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Only One Save File

 Only One Save File
type
FeatureClass
 Only One Save File
label
Only One Save File
 Only One Save File
page
OnlyOneSaveFile
 Only One Save File
comment
As computer technology advanced and more and more durable memory became available to console manufacturers, saving progress as a feature of a game itself became possible. Due to how computers work, that save must be a file, and memory limits might only allow one save file, a.k.a this trope. But that was the past. Now, technology makes multiple saves possible, so it's the software and therefore the game designers, not the hardware, that truly controls the number of saves that can be concurrently stored.
As one of the many possible dimensions of Save-Game Limits applicable to any game's save system, this is the "number of save slots" dimension at its harshest, since "zero" would be lacking that dimension entirely. By the way, the name is talking about save files instead of sessions because it's both shorter and it's usually one file per play session.
The other way of "saving" state is a misnomer, because password-based saving, a.k.a Password Save, is regenerating a state based on user input, instead of restoring it from a preserved location. Password Save can also overlap with this trope, since the two could often be found in the same game, using the player's resources as a form of information storage, in addition to the game storing it themselves.
As these games don't have other saves to actually select, it is possible but unlikely that a Start Screen would not exist, and instead it just does an Automatic New Game and automatically jumps into the game whenever it's turned on, instead of asking if the player would like to delete their save or some such. Although, it is unlikely since a Start Screen has other uses beyond starting the game, such as being the earliest and fastest location to access the options menu.
As a trope that isn't necessary now, if this is done in a modern game, there's likely designer intent behind it. Such as hindering Save Scumming as part of being Nintendo Hard, by making it harder to save favorable states if the wanted result has multiple points of slow failure, especially if the game only Autosaves so there's almost no player control over saving. Multiple slots allows the functional reversal of time, so having only one means that the developer assumes that there's no Unintentionally Unwinnable states that can be reached, such as the "Merciful" type of game mentioned on Unwinnable by Design. Or not, to ramp up the horror of Survival Horror with Wide-Open Sandbox, where the sandbox usually means saving anywhere is possible, for the freedom.
Another big inconvenience caused by having only one save file is the inability to dedicate specific save files to good parts of the playthrough that cannot be replayed afterwards unless the player restarts completely, like a Boss Battle, a memorable story cutscene, or a One-Time Dungeon. This can be mitigated if there's a Replay Mode of some sort present, but that feature is unfortunately rare in games of this kind.
The Roguelike genre usually does this with only Suspend Save-type saving, to keep the risky nature going, disallowing the reversal of time.
For more of a utility consideration, this might occur when giving the player a representation of the save file is not useful, like in most Puzzle Games, Rhythm Games or some other game, where each individual puzzle / stage / song usually has no impact on any other, and there's no permanent loss state, so saving and reloading later would only be a loss of progress, so it's designed so such a negative event can't happen. Then there's the common Arcade Game, Endless Game, or Game Within a Game which are only about Scoring Points, so saving the high score at the end is the only thing that's saved, and you only need one version of that.
Also, in regards to "stage-based nature", most games aren't like that anymore, so with continuity between "levels" comes possibly important changes each run, so there's a reason to allow the player to have multiple attempts at the same events, allowing player choice.
As an Anti-Frustration Feature, there might be a warning about starting a new game when a save file already exists, likely, if an Autosave might be made so early as immediately overwrite progress if a new game were started. A game's Final Death Mode could also have this, to make it even more difficult. But, just in case, some games have an option to delete the only save, perhaps for "Fresh File" Speedruns and such.
Fictional Video Games might appear to be this, especially if they're Nintendo Hard, or if it's a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game as to keep the characters' Digital Avatars visually consistent by restricting them to only one, for instance. But this doesn't work with Minigames in general because they share the save slot with the outer game, at least in player perception.
Then there's financial considerations. Games that sell paid Loot Boxes have high overlap with this and autosaving, usually after every completed action, since allowing players to keep reloading and trying until they got what they wanted would defeat the whole purpose of the loot box mechanic.
If gameplay-impacting Character Customization is a thing, then this trope likely doesn't occur, to allow the player the space to experiment without losing previous progress.
