In the world of video games, the ability to save progress has long been a cornerstone of gameplay. However, some games take a unique approach by penalizing players who save too frequently—a practice known as “save scumming.” This mechanic challenges players to think strategically about when and how they save, adding an extra layer of complexity to the gaming experience.
Understanding Save Scumming
Save scumming refers to the act of saving a game before a risky action, performing the action, and then reloading the save if the outcome isn’t favorable. While this technique can help players avoid undesirable results, it can also undermine the intended challenge and narrative of a game.
Games That Penalize Save Scumming
Fallout: New Vegas
In Fallout: New Vegas, players can engage in gambling at various casinos to earn bottle caps. Recognizing the potential for save scumming, the developers implemented measures to discourage this behavior. If players reload a save after gambling, all casino games enter a one-minute cooldown, preventing immediate replays. Additionally, there’s a cap on how much a player can win before being banned from the casino, further discouraging repeated reloads for favorable outcomes.
Undertale
Undertale offers a unique narrative experience where player choices significantly impact the story’s outcome. While not explicitly punishing save scumming, the game acknowledges it within its narrative. Characters like Sans and Flowey are aware of the player’s actions, and reloading saves can lead to altered dialogues and consequences, subtly discouraging the practice.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
In Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, players can purchase “The Olympian Gift” using a special currency. If a player reloads a save after opening the gift to receive a different item, the game removes the gift and the currency from the player’s inventory, effectively penalizing the attempt to manipulate outcomes through save scumming.
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Ni No Kuni introduces a mechanic where players can pay a fee to save their progress at the moment of death. This fee, however, comes at a cost—players must forfeit 10% of their in-game currency. This system discourages excessive saving by making it a costly endeavor, especially when valuable equipment and items are expensive to acquire.
XCOM 2
In XCOM 2, the game’s design counters save scumming by predetermining the outcomes of all actions at the start of each turn. This means that reloading a save won’t alter the results of dice rolls or actions, rendering save scumming ineffective and encouraging players to embrace the consequences of their decisions.
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria
Valkyrie Profile 2 takes a more severe approach to cheating and save scumming. If the game detects that a player has used cheat devices or modified save files, it flags the save file. Attempting to load this flagged save can cause the game to crash. More drastically, the game can corrupt all save files on the memory card, forcing players to delete them to continue playing.
Resident Evil Series (Classic Entries)
The early Resident Evil games introduced a brilliant method of limiting saves: players could only save at typewriters, and only if they had ink ribbons. This forced players to be extremely strategic about when to save their progress, especially during long sections between save points. It added a layer of tension and resource management, where saving was a tactical decision, not just a safety net.
This mechanic directly prevented players from save scumming during tough boss fights or puzzle sequences and added to the horror element by making failure feel much more consequential.
Dead Rising
Dead Rising, another Capcom title, featured a unique time-based structure and limited save opportunities. The original game only allowed a single save slot, and the in-game clock kept ticking regardless of what players were doing. This meant that saving at the wrong time could lead to poor mission timing or missed events—and you couldn’t go back.
Players who tried to reload saves to fix a poor choice were often stuck with the consequences anyway. The system encouraged players to play through mistakes and experience the narrative more naturally.
Ironman Modes in Strategy Games (e.g., Civilization, Fire Emblem, XCOM)
Ironman or Classic modes disable manual saving entirely or limit it drastically. In these modes, every choice is permanent, and save scumming is impossible. Fire Emblem‘s “Classic” mode, for example, includes permadeath—if a character dies, they’re gone forever. Reloading to undo this event is discouraged or outright disabled.
This elevates tension during gameplay and leads to more emotional investment in decisions. Players know they have to live with their outcomes, for better or worse.
The Psychology of Save Scumming
Understanding why players engage in save scumming helps explain why some developers actively design against it.
Fear of Failure
Many players save frequently to avoid the consequences of failure. This fear can stem from perfectionism, time constraints, or simply not wanting to replay sections. Save scumming becomes a way to optimize outcomes.
Control Over Narrative
In games with multiple endings or branching storylines, players may save before major decisions to experience all possible outcomes. While this allows for broader exploration, it can undermine the narrative impact of choices.
