Shadow Among Nove Save File: Location & Backup Guide

Save File Location on PC

Your progress in Shadow Among Nove is stored locally on your computer. Knowing where the save file is located is essential for manual backups or troubleshooting.

The save data for Shadow Among Nove is typically found in the following directory:

C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\ShadowAmongNove\Saved\SaveGames\

Replace [YourUsername] with your Windows account name. The AppData folder is hidden by default, so you may need to enable "Hidden items" in File Explorer's View menu to see it.

The save file itself is usually named with a .sav extension, such as SaveData_0.sav. If you have multiple save slots, you may see several numbered files.

How to Back Up Your Save File

Regularly backing up your save file protects your progress from accidental deletion, corruption, or hardware failure. Follow these simple steps:

1. Navigate to the save file directory listed above.
2. Copy the entire SaveGames folder or the specific .sav file you wish to back up.
3. Paste the copied folder or file into a safe location, such as an external drive, cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive, OneDrive), or a separate folder on your desktop.

For added security, create a backup after each major story decision or completion of a critical mission. This ensures you can revert to a specific point in the game if needed.

Restoring a Previous Save

If you encounter a game-breaking bug, want to explore a different story path, or need to recover from a corrupted file, restoring a backup is straightforward.

1. Locate your backup .sav file or the SaveGames folder.
2. Navigate to the original save file directory: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\ShadowAmongNove\Saved\SaveGames\.
3. (Optional) Rename the existing SaveData_0.sav to SaveData_0.sav.bak to keep it as an extra backup.
4. Copy your backed-up file into this directory.
5. Launch Shadow Among Nove and load the game from the main menu.

The game should recognize the restored file and allow you to continue from that point. If the save does not appear, ensure the file name matches the expected format (e.g., SaveData_0.sav).

Common Save File Issues

Players may occasionally encounter problems with their save data. Here are the most common issues and solutions:

Save file not loading: This often occurs due to file corruption or version mismatch. Ensure your game is updated to the latest version. If the problem persists, restore a backup.

Game not saving progress: Check that the save directory is not set to "Read-only." Right-click the SaveGames folder, select "Properties," and uncheck "Read-only" if it is enabled.

Missing save file after reinstall: Always back up your save folder before uninstalling the game. Steam Cloud may not always sync correctly; manual backup is the safest method.

For more detailed troubleshooting, refer to our Troubleshooting Guide.

Tips for Managing Multiple Playthroughs

Shadow Among Nove offers multiple endings based on your choices. To experience different storylines without losing progress, you can manage multiple save files.

Create a new save slot before major decisions. The game typically supports several save slots. Name your saves descriptively (e.g., "Trust Marcus Run" or "Betrayal Path") to keep track of your choices.

You can also manually copy entire save folders and store them separately. When you want to continue a specific playthrough, simply replace the current save file with the one from that playthrough.

How often should I back up my save?
It is best to back up your save after every significant story choice or at the end of each play session. This minimizes potential data loss.

Can I transfer my save to another computer?
Yes. Copy the SaveGames folder from your old computer to the same directory on your new computer. Ensure you are using the same game version for compatibility.

Does the game support Steam Cloud?
Yes, Shadow Among Nove supports Steam Cloud for save synchronization. However, relying solely on cloud saves is not recommended; always maintain a local backup for redundancy.