diff --git a/android/assets/modss/myFirstMod/Images/UnitIcons/Maori Warrior.png b/android/assets/modss/myFirstMod/Images/UnitIcons/Maori Warrior.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5b9139b57b
Binary files /dev/null and b/android/assets/modss/myFirstMod/Images/UnitIcons/Maori Warrior.png differ
diff --git a/android/assets/modss/myFirstMod/game.atlas b/android/assets/modss/myFirstMod/game.atlas
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..edc265c261
--- /dev/null
+++ b/android/assets/modss/myFirstMod/game.atlas
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+
+game.png
+size: 128,128
+format: RGBA8888
+filter: MipMapLinearLinear,MipMapLinearLinear
+repeat: none
+UnitIcons/Maori Warrior
+  rotate: false
+  xy: 2, 2
+  size: 100, 100
+  orig: 100, 100
+  offset: 0, 0
+  index: -1
diff --git a/android/assets/modss/myFirstMod/game.png b/android/assets/modss/myFirstMod/game.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..170be4d1e8
Binary files /dev/null and b/android/assets/modss/myFirstMod/game.png differ
diff --git a/android/assets/mods/myFirstMod/jsons/Units.json b/android/assets/modss/myFirstMod/jsons/Units.json
similarity index 100%
rename from android/assets/mods/myFirstMod/jsons/Units.json
rename to android/assets/modss/myFirstMod/jsons/Units.json
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/UncivGame.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/UncivGame.kt
index 21bebfab65..06f6f33473 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/UncivGame.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/UncivGame.kt
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import com.unciv.logic.GameStarter
 import com.unciv.logic.map.MapParameters
 import com.unciv.models.metadata.GameParameters
 import com.unciv.models.metadata.GameSettings
-import com.unciv.models.ruleset.Ruleset
+import com.unciv.models.ruleset.RulesetCache
 import com.unciv.models.translations.TranslationFileReader
 import com.unciv.models.translations.Translations
 import com.unciv.ui.LanguagePickerScreen
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class UncivGame(
     /** For when you need to test something in an advanced game and don't have time to faff around */
     val superchargedForDebug = false
 
-    var rewriteTranslationFiles = false
+    var rewriteTranslationFiles = true
 
 
     lateinit var worldScreen: WorldScreen
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ class UncivGame(
     val musicLocation = "music/thatched-villagers.mp3"
     var isInitialized = false
 
-    lateinit var ruleset:Ruleset
 
     val translations = Translations()
 
@@ -68,7 +67,7 @@ class UncivGame(
         screen = LoadingScreen()
 
         thread(name="LoadJSON") {
-            ruleset = Ruleset(true)
+            RulesetCache.loadRulesets()
 
             if (rewriteTranslationFiles) { // Yes, also when running from the Jar. Sue me.
                 translations.readAllLanguagesTranslation()
@@ -122,7 +121,8 @@ class UncivGame(
 
     fun loadGame(gameInfo:GameInfo){
         this.gameInfo = gameInfo
-
+        ImageGetter.ruleset = gameInfo.ruleSet
+        ImageGetter.refreshAltas()
         worldScreen = WorldScreen(gameInfo.getPlayerToViewAs())
         setWorldScreen()
     }
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameInfo.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameInfo.kt
index a846b2be14..516fa852b6 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameInfo.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameInfo.kt
@@ -10,8 +10,10 @@ import com.unciv.logic.civilization.LocationAction
 import com.unciv.logic.civilization.PlayerType
 import com.unciv.logic.map.TileInfo
 import com.unciv.logic.map.TileMap
-import com.unciv.models.ruleset.Difficulty
 import com.unciv.models.metadata.GameParameters
+import com.unciv.models.ruleset.Difficulty
+import com.unciv.models.ruleset.Ruleset
+import com.unciv.models.ruleset.RulesetCache
 import java.util.*
 
 class GameInfo {
@@ -20,7 +22,7 @@ class GameInfo {
     /** This is used in multiplayer games, where I may have a saved game state on my phone
      * that is inconsistent with the saved game on the cloud */
     @Transient var isUpToDate=false
-    @Transient var ruleSet = UncivGame.Current.ruleset
+    @Transient lateinit var ruleSet:Ruleset
 
     var civilizations = mutableListOf<CivilizationInfo>()
     var difficulty="Chieftain" // difficulty is game-wide, think what would happen if 2 human players could play on different difficulties?
@@ -203,7 +205,7 @@ class GameInfo {
     // will be done here, and not in CivInfo.setTransients or CityInfo
     fun setTransients() {
         tileMap.gameInfo = this
-
+        ruleSet = RulesetCache.getComplexRuleset(gameParameters.mods)
 
