So..you want to mod this game? Well, since I have some experience doing that for HLM2, I can help you get started.

I post my mods online to the game's Reddit page, under the username megaxclaw.

First off, you going to need a paint software that HAS/ALLOWS TRANSPERANCY, so Microsoft Paint doesn't work.

While I use a free software called GIMP, you can use Photoshop, Paintnet, etc.

Here's the link to GIMP (Free)[www.gimp.org]












Here's the link to Photoshop (Paid)[www.adobe.com]












Here's the Link to PN (Free)[www.getpaint.net]











Also make sure that the software is okay with small images, since the files of HLM2 aren't that big (Character sheets can range from 900 to 1400 in height depending on the amount of weapons/cutscenes the character has).

Now, to retrieve, insert, or delete files of HLM2 you need another software called Hotline Miami Wad Explorer or HMWAD. The software is used by me and EVERY other HLM2 modder.

Here's HMWad Explorer[github.com]

Now, this part gets a bit tricky.

I suggest getting version 0.8, which doesn't work on that site, but here's a folder I made that has the software.[www.dropbox.com] All credit of HLMWAD Explorer goes to the guy TcT2k on Github.

Making a mod with V0.9 and V1.0 is random, because it may ♥♥♥♥ it up.

Click "Open" and select this: hlm2_data_desktop.wad. This wad file holds all of the character sprites and furniture sprites, while hlm2_music_desktop.wad is obviously the file that holds all of the sound and music.

The sheets for characters & furniture are the .PNGS, not the .META files. Think the .png files are multiple pieces of artwork and the .meta files are showcasing it one by one.




Now that you have selected the file that you desire, just "Extract" it, from there you can open it up and edit it (Note that pressing "Extract" makes a copy of the .png for you to edit, it DOES NOT take out the file from the game).

After you are happy with your edited spritesheet, go back to the file on the HLMWAD Explorer and click "Replace", then you select your edited spritesheet (this doesn't alter ANYTHING to your game unless you save it).





From there, click to the .meta file with the same name as the .png file and now you can look at the frames for each of the character's animations (which is useful to see frames that are messed up).

Now that you got ALL of your files replaced in HLMWAD explorer, here's the hardest part.

To create a mod, go to "Patch" and click on "Prepare", this will make checkboxes appear. Use those checkboxes to click on what files you want in the mod. The trick is that if you search up something while you already have some boxes check, those boxes will be unchecked. So the tactic is to memorize the FULL NAME of the images and try to locate them from the main page (unless everything you need can be found in one search).



Once you went through that horrid proccess, go back to the "Patch" tab and select "Create", which will make a .patchwad file that is your new mod.



*Clap**Clap**Clap**Clap**Clap**Clap* CONGRATS, YOU HAVE MADE A MOD!!

To test it, go to Documents>My Games>HotlineMiami2>Mods, and just drop your patchwad there.



And next time you boot your legitamite copy of Hotline Miami 2, you get to see your mod in action!

When I replaced the file with my edited one, it stated an error.
If it doesn't mention the SIZE of the file, then it's most likely fine (if it DOES state an error with the png size then your edited file is outdated and you have to restart with the updated sprite sheet).

What mod was that in the screenshots?
Old broken mod that gave the police faction vests, i put the link in a similar mod but gave vests to the Guards: HERE

I got black boxes.
Check the patchwad in HLMWAD explorer (Do that by going to "Apply" in the "Patch" tab and selecting the patchwad), and try to correct the mod by either redoing the "Replace" step or just making a new patchwad.

What's the "Frame Delay" in the Gif section?
I don't know EXACTLY, but it does affect the speed for the gif itself (My recommended speed is 120 frames).



Is there multiple .pngs for main characters?
Yes, there are going to be cutscene sprites in the level files, props, and the usual "Player Dog Death" file you have to edit.

Thanks for reading, if this didn't help then I suggest looking up a Youtube Video explaining this.

(liking this will boost my low self-confidence)

EDIT:
















Thank you for the support, nice to see the thing still there.