 Only One Save File
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2024-03-07T08:45:24Z
 Only One Save File
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2024-03-07T08:45:24Z
 Only One Save File
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Dropped link to FanGame: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Only One Save File
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Dropped link to SpinOff: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Only One Save File
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Dropped link to ZigZagged: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Only One Save File
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DBTropes
 Only One Save File / int_114bbb1f
type
Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_114bbb1f
comment
Ōkamiden has only one save file, a stark contrast to its predecessor which had 30; this is because the game was released on the Nintendo DS and, on a technical level, it already pushes the system's capacity to the limit (the first game, meanwhile, was benefited by the vast space and specs provided by the Playstation 2 and the Wii). Unfortunately, there's a good deal of collectibles that are Permanently Missable — some of which are tied into New Game Plus functionality.
 Only One Save File / int_114bbb1f
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_114bbb1f
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1.0
 Ōkamiden (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_114bbb1f
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_17ace8e1
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Bioshock Infinite allows only one save file, and combines it with auto-saves. However, each chapter already made is saved and can be overwritten by more recent plays, and players can replay these chapters. The same system is used for the Burial at Sea spin-off.
 Only One Save File / int_17ace8e1
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_17ace8e1
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 BioShock Infinite (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_17ace8e1
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_1adee40d
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The World Ends with You: There's only one save file, and selecting the New Game option with a save file present will instead ask if the player wants to erase the existing save data.
 Only One Save File / int_1adee40d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Only One Save File / int_1adee40d
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1.0
 The World Ends with You (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_1adee40d
 Only One Save File / int_1c631084
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_1c631084
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Invisible, Inc. has four save slots, but each one is for a separate playthrough. On each run you can only continue from your last save. You have the option of replaying a level if you fail, but procedural generation means that it won't be the same as last time.
 Only One Save File / int_1c631084
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_1c631084
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1.0
 Invisible, Inc. (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_1c631084
 Only One Save File / int_1e00ee62
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_1e00ee62
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Ring Fit Adventure: Having only one file is justified because it's Exergaming designed for only one person to use it.
 Only One Save File / int_1e00ee62
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_1e00ee62
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1.0
 Ring Fit Adventure (Video Game)
hasFeature
Only One Save File / int_1e00ee62
 Only One Save File / int_20f32dbb
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_20f32dbb
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Meritous: Only one save file, overwritten when the Justified Save Points are activated.
 Only One Save File / int_20f32dbb
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_20f32dbb
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1.0
 Meritous (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_20f32dbb
 Only One Save File / int_223c2a48
type
Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_223c2a48
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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: For each Nintendo Switch profile, there can only be one manual save file and five Autosaves that overwrite in oldest to newest order, for each difficulty: Normal Mode and Master Mode. However, nothing is stopping a player from making a new Switch profile on the console to have one new save file of each difficulty, so this is a play on this trope, where functionally, there's only one fully player-controlled save, but with proper manipulation, there can be 3 different timelines per profile, each with one "current" and one "previous" state saved.
 Only One Save File / int_223c2a48
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_223c2a48
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1.0
 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_223c2a48
 Only One Save File / int_23553960
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_23553960
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Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain can only have one saved game at a time. If you want to start the game fresh, you have to erase your old game file.
 Only One Save File / int_23553960
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_23553960
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1.0
 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_23553960
 Only One Save File / int_27768eef
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_27768eef
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Metal Gear Survive one-ups this by limiting you to only one save slot, but making up to three extra available... at $10 a pop real-world currency. If you thought Pay To Win was bad, imagine being told you need to pay to let your brother or sister play as well.
 Only One Save File / int_27768eef
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_27768eef
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1.0
 Metal Gear Survive (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_27768eef
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_2819aebd
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Mega Man: The Japan-only Complete Works re-releases of 1 through 6 for the PlayStation are aversions as they have up to 8 save slots for its Original and Navi Modes, and Mega Man 8 and its later ports on Sega Saturn and its Legacy Collection 2 version have multiple save slots on their respective platforms, however, the ports of these games featured in the Mega Man Anniversary Collection limits players to only one save file for the game.
 Only One Save File / int_2819aebd
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 Only One Save File / int_2819aebd
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 Mega Man (Classic) (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_2819aebd
 Only One Save File / int_2b0a3ea9
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_2b0a3ea9
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Card City Nights has only one save file because the only Character Customization is in physical appearance, and Unintentionally Unwinnable is impossible.
 Only One Save File / int_2b0a3ea9
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_2b0a3ea9
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1.0
 Card City Nights (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_2b0a3ea9
 Only One Save File / int_318fe3d2
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_318fe3d2
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Etrian Odyssey: The first four mainline games only have one save file each, but later games allow additional files to be stored via an SD card.