         // Renames as of version 3.1.8, because of translation conflicts with the property "Range" and the difficulty "Immortal"
         // Needs to be BEFORE tileMap.setTransients, because the units' setTransients is called from there
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameStarter.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameStarter.kt
index b41fdbcf56..8076b12c96 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameStarter.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameStarter.kt
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@ package com.unciv.logic
 
 import com.badlogic.gdx.math.Vector2
 import com.unciv.Constants
-import com.unciv.UncivGame
 import com.unciv.logic.civilization.CivilizationInfo
 import com.unciv.logic.map.*
-import com.unciv.models.ruleset.Ruleset
 import com.unciv.models.metadata.GameParameters
+import com.unciv.models.ruleset.Ruleset
+import com.unciv.models.ruleset.RulesetCache
 import java.util.*
 import kotlin.collections.ArrayList
 import kotlin.math.max
@@ -17,20 +17,20 @@ class GameStarter{
         val gameInfo = GameInfo()
 
         gameInfo.gameParameters = newGameParameters
-        val gameBasics = UncivGame.Current.ruleset
+        val ruleset = RulesetCache.getComplexRuleset(newGameParameters.mods)
 
         if(mapParameters.name!="")
             gameInfo.tileMap = MapSaver().loadMap(mapParameters.name)
-        else gameInfo.tileMap = MapGenerator().generateMap(mapParameters, gameBasics)
+        else gameInfo.tileMap = MapGenerator().generateMap(mapParameters, ruleset)
         gameInfo.tileMap.mapParameters = mapParameters
 
-        gameInfo.tileMap.setTransients(gameBasics)
+        gameInfo.tileMap.setTransients(ruleset)
 
         gameInfo.tileMap.gameInfo = gameInfo // need to set this transient before placing units in the map
         gameInfo.difficulty = newGameParameters.difficulty
 
 
-        addCivilizations(newGameParameters, gameInfo, gameBasics) // this is before the setTransients so gameInfo doesn't yet have the gameBasics
+        addCivilizations(newGameParameters, gameInfo, ruleset) // this is before the setTransients so gameInfo doesn't yet have the gameBasics
 
         gameInfo.setTransients() // needs to be before placeBarbarianUnit because it depends on the tilemap having its gameinfo set
 
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class GameStarter{
                 for (tech in gameInfo.getDifficulty().aiFreeTechs)
                     civInfo.tech.addTechnology(tech)
 
-            for (tech in gameBasics.technologies.values
+            for (tech in ruleset.technologies.values
                     .filter { it.era() < newGameParameters.startingEra })
                 if (!civInfo.tech.isResearched(tech.name))
                     civInfo.tech.addTechnology(tech.name)
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/models/metadata/GameParameters.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/models/metadata/GameParameters.kt
index db0f274acc..69e1217e3b 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/models/metadata/GameParameters.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/models/metadata/GameParameters.kt
@@ -20,4 +20,5 @@ class GameParameters { // Default values are the default new game
     var startingEra = TechEra.Ancient
 
     var isOnlineMultiplayer = false
+    var mods = HashSet<String>()
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/models/ruleset/Ruleset.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/models/ruleset/Ruleset.kt
index d86ef88554..e2263be7f7 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/models/ruleset/Ruleset.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/models/ruleset/Ruleset.kt
@@ -13,12 +13,11 @@ import com.unciv.models.ruleset.unit.Promotion
 import com.unciv.models.stats.INamed
 import kotlin.collections.set
 
-class Ruleset(load: Boolean = true) {
+class Ruleset() {
 
     private val jsonParser = JsonParser()
 
     var name = ""
-    val mods = LinkedHashSet<String>()
     val buildings = LinkedHashMap<String, Building>()
     val terrains = LinkedHashMap<String, Terrain>()
     val tileResources = LinkedHashMap<String, TileResource>()
@@ -29,19 +28,14 @@ class Ruleset(load: Boolean = true) {
     val nations = LinkedHashMap<String, Nation>()
     val policyBranches = LinkedHashMap<String, PolicyBranch>()
     val difficulties = LinkedHashMap<String, Difficulty>()
+    val mods = HashSet<String>()
 
     fun clone(): Ruleset {
-        val newRuleset = Ruleset(false)
+        val newRuleset = Ruleset()
         newRuleset.add(this)
         return newRuleset
     }
 
