diff --git a/lib/mod_list.dart b/lib/mod_list.dart
index 9f31e10..ce53e86 100644
--- a/lib/mod_list.dart
+++ b/lib/mod_list.dart
@@ -324,7 +324,8 @@ class ModList {
     int total = scoreInfo['total']!;
 
     if (total == 0 || bestScore == total) {
-      return bestOrder; // All constraints satisfied or no constraints
+      // All constraints satisfied or no constraints, sort by size where possible
+      return _sortSizeWithinConstraints(bestOrder);
     }
 
     // Use a limited number of improvement passes
@@ -397,7 +398,77 @@ class ModList {
       if (!improved) break; // If no improvements in this pass, stop
     }
 
-    return bestOrder;
+    // After optimizing for soft constraints, sort by size where possible
+    return _sortSizeWithinConstraints(bestOrder);
+  }
+
+  /// Sort mods by size within compatible groups
+  List<String> _sortSizeWithinConstraints(List<String> order) {
+    // Find groups of mods that can be reordered without breaking constraints
+    List<List<String>> groups = [];
+    List<String> currentGroup = [];
+    
+    for (int i = 0; i < order.length; i++) {
+      String modId = order[i];
+      Mod mod = mods[modId]!;
+      
+      if (currentGroup.isEmpty) {
+        currentGroup.add(modId);
+        continue;
+      }
+      
+      // Check if this mod can join the current group
+      bool canJoin = true;
+      for (String groupModId in currentGroup) {
+        Mod groupMod = mods[groupModId]!;
+        
+        // Check hard dependencies
+        if (mod.dependencies.contains(groupModId) || 
+            groupMod.dependencies.contains(modId)) {
+          canJoin = false;
+          break;
+        }
+        
+        // Check soft constraints
+        if (mod.loadAfter.contains(groupModId) || 
+            groupMod.loadBefore.contains(modId) ||
+            mod.loadBefore.contains(groupModId) || 
+            groupMod.loadAfter.contains(modId)) {
+          canJoin = false;
+          break;
+        }
+      }
+      
+      if (canJoin) {
+        currentGroup.add(modId);
+      } else {
+        // Start a new group
+        if (currentGroup.isNotEmpty) {
+          groups.add(List.from(currentGroup));
+          currentGroup = [modId];
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    
+    // Add the last group if not empty
+    if (currentGroup.isNotEmpty) {
+      groups.add(currentGroup);
+    }
+    
+    // Sort each group by size
+    for (List<String> group in groups) {
+      if (group.length > 1) {
+        group.sort((a, b) => mods[b]!.size.compareTo(mods[a]!.size));
+      }
+    }
+    
+    // Reconstruct the order
+    List<String> result = [];
+    for (List<String> group in groups) {
+      result.addAll(group);
+    }
+    
+    return result;
   }
 
   List<String> loadDependencies(