the custom maps included in the mod, which are designed to work with the mod’s new biomes, POIs, and progression. You’ll need a working installation of Darkness Falls and the correct game version (usually Alpha 20 or Alpha 21, depending on the mod release).

What You’ll Need

A copy of 7 Days to Die (Steam version recommended).
The Darkness Falls mod installed correctly (via the mod launcher or manual install).
The pre-generated world files â€“ these are usually part of the mod download or available separately from the mod’s official page.
Enough free disk space (several GB for the world files).

Step-by-Step

Locate the pre-generated world files. After downloading Darkness Falls, look for a folder named PreGen or Worlds inside the mod’s directory. Common names include DFalls-PreGen1, DFalls-PreGen2, or similar. If you downloaded the worlds separately, extract them to a convenient location.
Copy the world folder(s) to the 7 Days to Die Worlds directory. Navigate to your 7 Days to Die installation folder (usually Steam\steamapps\common\7 Days To Die). Inside, find the Data\Worlds folder. Copy the entire pre-gen world folder (e.g., DFalls-PreGen1) into this Worlds folder. If the folder already exists, replace it with the new one.
Launch 7 Days to Die with the Darkness Falls mod. Use the mod launcher (if you have it) or start the game normally with the mod loaded. Ensure you select the correct game version (Alpha 20 or 21) that matches your mod version.
Start a new game. From the main menu, click New Game. In the world selection screen, you should see the pre-generated world(s) listed. They will have the name you copied (e.g., DFalls-PreGen1).
Select the pre-generated world. Click on the world name to highlight it. You can click Preview to see the map, but it’s not required. Make sure the game mode is set to Survival (or whatever you prefer) and adjust other settings like difficulty and zombie speed.
Configure your game settings. Set the seed (it’s ignored for pre-gen worlds), loot abundance, and other options as you like. Then click Start Game.
Wait for the world to load. The first load may take a few minutes as the game processes the pre-generated terrain and POIs. Once loaded, you’ll spawn at the designated starting point (often near a trader or a small town).
Verify the world is correct. Press F1 to open the console and type dm to enable debug mode, then press U to open the map. You should see the custom map layout with Darkness Falls biomes (like the Wasteland, Burnt Forest, etc.) and POIs. If it looks like a standard random world, you may have loaded the wrong one.

Common Mistakes

Placing the world folder in the wrong location. Some players put it in the mod’s folder instead of the game’s Data\Worlds folder. The game only reads worlds from the game’s directory.
Using the wrong game version. Darkness Falls pre-gen worlds are tied to a specific Alpha version. If you’re on Alpha 21 but the world was made for Alpha 20, it may crash or not appear.
Not copying the entire folder. The world folder contains multiple subfolders (like biomes, prefabs, etc.). Copy the whole folder, not just the map image or a single file.
Forgetting to remove old worlds. If you have an older version of the same world, it might conflict. Delete the old folder before copying the new one.

Tips

Back up your saves before switching worlds, especially if you have an ongoing game.
Pre-gen worlds often have specific starting locations that are balanced for the mod. Spawning in a city might be more challenging; consider adjusting difficulty if you’re new.
If you want to play with friends, ensure everyone has the same world files. You can share the world folder via a cloud service or a USB drive.
Check the mod’s official forum or Discord for any known issues with the pre-gen worlds and for updates.

Troubleshooting

World doesn’t appear in the list. Double-check that the folder is in Data\Worlds and that it contains a main.ttw file (or similar). If not, re-download the world files.
Game crashes when loading the world. This is often due to a version mismatch. Verify that your game version matches the mod version. Also, check that you have enough RAM (8GB minimum, 16GB recommended).
World loads but looks like a random map. You may have accidentally started a random world. Go back to the New Game screen and select the pre-gen world explicitly.
Missing POIs or biomes. If some content is missing, the mod might not be fully installed. Reinstall Darkness Falls and ensure all files are in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the pre-gen worlds with the vanilla game (no mod)?

No. The pre-gen worlds are specifically designed for Darkness Falls and contain modded biomes, POIs, and spawn points. Using them in vanilla will cause errors or missing content.

Where can I download the pre-gen worlds?

They are usually included in the main Darkness Falls download from the official mod page on the 7 Days to Die mods forum or the mod’s Discord. Sometimes they are separate downloads.

Do I need to generate a new world after updating the mod?

It’s recommended to use a fresh pre-gen world after a major mod update, as existing worlds may have incompatible data. Back up your old saves if you want to keep them.

Can I use my own custom world with Darkness Falls?

Yes, you can generate a random world with the mod, but it may not have the same balanced layout as the pre-gen ones. The pre-gen worlds are optimized for the mod’s progression.

Why does the world take so long to load?

Pre-gen worlds are large and contain many custom POIs. The first load may take several minutes. Subsequent loads are faster. Ensure your game is installed on an SSD for better performance.

Can I edit the pre-gen world in the in-game editor?

Yes, you can open the world in the editor to make changes, but be careful: editing may break the world’s intended design. Always back up the original folder.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.