 Only One Save File / int_318fe3d2
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_318fe3d2
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1.0
 Etrian Odyssey (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_318fe3d2
 Only One Save File / int_31d49432
type
Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_31d49432
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Liberal Crime Squad allows only one save file, and auto-saves everyday to prevent Save Scumming - but it can be circumvented by the fact that savefiles still exist even when the game is being run, meaning that one could close the game and reload the savefile if the day went wrong.
 Only One Save File / int_31d49432
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_31d49432
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1.0
 Liberal Crime Squad (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_31d49432
 Only One Save File / int_332cb317
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_332cb317
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Sonic the Hedgehog (2006): Unlike the previous games in the "Adventure" era, this game only uses one save file per Xbox/PlayStation account.
 Only One Save File / int_332cb317
featureApplicability
1.0
 Only One Save File / int_332cb317
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1.0
 Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_332cb317
 Only One Save File / int_3ee11cff
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_3ee11cff
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Crescent Pale Mist has only one save file, and progress is only saved after clearing a level. High-scores are saved on a different file however and the PC version includes a tool to wipe them without deleting the save file.
 Only One Save File / int_3ee11cff
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_3ee11cff
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1.0
 Crescent Pale Mist (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_3ee11cff
 Only One Save File / int_3f4f21a4
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_3f4f21a4
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Khimera: Destroy All Monster Girls: The Cakeboy Game Within a Game where it's all about Scoring Points, so that's the only thing that's saved.
 Only One Save File / int_3f4f21a4
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_3f4f21a4
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1.0
 Khimera: Destroy All Monster Girls (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_3f4f21a4
 Only One Save File / int_45d601e4
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_45d601e4
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I Love You, Colonel Sanders!: Saves which checkpoints have been unlocked to be able to start the game from, instead of exactly where the player ended.
 Only One Save File / int_45d601e4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Only One Save File / int_45d601e4
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1.0
 I Love You, Colonel Sanders! (Visual Novel)
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Only One Save File / int_45d601e4
 Only One Save File / int_476bc51
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_476bc51
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Understand only had one save file until a later patch added three save slots.
 Only One Save File / int_476bc51
featureApplicability
1.0
 Only One Save File / int_476bc51
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1.0
 Understand (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_476bc51
 Only One Save File / int_4bea6084
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_4bea6084
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Europa Universalis IV has an "ironman mode," which does not allow more than one save for a game at a time and auto-saves every six months. Achievements could only be acquired in this mode.
 Only One Save File / int_4bea6084
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_4bea6084
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1.0
 Europa Universalis (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_4bea6084
 Only One Save File / int_4f89d268
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_4f89d268
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Pokémon GO, as a Mobile Phone Game, also has only one save state, due to only expecting one user.
 Only One Save File / int_4f89d268
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_4f89d268
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 Pokémon GO (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_4f89d268
 Only One Save File / int_58990447
type
Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_58990447
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Ratchet & Clank (2016) only has one save file per account like the game before it, but it doesn't offer cloud saves of its own accord, so PlayStation Plus is the only way to do so.
 Only One Save File / int_58990447
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_58990447
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 Ratchet & Clank (2016) (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_58990447
 Only One Save File / int_5a2333ef
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_5a2333ef
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The LittleBigPlanet series tends to operate on a "one user, one profile" basis, which makes sense given that the saves are tied in part to the online account in respects such as Pins, Trophies, and levels uploaded.
 Only One Save File / int_5a2333ef
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_5a2333ef
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1.0
 LittleBigPlanet (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_5a2333ef
 Only One Save File / int_5afbc0cb
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_5afbc0cb
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Undertale: There is only one save file, as a deliberately retro feature. It's a plot point, as characters remember your previous actions — even actions from a different playthrough from the current one — and some are even aware of the ability to save.
 Only One Save File / int_5afbc0cb
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_5afbc0cb
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1.0
 Undertale (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_5afbc0cb
 Only One Save File / int_5b53043c
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_5b53043c
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Mario Party and Mario Party 2 have each only one save file. Come Mario Party 3, and save slots were added for it and several subsequent games. Starting with Mario Party 9, the series went back to only one save file and has been like that ever since.