-    init {
-        if (load) {
-            load(Gdx.files.internal("jsons"))
-        }
-    }
-
     private fun <T : INamed> createHashmap(items: Array<T>): LinkedHashMap<String, T> {
         val hashMap = LinkedHashMap<String, T>()
         for (item in items)
@@ -63,7 +57,7 @@ class Ruleset(load: Boolean = true) {
         units.putAll(ruleset.units)
     }
 
-    fun clearExceptModNames() {
+    fun clear() {
         buildings.clear()
         difficulties.clear()
         nations.clear()
@@ -75,6 +69,7 @@ class Ruleset(load: Boolean = true) {
         tileResources.clear()
         unitPromotions.clear()
         units.clear()
+        mods.clear()
     }
 
     fun load(folderHandle :FileHandle ) {
@@ -146,3 +141,34 @@ class Ruleset(load: Boolean = true) {
     }
 }
 
+/** Loading mods is expensive, so let's only do it once and
+ * save all of the loaded rulesets somewhere for later use
+ *  */
+object RulesetCache :HashMap<String,Ruleset>(){
+    fun loadRulesets(){
+        this[""] = Ruleset().apply { load(Gdx.files.internal("jsons")) }
+
+        for(modFolder in Gdx.files.local("mods").list()){
+            try{
+                val modRuleset = Ruleset()
+                modRuleset.load(modFolder.child("jsons"))
+                modRuleset.name = modFolder.name()
+                this[modRuleset.name] = modRuleset
+            }
+            catch (ex:Exception){}
+        }
+    }
+
+    fun getBaseRuleset() = this[""]!!
+
+    fun getComplexRuleset(mods:Collection<String>): Ruleset {
+        val newRuleset = Ruleset()
+        newRuleset.add(getBaseRuleset())
+        for(mod in mods)
+            if(containsKey(mod)) {
+                newRuleset.add(this[mod]!!)
+                newRuleset.mods+=mod
+            }
+        return newRuleset
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/mapeditor/MapEditorScreen.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/mapeditor/MapEditorScreen.kt
index da24f25525..2a22a9ab49 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/mapeditor/MapEditorScreen.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/mapeditor/MapEditorScreen.kt
@@ -6,16 +6,16 @@ import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.InputEvent
 import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.InputListener
 import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.actions.Actions
 import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.ui.TextButton
-import com.unciv.UncivGame
 import com.unciv.logic.MapSaver
 import com.unciv.logic.map.TileMap
+import com.unciv.models.ruleset.RulesetCache
 import com.unciv.models.translations.tr
 import com.unciv.ui.utils.CameraStageBaseScreen
 import com.unciv.ui.utils.onClick
 import com.unciv.ui.utils.setFontSize
 
 class MapEditorScreen(): CameraStageBaseScreen() {
-    val ruleset = UncivGame.Current.ruleset
+    val ruleset = RulesetCache.getBaseRuleset()
     var mapName = "My first map"
 
     var tileMap = TileMap()
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/newgamescreen/NewGameScreen.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/newgamescreen/NewGameScreen.kt
index f2430fcfde..fc978e4a0b 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/newgamescreen/NewGameScreen.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/newgamescreen/NewGameScreen.kt
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@ import com.unciv.logic.GameInfo
 import com.unciv.logic.GameSaver
 import com.unciv.logic.GameStarter
 import com.unciv.logic.civilization.PlayerType
+import com.unciv.models.ruleset.RulesetCache
 import com.unciv.models.translations.tr
 import com.unciv.ui.pickerscreens.PickerScreen
 import com.unciv.ui.utils.disable
 import com.unciv.ui.utils.enable
 import com.unciv.ui.utils.onClick
-import com.unciv.ui.worldscreen.WorldScreen
 import com.unciv.ui.worldscreen.optionstable.OnlineMultiplayer
 import com.unciv.ui.worldscreen.optionstable.PopupTable
 import java.util.*
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ class NewGameScreen: PickerScreen(){
 
     val newGameParameters= UncivGame.Current.gameInfo.gameParameters
     val mapParameters = UncivGame.Current.gameInfo.tileMap.mapParameters
-    val ruleSet = UncivGame.Current.ruleset.clone()
+    val ruleSet = RulesetCache.getComplexRuleset(newGameParameters.mods)
 
     init {
         setDefaultCloseAction()
@@ -105,9 +105,7 @@ class NewGameScreen: PickerScreen(){
 
     override fun render(delta: Float) {
         if(newGame!=null){
-            game.gameInfo=newGame!!
-            game.worldScreen = WorldScreen(newGame!!.currentPlayerCiv)
-            game.setWorldScreen()
+            game.loadGame(newGame!!)
         }
         super.render(delta)
     }
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/newgamescreen/NewGameScreenOptionsTable.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/newgamescreen/NewGameScreenOptionsTable.kt
index b4ba87195e..f1cfdfd68b 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/newgamescreen/NewGameScreenOptionsTable.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/newgamescreen/NewGameScreenOptionsTable.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package com.unciv.ui.newgamescreen
 
