How to create your own Save File

This guide will show you how to manually create a Save File.

Introduction

Hello!
This guide will show you how to manually create a save file in Heaven's Vault and how to use it.

Heaven's Vault features an auto-save option only and I can understand that because the game should be played more than once. However, in my opinion it can be frustrating, especially if you are a new player.

Why would you need your own save files?

Let's say you played for 20 hours already and made a choice that you regret. You can't go back. The only option you have now is to start over or finish the game and start New Game+. Same goes with accidental situations as they can happen as well.
Creating your own save files will prevent all of those situations. It is also useful as a backup, in case you encounter game-breaking bugs.

How to manually create a Save File

After playing for some time, you will notice the information about auto-save in pause menu:

This information means that there is now a save file created somewhere.
Next, you need to navigate to your AppData folder (it's a hidden folder in Windows). Overall the path looks like this (you have to replace "<username>" with your folder's name):

 C:\Users\<username>\AppData\LocalLow\Inkle Ltd\Heaven's Vault 

You will notice various folders and files.

1. The only file that matters to you is "heavensVaultSave". Copy the "heavensVaultSave" file.
   
2. Create a new folder anywhere you want. Place the copied file there.
   
3. You've just created your own save file. Now every time you do something in game and think "this is a good moment to save", just repeat this process*.

*Also make sure that the information in pause menu says "Last saved just now" before you create a save file!

How to use your Save Files

You know how to create a save file. The next step is how to use this file.
Every time you feel the need to go back to one of the saves you created, you have to replace the existing "heavensVaultSave" file in AppData folder with the save file that you created.

With all the important knowledge you now possess, it would be best to store all future save files in an organised way (that is, to your liking).
It's best to create a separate folder for every save file and name this folder however you need. Here is an example of a way in which you can organise your folders:


Since you organised your save files in a suitable way, you can finnaly breathe easily and play this fantastic game without the thought that you could have made the "wrong" choice or "missed" something.

Summary

If you have got any questions or encounter a problem, please write a comment below and describe it, I will try my best to help you. Steam is the only place where I uploaded this guide. Please do not copy. Thank you.

[Hokayo]

I agree, thank you for pointing that out.

[Ryoga-]

This is useful to backup, I found at least two game breaking bugs