 Only One Save File / int_5b53043c
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_5b53043c
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1.0
 Mario Party (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_5b53043c
 Only One Save File / int_5d96b889
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_5d96b889
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Mario Kart: Series-wide, the characters and vehicles unlocked, as well as the cups won and the Time Trial records stored, are all shared in a game's single file (64 and Double Dash!! even require additional Memory Card space to save the ghost(s) in Time Trial). Mario Kart Wii is the only game that averts the trope, thanks to having four save files.
 Only One Save File / int_5d96b889
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_5d96b889
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 Mario Kart (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_5d96b889
 Only One Save File / int_5e3832b5
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_5e3832b5
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Cave Story, in its original freeware version, only has one save slot. But the various upgraded ports of the game (starting with the Wiiware version) increased the save slots to three.
 Only One Save File / int_5e3832b5
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_5e3832b5
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 Cave Story (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_5e3832b5
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Only One Save File
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Unlike the games in the series before it, Paper Mario: Color Splash only has one save file for each Wii U account.
 Only One Save File / int_5ed0217f
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_5ed0217f
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 Paper Mario: Color Splash (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_5ed0217f
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_6e1a3355
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Cube Colossus: There's only Play and Load options on the start screen, and trying to Play with an existing save file gives a warning:
 Only One Save File / int_6e1a3355
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_6e1a3355
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 Cube Colossus (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_6e1a3355
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Only One Save File
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Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault: allows uploading a save file onto cloud storage (no relation to the PlayStation Plus cloud saves); while intended to be used for Cross-Saving between the PS3 and PS Vita versions of the game, it can subvert the intention of this trope by functioning as a second save slot (one save on the console, and another in the cloud).
 Only One Save File / int_712418fc
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_712418fc
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 Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_712418fc
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Only One Save File
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OneShot makes this a plot point: You, the player, only have one chance to complete the game. The original version even went as far as to lock you into a game over if you closed the game outside of designated Save Points.
 Only One Save File / int_7134bf0d
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_7134bf0d
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 OneShot (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_7134bf0d
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Only One Save File
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Goodbye Volcano High: There can only be one saved game at a time, and starting a new game will clear out the previous save. While it's possible to get around this on the Steam version* By disabling save game cloud syncing, the player can copy the saved game out of the game's directory and replace it with another, there's no such luck for the PlayStation 4 and 5 versions.
 Only One Save File / int_7164f636
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_7164f636
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 Goodbye Volcano High (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_7164f636
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Only One Save File
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Tomodachi Life: A game about island management, which only allows saving one island.
 Only One Save File / int_7440e4b3
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_7440e4b3
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 Tomodachi Life (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_7440e4b3
 Only One Save File / int_75487dcd
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_75487dcd
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All of the Style Savvy games, Style Boutique, New Style Boutique, New Style Boutique 2: Fashion Forward, and New Style Boutique 3: Styling Star'', have only one save file.
 Only One Save File / int_75487dcd
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1.0
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 Style Savvy / Videogame
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Only One Save File / int_75487dcd
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Only One Save File
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FTL: Faster Than Light: One save file per installation. You can only ever have one active game at a time — if you start a new game, the current one is erased. This means you can't have separate games for different ship types saved at the same time, or have one for another person — once you start the game, you have to play it till you win, die or choose to restart and overwrite the save.
 Only One Save File / int_7c19a801
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_7c19a801
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 FTL: Faster Than Light (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_7c19a801
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_7db0e818
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The Treasure Hunter Man series, a.k.a Treasure Hunter Man 1 and Treasure Hunter Man 2: Each game has only one file, so when selecting Load on the Start Screen, there's no selecting a save file, while making a new game doesn't tell the player that a save already exists.
 Only One Save File / int_7db0e818
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_7db0e818
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 Treasure Hunter Man (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_7db0e818
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_87f79296
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The Far Cry franchise: Far Cry 2, Far Cry 3, Far Cry 4, Far Cry Primal, Far Cry 5, Far Cry: New Dawn and Far Cry 6, provide only a single save slot for your entire campaign. Among other things this renders you unable to replay any completed scenario.
 Only One Save File / int_87f79296
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_87f79296
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1.0
 Far Cry (Franchise)
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Only One Save File / int_87f79296
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_8ec33aad
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Xenoblade Chronicles X has only one save file per Wii U account. This is due to the online features (and the achievements unlocked with them) tied to the player's profile.
