save-load
Installation
SKILL.md
Save / Load Systems in Godot 4.3+
Choose the right serialization strategy for your data type. All examples target Godot 4.3+ with no deprecated APIs.
Related skills: resource-pattern for custom Resource data containers, inventory-system for inventory serialization patterns, godot-project-setup for SaveManager autoload setup, popochiu for adventure-framework saves.
1. Strategy Comparison
| Strategy | Best For | Readable | Editor Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ConfigFile | Settings, simple key-value data | Yes | No | Built-in INI-style, no extra deps |
| JSON | Game saves, flexible structures | Yes | No | Cross-platform, version-migratable |
| Resource .tres | Editor-integrated data | Yes | Yes | NOT secure — never load untrusted files |
| Resource .res | Fast binary data | No | Yes | NOT secure — never load untrusted files |
When you recommend a strategy, name the one you rejected and the factor that decided it — "JSON, not Resource files, because saves are user-writable and loading a Resource can run code". A format picked without a named alternative cannot be overruled.