ReStory Save File Location, Backup, Restore, and Demo Transfer

The short answer

Close ReStory before touching its files, then copy the complete Restory folder somewhere outside the game-data directory. The official support article says SaveData holds the five most recent saves from the current playthrough, while BackupSaveData holds a previous playthrough after you start New Game.

Step by step

1. Open the save folder

On Windows, press Win + R, paste %UserProfile%\AppData\LocalLow\Mandragora\Restory, and press Enter. On macOS, use Finder’s Go to Folder command and paste ~/Library/Application Support/Mandragora/Restory.

Steam Deck uses the Windows version through Proton. The official support path includes Steam app ID 3812600; a custom Steam library can change the part of the path before steamapps.

2. Make a backup before troubleshooting

Exit the game completely. Copy the entire Restory folder to Documents, an external drive, or another clearly named location. Include the date in the copied folder name so you can tell backups apart.

This preserves more context than copying one .restory file and gives you a recovery point if the wrong file is selected.

3. Understand what “five saves” means

The official article describes five recent saves inside the current playthrough. It does not document five independent profile slots selectable from the main menu. Starting New Game moves the previous playthrough into BackupSaveData, which is why a second run can look missing even though recovery data exists.

If you want parallel runs, keep separately named manual copies of the complete Restory folder and only swap them while the game is closed and Steam Cloud is temporarily disabled. This is a file-backup workflow, not an official in-game multi-slot feature.

4. Restore a previous save from the current playthrough

The official article says SaveData contains the five most recent saves. To go back within the current playthrough:

1. Close the game and disable Steam Cloud temporarily.
2. Back up the complete Restory folder.
3. Open SaveData and identify the earlier .restory file by its modification time.
4. Preserve the current file before replacing it.
5. Put the chosen save in the active location, launch the game, and verify the date and story state.

If the state is wrong, close the game again and restore your manual backup instead of trying several destructive replacements in a row.

5. Restore a playthrough moved by New Game

Starting New Game moves the previous playthrough into BackupSaveData. The official recovery sequence is:

1. Close ReStory and disable Steam Cloud.
2. Open BackupSaveData.
3. Open the latest numbered folder.
4. Copy its newest .restory file.
5. Paste it into SaveData, replacing the active save only after making a backup.
6. Launch the game and confirm the recovered playthrough.

Re-enable Steam Cloud only after confirming which local save you want to keep.

6. What changed in v1.0.010r?

The August 14 official notes say the long-save issue—and a possible crash during saving—was fixed. Update before diagnosing an old saving symptom. If a save still crashes on v1.0.010r, do not repeatedly overwrite it: copy the complete folder, record the exact action that triggers the crash, and report it as a possible regression.

7. Do demo saves transfer to the full game?

No. In a Steam discussion, the developer says demo saves do not carry over because the full game received many changes and improvements. Treat the retail version as a new playthrough rather than attempting to rename or inject a demo save.

What not to assume

• Steam Cloud is not a substitute for a manual backup before file replacement.
• The newest timestamp is not necessarily the story state you want; verify it in game.
• A Windows path copied from another user may differ if their user profile or Steam library is elsewhere.
• Demo saves are not officially supported in the full game.
• Save editing is not a verified fix for a progression bug.
• Five recent save points are not the same as five independently selectable playthrough slots.

Sources

• Official ReStory save restore article — primary source for folder paths, five recent saves, BackupSaveData, and the restore sequence.
• Developer answer on demo save transfer — confirms that demo progress does not transfer to the full game.
• Official v1.0.010r patch notes — confirms the long-save and possible saving-crash fix.
• Official Steam store — confirms the current Windows and macOS release.