 Only One Save File / int_8ec33aad
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_8ec33aad
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1.0
 Xenoblade Chronicles X (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_8ec33aad
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_8f526e
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Drawn to Life: The second game only has one save file per game. It's possibly justified by the game itself being Adventures In Coma Land. You can't exactly have multiple save files in a universe where everything takes place in the head of supporting character Mike.
 Only One Save File / int_8f526e
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_8f526e
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 Drawn to Life (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_8f526e
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_91c0063d
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Shadow Complex only has one save file, and it is tied to the Xbox 360 profile, meaning you'll either have to start a game from the beginning from the main menu or make a new Xbox 360 profile to avoid erasing an existing file. The game's Remastered version, after an update, later averts this by adding ten save slots that can be used, however, player levels bonuses are still carried over.
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Only One Save File / int_91c0063d
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Only One Save File
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Them's Fightin' Herds has only one save for its story mode, and choosing another chapter manually will overwrite the previous progress. Thankfully, cosmetics carry over so it's easy to play though another chapter if the player missed anything, and the only thing really lost are checkpoints.
 Only One Save File / int_93a15df3
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1.0
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 Them's Fightin' Herds (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_93a15df3
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Only One Save File
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Paper Mario:
Unlike the games in the series before it, Paper Mario: Color Splash only has one save file for each Wii U account.
Paper Mario: The Origami King also only allows one save file per Nintendo Switch account.
 Only One Save File / int_93fc1d2b
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_93fc1d2b
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 Paper Mario (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_93fc1d2b
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_959e6cb
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Dragon Quest IX only has one save slot.
 Only One Save File / int_959e6cb
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_959e6cb
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1.0
 Dragon Quest IX (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_959e6cb
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_9bcf051b
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The Final Fantasy Legend: A single save slot, and, unfortunately, it is possible to save in rooms that cannot be exited without a Boss Battle, with a party unable to defeat said boss.
 Only One Save File / int_9bcf051b
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_9bcf051b
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1.0
 The Final Fantasy Legend (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_9bcf051b
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_9df32140
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Pikmin 3: Only one save file is stored per Wii U account. Its two predecessors have three each. To make up for this, the game provides a rollback function allowing the player to return to a previous day, should they feel their progression is flawed (i.e. too many Pikmin lost along the way, or too little fruit juice left).
 Only One Save File / int_9df32140
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_9df32140
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 Pikmin 3 (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_9df32140
 Only One Save File / int_9ef055f4
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Only One Save File
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The Ratchet & Clank series has started doing this with its later PlayStation 3 games, having one save per account. This changed after Into the Nexus when fans asked for multiple saves like in the older titles, so starting with Rift Apart, multiple saves have returned. Of the Ratchet games that only have one save, there are a few variations:
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One: Just plain one save per account. However if you have PlayStation Plus, you can disable automatic save uploads and then use it to manually back up a specific save (or copy them to USB, of course).
Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault: allows uploading a save file onto cloud storage (no relation to the PlayStation Plus cloud saves); while intended to be used for Cross-Saving between the PS3 and PS Vita versions of the game, it can subvert the intention of this trope by functioning as a second save slot (one save on the console, and another in the cloud).
Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus is one file per local account, but it too allows save data to be uploaded to the cloud without needing PS+.
Ratchet & Clank (2016) only has one save file per account like the game before it, but it doesn't offer cloud saves of its own accord, so PlayStation Plus is the only way to do so.
 Only One Save File / int_9ef055f4
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_9ef055f4
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1.0
 Ratchet & Clank (Franchise)
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Only One Save File / int_9ef055f4
 Only One Save File / int_9f053c09
type
Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_9f053c09
comment
Antichamber has only one save. You can't really let a friend try it fresh without losing your own progress. As this is a PC game, you can of course manually keep multiple copies of the save file; in fact, this is what the creator recommends doing, shrugging it off as a Do-It-Yourself Plumbing Project.note (your Steam installation directory)''steamappscommonAntichamberBinariesWin32SavedGame.bin
 Only One Save File / int_9f053c09
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_9f053c09
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1.0
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Only One Save File / int_9f053c09
 Only One Save File / int_9f89a5f0
type
Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_9f89a5f0
comment
Pokémon: The series started as cartridge games for the Game Boy with Pokémon Red and Blue, and this trope is now presumably tradition:
The main series games only allow one save file per slot, owing to limited cartridge space in the first generation making it the only way to nickname every possible Pokémon that the player can catch and store.