Reward-Seeking Behavior
Some players use save scumming to gain the best possible loot, skill checks, or gambling outcomes. While not inherently wrong, it bypasses the intended balance of risk and reward, reducing challenge and satisfaction.
Developer Strategies to Discourage Save Scumming
Developers have experimented with several approaches beyond outright punishment to curb save scumming:
Single-Save Systems
Games like Darkest Dungeon and FTL: Faster Than Light use a single autosave system that overwrites itself. Players can’t return to earlier points, encouraging commitment to decisions.
Narrative Awareness
Like Undertale and The Stanley Parable, some games subtly acknowledge save scumming within the story. This creates a meta-commentary that makes players self-aware of their manipulation, sometimes even shaming or surprising them.
Randomization and Hidden Seeds
Games like XCOM 2 and Slay the Spire lock in outcomes behind the scenes, meaning reloads won’t help unless the player significantly changes their actions. This deters simple reloading as a strategy.
Resource Costs for Saving
Games like Ni No Kuni and Resident Evil make saving a resource-based decision. Players must weigh the cost of saving versus the risk of continuing without one.
The Developer’s Perspective
From a developer’s standpoint, save scumming can undermine the intended challenge and narrative of a game. By implementing systems that penalize this behavior, developers encourage players to engage more deeply with the game’s mechanics and story, fostering a more authentic and rewarding experience.
The Player’s Experience
For players, these systems can be both a challenge and a deterrent. While some may appreciate the added difficulty and the encouragement to think more strategically, others might find these penalties frustrating, especially if they feel that the game is punishing them for attempting to avoid failure.
Different Players, Different Needs
It’s also important to note that punishing save mechanics aren’t universally praised. While they offer unique benefits, they can create barriers for players with limited time, those with cognitive or physical challenges, or gamers who are new to a genre. For these reasons, many developers now offer flexible save options—allowing players to choose between casual modes with frequent saves or hardcore modes with consequences.
This accessibility-focused approach means that more players can enjoy the core experience while still offering challenge to those who want it. For example, Diablo IV offers seasonal Hardcore modes, but the base game lets players save freely, catering to both ends of the spectrum.
Pros and Cons of Penalizing Frequent Saving
Pros:
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Increases tension and immersion.
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Encourages meaningful decision-making.
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Preserves challenge and balance.
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Discourages exploitative behavior.
Cons:
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Can frustrate casual or time-limited players.
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May feel punishing if misunderstood.
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Can cause significant progress loss during crashes or unexpected errors.
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Reduces accessibility for less experienced gamers.
Tips for Players in Games That Limit or Punish Saving
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Plan ahead: Know when the next save point is, and prepare accordingly.
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Learn from failure: Accepting loss as part of the game makes the experience more rewarding.
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Take notes: Especially useful in puzzle or mystery-based games.
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Explore ironman modes cautiously: Try them once you’re comfortable with a game’s systems.
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Use backup saves if allowed: Some games permit rotating autosaves or separate files.
Conclusion
Games that penalize save scumming offer a unique twist on traditional gameplay mechanics. By discouraging players from reloading saves to manipulate outcomes, these games encourage more thoughtful decision-making and a deeper engagement with the game’s systems. While this approach may not be for everyone, it provides an interesting perspective on how developers can influence player behavior and enhance the gaming experience.
FAQs
What is save scumming?
Save scumming is the practice of saving a game before a risky action and reloading the save if the outcome isn’t favorable, allowing players to manipulate random events or decisions.
Why do some games penalize save scumming?
Developers may penalize save scumming to maintain the game’s challenge, narrative integrity, and to encourage players to make meaningful decisions without relying on reloads.
Can save scumming ever be beneficial?
In some cases, save scumming can be used to avoid frustrating outcomes or to explore different story paths. However, excessive use can diminish the intended experience.
Are there games that completely prevent save scumming?
While most games don’t entirely prevent save scumming, some, like XCOM 2, design their systems to make save scumming ineffective, thereby discouraging its use.
How can players avoid the temptation to save scum?
Players can embrace the game’s challenges by accepting failures as part of the experience, using save points wisely, and focusing on the journey rather than solely on the outcome.