With MMOs sweeping the gaming world and so many others going live service, it's easy to forget the quirks of stand-alone video games. Baldur's Gate 3, a complex RPG with a myriad of different storylines depending on the player's choices, is a part of this ever-shrinking category.
That's why understanding how and when to save in Baldur's Gate 3 is so important. Death is often permanent, and the decisions that the main character makes and the rolls they fail or succeed in will invariably change the course of the story. Players must save early and save often, and here's how to do it.
Saving the Game in Baldur's Gate 3
Pressing the Esc key, normally located on the top left of the keyboard, at any time will take the player to the Options screen. The choices here include saving games, loading games, organizing multiplayer games, and changing key bindings. Choose the Save option to open the Save Files screen.
Save Files
- New Save. Choose this option to open the Create New Save screen. The save file will have an auto-generated name, which can be changed, a picture, and a time stamp.
- Overwrite Save. Save the new file under an old name to update or overwrite it. The old save is lost in this manner, however, so use this save method with caution.
- Save File Information. It's easy to lose track of so many stories, so players can browse through their saved files and determine which one they want to save over or load. The description here includes the play time and time stamp along with the Cross Save and Cloud status.
How to Quick Save in Baldur's Gate 3
Every game that includes split-second decisions, random exploration, and permanent death is going to have a Quicksave option. The Baldur's Gate games have all had one, and this latest title follows the same template.
Players can find the function keys at the top of the keyboard, above the line of number keys. F5 is the Quicksave, so when the character gets into something that might end badly, hit that key and quickly create a return point to forget any previous mistakes.
The keybinding for any command can be changed via the Options menu under the Keybinds section. It's the second one on the top, next to Gameplay.
If the encounter does end with death, or perhaps an ability check that could have gone better, hit F8 to Quickload that precious return point. Players can take a different route through the wilderness or re-think their combat or stealth strategy.
Previous versions of Baldur's Gate used the "Q" key for the Quicksave, but in this version, this key now serves as a way to move the camera to the left. This is also something that players can adjust in the Keybinds section.
How Autosave Works
There are several points in the game where the Autosave will secure the game without a prompt from the player. This is triggered by discovering new locations, speaking to certain important NPCs, or finding a Waypoint while exploring the wilderness. They are listed in the Save Files section as "Autosave" but have pictures and descriptions to help choose the right file.
There are two other kinds of Save options in Baldur's Gate 3 that work automatically. The player might not even notice them, but it's another option when it comes to saving the game.
Cross Save
When looking at the File Save screen, there's a heading that says "Cross save," and underneath it is a term like "Uploaded." This is for players who want the option of playing on multiple devices. The Cross save ensures that players can save and load their games from a PC, a Mac, or a PS5. It's a feature that's been in the works since BG3 was first announced.
Cloud Save
As if to drive the point home about how crucial it is to have a save point in these kinds of RPGs, every manual save, Quicksave, or autosave is also stored in the Steam Cloud. Any device that has the Steam app, including the Steam Deck, can now be used to load the game.
The Cloudsave option only works when there's an internet connection available. Keep this in mind if the primary gaming device is mobile, like a laptop, which travels, changes locations, and often uses Wi-Fi as its primary connection.