Some of the Spin-Off games follow this trend, with examples such as Pokémon Mystery Dungeon and Pokémon Ranger
Zig-Zagged for the Nintendo Switch games, where the device can have multiple save files by switching over to a different account. One save per account.
Pokémon GO, as a Mobile Phone Game, also has only one save state, due to only expecting one user.
 Only One Save File / int_9f89a5f0
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_9f89a5f0
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1.0
 Pokémon (Franchise)
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Only One Save File / int_9f89a5f0
 Only One Save File / int_afb5ab93
type
Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_afb5ab93
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PsyCard: Because it's a mobile game so space is at a premium, and only used by one person. And there's progressive unlocks without any reason to time travel backwards, since replaying the game is relatively short and easy.
 Only One Save File / int_afb5ab93
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_afb5ab93
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1.0
 PsyCard (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_afb5ab93
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_afc879df
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Until Dawn allows you to start/restart or continue, but not load another save file. It also autosaves moment-to-moment to prevent Save Scumming. If you mess up, another teenager dies and you can either start all-over, or suck it up and move on. Sure, you can immediately quit and relaunch the game in the hopes of beating the autosave, but you can never start a new file without over-writing your progress.
 Only One Save File / int_afc879df
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_afc879df
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 Until Dawn (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_afc879df
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Only One Save File
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Paper Mario: The Origami King also only allows one save file per Nintendo Switch account.
 Only One Save File / int_b11626d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Only One Save File / int_b11626d
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1.0
 Paper Mario: The Origami King (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_b11626d
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_b9d8b8af
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Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One: Just plain one save per account. However if you have PlayStation Plus, you can disable automatic save uploads and then use it to manually back up a specific save (or copy them to USB, of course).
 Only One Save File / int_b9d8b8af
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_b9d8b8af
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1.0
 Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_b9d8b8af
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_ba666650
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Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater: The 3DS version only has one save file, and there's no option to store additional files through an SD card.
 Only One Save File / int_ba666650
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_ba666650
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1.0
 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_ba666650
 Only One Save File / int_bca72091
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_bca72091
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In Animal Crossing, you are allowed one town per disc or cartridge, with up to four player characters being allowed to live in a single town; Animal Crossing: New Horizons increases this limit to eight. In most games, these characters can be deleted and swapped in for new creations whenever you desire, though Animal Crossing: New Leaf and New Horizons disallow you from deleting the first created character (who serves as the mayor/island representative) without erasing the town/island entirely. In fact New Horizons exaggerates this trope since unlike most Switch games that have one save per profile it has one save per console, that increase from four players to eight, that's actually the maximum number of profiles on the Switch.
 Only One Save File / int_bca72091
featureApplicability
1.0
 Only One Save File / int_bca72091
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1.0
 AnimalCrossing
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Only One Save File / int_bca72091
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type
Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_c0ba820d
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Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory: There's only auto-saves, so it's effectively this.
 Only One Save File / int_c0ba820d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Only One Save File / int_c0ba820d
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1.0
 Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_c0ba820d
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_c488a57d
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In Chicory: A Colorful Tale, only one save file can be made at a time, so starting a new game overwrites the old save.
 Only One Save File / int_c488a57d
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_c488a57d
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1.0
 Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_c488a57d
 Only One Save File / int_c7539344
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Only One Save File
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Singularity notably limits you to only the most recent autosave, it doesn't even have a level select feature unlike almost all other games in the genre. It does at least give you 3 seperate player profiles.
 Only One Save File / int_c7539344
featureApplicability
1.0
 Only One Save File / int_c7539344
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1.0
 Singularity (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_c7539344
 Only One Save File / int_cc1462ed
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_cc1462ed
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Heaven's Vault: Single save only. Mainly saving by Auto-Save.
 Only One Save File / int_cc1462ed
featureApplicability
1.0
 Only One Save File / int_cc1462ed
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1.0
 Heaven's Vault (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_cc1462ed
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Only One Save File
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Vambrace: Cold Soul (released 2019) has three save slots, but each one is for a separate playthrough. You can quit and reload, but the game auto-saves whenever anything significant happens, so any decisions made are permanent.
 Only One Save File / int_cc259c7b
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_cc259c7b
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1.0
 Vambrace: Cold Soul (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_cc259c7b
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_d75d6c12
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Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus is one file per local account, but it too allows save data to be uploaded to the cloud without needing PS+.