-import com.badlogic.gdx.Gdx
 import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.Actor
 import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.ui.CheckBox
 import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.ui.SelectBox
@@ -9,7 +8,7 @@ import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.utils.ChangeListener
 import com.badlogic.gdx.utils.Array
 import com.unciv.logic.MapSaver
 import com.unciv.models.metadata.GameSpeed
-import com.unciv.models.ruleset.Ruleset
+import com.unciv.models.ruleset.RulesetCache
 import com.unciv.models.ruleset.VictoryType
 import com.unciv.models.ruleset.tech.TechEra
 import com.unciv.models.translations.tr
@@ -20,7 +19,6 @@ class NewGameScreenOptionsTable(val newGameScreen: NewGameScreen, val updatePlay
     : Table(CameraStageBaseScreen.skin) {
     val newGameParameters = newGameScreen.newGameParameters
     val mapParameters = newGameScreen.mapParameters
-    val baseRuleset = newGameScreen.ruleSet.clone()
     val ruleset = newGameScreen.ruleSet
 
     init {
@@ -221,46 +219,22 @@ class NewGameScreenOptionsTable(val newGameScreen: NewGameScreen, val updatePlay
 
 
     fun addModCheckboxes() {
-
-        val modFolders = Gdx.files.local("mods")
-        if(!modFolders.exists()) return
-        val loadableMods = ArrayList<Ruleset>()
-
-        for (modFolder in modFolders.list()) {
-            if (modFolder.list().any { it.name() == "jsons" }) {
-                val modRuleset = Ruleset(false)
-
-                try {
-                    modRuleset.load(modFolder.child("jsons"))
-                    modRuleset.name = modFolder.nameWithoutExtension()
-                    loadableMods.add(modRuleset)
-
-                } catch (ex: Exception) {
-                    print(ex.message)
-                }
-            }
-        }
+        val modRulesets = RulesetCache.filter { it.key!="" }.values
+        if(modRulesets.isEmpty()) return
 
         fun reloadMods(){
-            ruleset.clearExceptModNames()
-            ruleset.add(baseRuleset)
-            for(modName in ruleset.mods){
-                val correspondingMod = loadableMods.first { it.name==modName }
-                ruleset.add(correspondingMod)
-            }
+            ruleset.clear()
+            ruleset.add(RulesetCache.getComplexRuleset(newGameParameters.mods))
         }
 
-        if(loadableMods.isEmpty()) return
-
-
         add("{Mods}:".tr()).colspan(2).row()
         val modCheckboxTable = Table().apply { defaults().pad(10f) }
-        for(mod in loadableMods){
+        for(mod in modRulesets){
             val checkBox = CheckBox(mod.name,CameraStageBaseScreen.skin)
             checkBox.addListener(object : ChangeListener() {
                 override fun changed(event: ChangeEvent?, actor: Actor?) {
-                    if(checkBox.isChecked) ruleset.mods.add(mod.name)
-                    else ruleset.mods.remove(mod.name)
+                    if(checkBox.isChecked) newGameParameters.mods.add(mod.name)
+                    else newGameParameters.mods.remove(mod.name)
                     reloadMods()
                     updatePlayerPickerTable()
                 }
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/utils/ImageGetter.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/utils/ImageGetter.kt
index 7f2dcc5671..346dc9bfd2 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/utils/ImageGetter.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/utils/ImageGetter.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package com.unciv.ui.utils
 
+import com.badlogic.gdx.Gdx
 import com.badlogic.gdx.graphics.Color
 import com.badlogic.gdx.graphics.Texture
 import com.badlogic.gdx.graphics.g2d.TextureAtlas
@@ -11,8 +12,8 @@ import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.ui.Table
 import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.utils.Drawable
 import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.utils.TextureRegionDrawable
 import com.badlogic.gdx.utils.Align
-import com.unciv.UncivGame
 import com.unciv.models.ruleset.Nation
+import com.unciv.models.ruleset.Ruleset
 import com.unciv.models.ruleset.tile.ResourceType
 
 object ImageGetter {
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ object ImageGetter {
     // So, we now use TexturePacker in the DesktopLauncher class to pack all the different images into single images,
     // and the atlas is what tells us what was packed where.
     var atlas = TextureAtlas("game.atlas")
+    var ruleset = Ruleset()
 
