Where Are Cave Story+ Save Files Located?
Where Cave Story+ keeps Profile and Save files on Windows, Mac and Linux, and how the 2026 update changed names.
Last updated
Cave Story+ keeps saves next to the game rather than in user folders on most builds. The classic file is Profile.dat in the install tree, with screen and controls JSON beside it. The 2026 update adds Save.dat plus per mode slot files in the same place.
GOG Galaxy redirects to Documents while Mac and Linux use their own fixed user paths. Admin rights matter on Windows: installs under Program Files silently redirect writes to the VirtualStore. Copy the full set of files per build for backup. Back up the full set per build rather than single files alone.
Where Cave Story+ stores this, by platform
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cave Story+\Profile.dat
Classic Profile.dat plus 2026 Save.dat, slot files and JSON config beside the game. GOG builds redirect to Documents. Watch for VirtualStore redirection without admin rights.
~/Library/Application Support/Profile.dat
Unusually flat path with no game subfolder. Steam Mac and Linux saves do not match Windows DRM free files. Copy the file set per platform.
~/.local/share/CaveStory+/Profile.dat
Fixed user share path plus a screen config with binary flags. 2026 builds on Proton use default prefixes. Copy the file set for backup.
Frequently asked questions
Should I back up Profile.dat or Save.dat?
The 2011 build uses Profile.dat while the 2026 update adds Save.dat plus per mode slot files. Back up the whole set together with the screen and controls JSON files. Old guides that name one file predate the update and miss half the state.
Cave Story+ shows black on Linux multi monitor. How do I fix it?
Force the legacy Scout runtime in Steam properties and remove the bundled SDL and GL libraries so system ones load instead. Proton 7 or later also sidesteps the issue. The save files themselves are unaffected by the graphics crash.
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