 Only One Save File / int_d75d6c12
featureApplicability
1.0
 Only One Save File / int_d75d6c12
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1.0
 Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_d75d6c12
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_e18ab4ea
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Strife initially had only one save slot. You could save as often as you wanted, but good luck if you saved next to a boss while being low on health or ammo and with no suitable powerups in sight. Even the producers found this to be too harsh, and removed the limit in a later patch.
 Only One Save File / int_e18ab4ea
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_e18ab4ea
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Only One Save File / int_e18ab4ea
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Only One Save File
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In Dead Island, not only is there only 1 save file and the game saves automatically every time you do something, but the game makes it impossible to back up your save game, and destroys your save file if you're sneaky and try to do so.
 Only One Save File / int_e2aa3bec
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_e2aa3bec
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 Dead Island (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_e2aa3bec
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_e5c93c13
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Miitopia has only one save file as well.
 Only One Save File / int_e5c93c13
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_e5c93c13
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 Miitopia (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_e5c93c13
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Only One Save File
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The first four Ace Attorney games only have one save slot. The Nintendo 3DS games upgrade to two saves.
 Only One Save File / int_e5feb1e
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_e5feb1e
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 Ace Attorney (Franchise)
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Only One Save File / int_e5feb1e
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Only One Save File
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Copy Kitty: The game is played by traversing through all the levels of multiple worlds, but there's only one playthrough. To restart the game would basically be un-installing, then re-installing the game, making a fresh copy.
 Only One Save File / int_f0ce86b3
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_f0ce86b3
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 Copy Kitty (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_f0ce86b3
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_f391da5a
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Totally Accurate Battle Simulator: The overall save saves unlocked units to use in individual battles, and how much of the campaign has been unlocked. There's no reason to reverse time.
 Only One Save File / int_f391da5a
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_f391da5a
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1.0
 Totally Accurate Battle Simulator (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_f391da5a
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_f52439f2
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Bullet Witch: Only one save file is used throughout the game, with progress being saved as players clear the game's stages. Mid-stage progress is also saved between checkpoints.
 Only One Save File / int_f52439f2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Only One Save File / int_f52439f2
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1.0
 Bullet Witch (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_f52439f2
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_f65a4841
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Resident Evil: Revelations 2 only has one save file, and it's Auto-Save only — you cannot save manually.
 Only One Save File / int_f65a4841
featureApplicability
1.0
 Only One Save File / int_f65a4841
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1.0
 Resident Evil: Revelations 2 (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_f65a4841
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Only One Save File
 Only One Save File / int_f8acc9ea
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Control: One saved path. One latest Auto-Save to reload from and a checkpoint from every plot mission completed if the player would like to turn back the clock for some reason.
 Only One Save File / int_f8acc9ea
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_f8acc9ea
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 Control (Video Game)
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Only One Save File / int_f8acc9ea
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Only One Save File
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Each game in the Super Smash Bros. series only gives the player one save file for the main game. The story modes in both Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate meanwhile avert this, giving the player the option to hold a number of different save files at once; every other mode is still limited to one, though.
 Only One Save File / int_fe85bfc8
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1.0
 Only One Save File / int_fe85bfc8
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The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Ace Attorney (Franchise) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Bullet Witch (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Card City Nights (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Cave Story (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
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Only One Save File
 Control (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Dead Island (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Elite Beat Agents (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 FTL: Faster Than Light (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Future Fragments (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Goodbye Volcano High (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Heaven's Vault (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Invisible, Inc. (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Liberal Crime Squad (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Maid Of Sker (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Mario Kart Wii (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Mario Party (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
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Only One Save File
 Mario Party 10 (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Mario Party 9 (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Mega Man 8 (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Miitopia (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Ōkamiden (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Pikmin 3 (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Prey (2017) (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
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Only One Save File
 PsyCard (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Resident Evil: Revelations 2 (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Shadow Complex (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 The World Ends with You (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Them's Fightin' Herds (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Tomodachi Life (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Treasure Hunter Man (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File
 Treasure Hunter Man 1 (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
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Only One Save File
 Treasure Hunter Man 2 (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
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Only One Save File
 Understand (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
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Only One Save File
 Until Dawn (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
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Only One Save File
 World of Horror (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
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Only One Save File
 Xenoblade Chronicles X (Video Game) / int_3b113d4e
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Only One Save File
 Elevator Hitch (Visual Novel) / int_3b113d4e
type
Only One Save File