     // We then shove all the drawables into a hashmap, because the atlas specifically tells us
     //   that the search on it is inefficient
@@ -33,14 +35,26 @@ object ImageGetter {
         setTextureRegionDrawables()
     }
 
-    fun getRuleSet() = UncivGame.Current.ruleset
 
     fun setTextureRegionDrawables(){
         textureRegionDrawables.clear()
+        // These are the srawables from the base game
         for(region in atlas.regions){
             val drawable =TextureRegionDrawable(region)
             textureRegionDrawables[region.name] = drawable
         }
+
+        // These are from the mods
+        for(mod in ruleset.mods){
+            val modAltasFile = Gdx.files.local("mods/$mod/game.atlas")
+            if (modAltasFile.exists()) {
+                val modAtlas = TextureAtlas(modAltasFile)
+                for (region in modAtlas.regions) {
+                    val drawable = TextureRegionDrawable(region)
+                    textureRegionDrawables[region.name] = drawable
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refreshAltas() {
@@ -112,13 +126,13 @@ object ImageGetter {
             return getImage("OtherIcons/Stop")
         if(improvementName.startsWith("StartingLocation ")){
             val nationName = improvementName.removePrefix("StartingLocation ")
-            val nation = getRuleSet().nations[nationName]!!
+            val nation = ruleset.nations[nationName]!!
             return getNationIndicator(nation,size)
         }
 
         val iconGroup = getImage("ImprovementIcons/$improvementName").surroundWithCircle(size)
 
-        val improvement = getRuleSet().tileImprovements[improvementName]!!
+        val improvement = ruleset.tileImprovements[improvementName]!!
         when {
             improvement.food>0 -> iconGroup.circle.color= foodCircleColor
             improvement.production>0 -> iconGroup.circle.color= productionCircleColor
@@ -131,8 +145,8 @@ object ImageGetter {
     }
 
     fun getConstructionImage(construction: String): Image {
-        if(getRuleSet().buildings.containsKey(construction)) return getImage("BuildingIcons/$construction")
-        if(getRuleSet().units.containsKey(construction)) return getUnitIcon(construction)
+        if(ruleset.buildings.containsKey(construction)) return getImage("BuildingIcons/$construction")
+        if(ruleset.units.containsKey(construction)) return getUnitIcon(construction)
         if(construction=="Nothing") return getImage("OtherIcons/Stop")
         return getStatIcon(construction)
     }
@@ -180,7 +194,7 @@ object ImageGetter {
 
     fun getResourceImage(resourceName: String, size:Float): Actor {
         val iconGroup = getImage("ResourceIcons/$resourceName").surroundWithCircle(size)
-        val resource = getRuleSet().tileResources[resourceName]!!
+        val resource = ruleset.tileResources[resourceName]!!
         when {
             resource.food>0 -> iconGroup.circle.color= foodCircleColor
             resource.production>0 -> iconGroup.circle.color= productionCircleColor
@@ -204,7 +218,7 @@ object ImageGetter {
 
     fun getTechIconGroup(techName: String, circleSize: Float): Group {
         var techIconColor = Color.WHITE
-        when (getRuleSet().technologies[techName]!!.era().name) {
+        when (ruleset.technologies[techName]!!.era().name) {
             "Ancient" -> techIconColor = colorFromRGB(255, 87, 35)
             "Classical" -> techIconColor = colorFromRGB(233, 31, 99)
             "Medieval" -> techIconColor = colorFromRGB(157, 39, 176)
diff --git a/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/DesktopLauncher.kt b/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/DesktopLauncher.kt
index 3bd99f6100..89f14d0a22 100644
--- a/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/DesktopLauncher.kt
+++ b/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/DesktopLauncher.kt
@@ -53,6 +53,14 @@ internal object DesktopLauncher {
         settings.filterMin = Texture.TextureFilter.MipMapLinearLinear
         TexturePacker.process(settings, "../Images", ".", "game")
 
+        // pack for mods as well
+        val modDirectory = File("../assets/mods")
+        if(modDirectory.exists()) {
+            for (mod in modDirectory.listFiles()!!){
+                TexturePacker.process(settings, mod.path + "/Images", mod.path, "game")
+            }
+        }
+
         val texturePackingTime = System.currentTimeMillis() - startTime
         println("Packing textures - "+texturePackingTime+"ms")
     }