Ludusavi: A Cross-Store Save Backup Tool That Actually Keeps Up

The Problem: Save Files Are Scattered and Fragile

PC game saves are not stored in one place. Steam, GOG, Epic, and Lutris each use different directories, and some games write to the Windows registry. Losing a save means losing hours of progress, and manual copying is error-prone. Ludusavi solves this by providing a single tool that backs up and restores save data across multiple game libraries. It is for anyone who plays games from more than one store, uses Proton on Linux, or wants a reliable backup routine without writing custom scripts.

How Ludusavi Works: Manifest-Driven Backup

Ludusavi relies on the Ludusavi Manifest, a separate repository that contains data on what to back up for each game. The manifest is primarily sourced from PCGamingWiki, so the community contributes by updating the wiki, and those changes flow into Ludusavi. The tool scans your system for known game paths, identifies save files and registry entries, and copies them to a backup location. It supports files and Windows registry saves, Proton saves with Steam, and Steam screenshots. The backup structure is documented, and you can customize roots and redirects. This design means the tool is only as good as the manifest, but the community-driven pipeline keeps it current.

Getting Started: Installation and First Backup

Installation is straightforward. You download the executable for Windows, Linux, or Mac from the releases page. It is portable, so you can place it anywhere. Alternatively, you can install via Winget, Scoop, Flatpak, or Cargo, as noted in the installation documentation. Once running, you can use the GUI or the CLI. The CLI is designed for scripting, with tab completion for Bash, Fish, Zsh, PowerShell, and Elvish. A basic backup command would be something like `ludusavi backup`, and you can specify a target directory with `--path`. The documentation covers backup automation, exclusions, retention, and validation, so you can set up a scheduled backup that only keeps recent versions. The configuration file allows fine-grained control, and environment variables are supported for advanced setups.

Performance and Scope: A Real-World Comparison

The README includes a direct comparison with GameSave Manager. On the same hardware, an initial scan of the whole system took 2 minutes in GSM versus 10 seconds in Ludusavi. A backup after that scan took 4 minutes 16 seconds in GSM versus 4.5 seconds in Ludusavi. In that test, GSM found 257 games with 2.84 GB, while Ludusavi found 297 games with 2.95 GiB. These numbers are from the project's own comparison, not independent benchmarks, but they indicate a significant speed advantage. The difference likely comes from Ludusavi's Rust implementation and its efficient scanning logic. If you have a large library, the time savings are meaningful.

Limitations: What Ludusavi Does Not Do

Ludusavi has clear gaps. It does not support creating symlinks for games or game data, which GameSave Manager can do. It cannot automatically back up saves after you play a game; that requires a launcher like Playnite, which has a Ludusavi extension. The manifest covers over 19,000 games, but not every game is included, and the README has a page titled 'What if my saves aren't found?' that addresses this. For games not in the manifest, you can create custom entries, but that requires manual effort. Also, the tool is cross-platform, but the registry support is Windows-specific, and while it works on Steam Deck, the documentation does not detail all platform quirks.

Alternatives: GameSave Manager and Game Backup Monitor

The README compares Ludusavi to two alternatives. GameSave Manager is Windows-only, closed source, and slower, but it can create symlinks and has a minimal CLI. Game Backup Monitor does not support Mac, has a database of only 577 games as of 2022-11-16, and has no CLI, but it can automatically back up saves after you play a game. Ludusavi positions itself as the only cross-platform, cross-store solution with a full CLI. If you need automatic post-play backups, Game Backup Monitor might be better, but its limited database is a drawback. If you are on Windows and want symlink support, GameSave Manager is the only option, but you sacrifice speed and open source.

Maintenance and Licensing: What to Expect

Ludusavi is MIT-licensed, which means you can use, modify, and distribute it freely, even in commercial projects. The project is actively maintained, with recent releases in 2025 and 2026. The manifest is community-driven, so updates depend on contributions to PCGamingWiki. This is a double-edged sword: the data is current for popular games, but niche titles may lag. The documentation includes a troubleshooting page and a missing-saves guide, which suggests the project expects users to encounter edge cases. Upgrade costs are low because the tool is portable, but you should re-test your backup and restore workflow after each release, as the CLI and config format may change. The README does not mention any breaking changes, but it is wise to check the release notes.

Editorial conclusion

Adopt Ludusavi if you manage saves across multiple stores, need a scriptable CLI, or want a fast, community-driven alternative to Windows-only tools. Skip it if you rely on automatic post-play backups or need symlink support. Before adopting, verify the manifest covers your specific games, test restore on a non-critical save, and check the documentation for backup exclusions and retention policies to avoid surprises.

Official sources

1. Official README
2. Project repository
3. Release notes