Common Game Save File Extensions Explained - Complete Reference

Introduction

Common Save File Extensions

Game save files come in dozens of different formats, each with their own quirks and editing requirements. Understanding what file extension you’re dealing with is the first step to successfully modifying your game saves.

This comprehensive guide covers all the major save file formats you’ll encounter, from simple human-readable text files to complex binary structures.

Text-Based Formats (Easy to Edit)

JSON (.json)

Engines: GameMaker, Godot, Unity (custom), many indie games.

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a human-readable format that uses curly braces and key-value pairs:

{
  "playerName": "Hero",
  "gold": 5000,
  "level": 25,
  "inventory": ["sword_01", "potion_03"]
}

How to Edit: Open in any text editor (VS Code, Notepad++). Change values, save, done. Just be careful not to break the syntax (missing commas, unclosed brackets).

Tool: Any text editor, or our Generic Editor

INI (.ini)

Engines: GameMaker Studio, many older games.

INI files use sections in square brackets with key=value pairs:

[Player]
Name=Hero
Gold=5000

[Settings]
Volume=80
Difficulty=Normal

How to Edit: Very straightforward. Open in a text editor, change values, save.

Tool: Any text editor, or our GameMaker Editor

XML (.xml, .plist)

Engines: Unity (PlayerPrefs on mobile), many cross-platform games.

XML uses nested tags to structure data:

<PlayerPrefs>
  <pref name="Coins" type="int">9999</pref>
  <pref name="SoundEnabled" type="int">1</pref>
</PlayerPrefs>

How to Edit: Editable in text editors, but be careful with tag structure. Missing closing tags will break the file.

Tool: Unity Editor

Compressed/Encoded Formats (Medium Difficulty)

RPG Maker (.rpgsave, .rvdata2)

Engines: RPG Maker MV, MZ (rpgsave), VX Ace (rvdata2).

.rpgsave files are JSON data compressed with LZString. .rvdata2 files use Ruby Marshal format.

Without decompression, they look like random characters:

N4IgLgpgJg5hBOBnEAuGAnGAzA9mKABMQBoRsA...

After decompression, they’re just JSON.

How to Edit: Requires a specialized tool to decompress, edit, and recompress.

Tool: RPG Maker Editor

NaniNovel (.nson)

Engines: Unity games using the NaniNovel visual novel framework.

.nson files are typically JSON that may be compressed or base64 encoded.

How to Edit: Our editor automatically detects the encoding and presents editable JSON.

Tool: NaniNovel Editor

Binary Formats (Difficult to Edit)

Unreal Engine (.sav)

Engines: Unreal Engine 4 & 5.

Uses the GVAS (Game Variable Archive Save) binary format. Contains a header, property tree, and optional compression.

Games include: Palworld, Hogwarts Legacy, Satisfactory, Deep Rock Galactic.

How to Edit: Requires a GVAS parser to convert binary to JSON and back.

Tool: Unreal Engine Editor

Ren’Py (.save)

Engines: Ren’Py visual novel engine.

Uses Python’s pickle module to serialize entire game state. Very difficult to safely modify due to security risks.

Games include: Doki Doki Literature Club, Katawa Shoujo.

How to Edit: Read-only viewing is safe. Modification requires careful repickling or use of in-game console.

Tool: Ren’Py Viewer (read-only)

Generic Binary (.dat, .sav, .bin)

Engines: Custom engines, older games.

These files have no standard format. They might contain:

Fixed-size records (e.g., 4 bytes for gold, 4 bytes for level)
Variously structured data with no clear pattern
Compression or encryption

How to Edit: Use a hex editor (HxD, 010 Editor). Look for patterns. Often requires game-specific knowledge or community research.

Tool: Hex editor (not web-based)

Platform-Specific Formats

Windows Registry (PlayerPrefs)

Unity games on Windows often store PlayerPrefs in the registry at:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\[CompanyName]\[ProductName]

Values are stored with hash-based key names and binary data.

How to Edit: Use regedit or PlayerPrefs-specific tools.

iOS/macOS .plist

Property List files used by Apple platforms. Can be XML or binary format.

How to Edit: If XML, use text editor. If binary, use plutil to convert: plutil -convert xml1 file.plist

SQLite (.db, .sqlite)

Some games use SQLite databases.

How to Edit: Use DB Browser for SQLite or similar tools.

Quick Reference Table

Extension	Format Type	Difficulty	Our Tool
`.json`	Text (JSON)	Easy	GameMaker
`.ini`	Text (INI)	Easy	GameMaker
`.xml`	Text (XML)	Easy	Unity
`.plist`	Text/Binary	Easy-Medium	Unity
`.rpgsave`	Compressed JSON	Medium	RPG Maker
`.nson`	Encoded JSON	Medium	NaniNovel
`.sav` (UE)	Binary (GVAS)	Difficult	Unreal
`.save` (Ren’Py)	Binary (Pickle)	Very Difficult	Viewer Only
`.dat`, `.bin`	Custom Binary	Very Difficult	Hex Editor

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know what format my save file is? A: Open it in a text editor. If you see readable text/JSON/XML, it’s text-based. If you see garbled characters, it’s binary.

Q: What if my game’s format isn’t listed here? A: Try opening in our generic editor – it may auto-detect the format. Otherwise, consult game-specific communities.

Q: Can all save files be edited? A: Most can be technically edited, but some use encryption, checksums, or server-side validation that make it impractical.

Q: Is save editing legal? A: For single-player games on files you own, yes. Modifying online/competitive games may violate terms of service.

Conclusion

Understanding your save file format is half the battle. Once you know whether you’re dealing with simple JSON, compressed RPG Maker data, or complex Unreal GVAS files, you can choose the right tool and approach.

Our Save Editor Online supports most common formats automatically – just upload your file and let us handle the rest!

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