Dead Cells save location (PC & Steam Deck)

Q: Where are Dead Cells saves on Steam Deck?

In ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Dead Cells/save/customGameData_*.json . If you play the native Linux version instead, look in ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Dead Cells/save/user_*.dat .

Dead Cells keeps its saves in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Dead Cells\save\customGameData_*.json on Windows. It supports Steam Cloud, which keeps the latest save on your Steam account. Hoard finds that folder on its own, backs it up every time the game saves and keeps it in sync between your PCs and a Steam Deck.

Where Dead Cells keeps its saves

Windows

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Dead Cells\save\customGameData_*.json
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Dead Cells\save\user_*.dat
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<user-id>\588650\remote\customGameData_*.json
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<user-id>\588650\remote\user_*.dat

Steam Deck and Linux (Proton)

~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Dead Cells/save/customGameData_*.json
~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Dead Cells/save/user_*.dat
~/.local/share/Steam/userdata/<user-id>/588650/remote/customGameData_*.json
~/.local/share/Steam/userdata/<user-id>/588650/remote/user_*.dat

Native Linux version

~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Dead Cells/save/customGameData_*.json
~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Dead Cells/save/user_*.dat

macOS

~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common/Dead Cells/save/customGameData_*.json
~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common/Dead Cells/save/user_*.dat

<user-id> is a folder named after your account's numeric ID; there is one for each account that has played the game on that machine.

Paths under C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam assume Steam is in its default folder.

These locations come from PCGamingWiki, through the community save database Hoard uses for detection.

Settings files

Dead Cells keeps settings such as graphics and controls apart from the saves, in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Dead Cells\save\dc_options.json.

Keep it backed up and in sync with Hoard

Hoard is free and open source. It backs up your Dead Cells saves every time the game writes one and again when you quit, keeps a history you can go back to, and syncs the folder between your PCs and a Steam Deck. Only the files that changed travel, compressed, and every file is checked against its SHA-256 hash when it comes back.

Install Hoard and sign in to Hoard One, recommended for everyone, or point it at your own server.
Open the Library. Dead Cells is detected from your Steam library and the community save database.
Play. When you quit, the first version appears in the history.

Frequently asked questions

Does Dead Cells have cloud saves?

Yes, according to the save database: Steam Cloud, the Epic Games Store and GOG Galaxy. A store's cloud keeps only the latest save for that account, though, with no versions to go back to. Hoard keeps every version on top, on Hoard One or your own server.

Where are Dead Cells saves on Steam Deck?

In ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Dead Cells/save/customGameData_*.json. If you play the native Linux version instead, look in ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Dead Cells/save/user_*.dat.

Is Hoard free?

Yes. The app, the command line and the server are free and open source (AGPL-3.0), and running your own server costs nothing but the machine. Hoard One, the managed server we recommend for everyone, is free too with 2 GB and three devices; Pro adds room for €1.99 a month.

Does self-hosting send anything to Hoard?

No. On your own server there's no account with us and no telemetry to us: your saves, your users and your logs stay on your machine and never touch ours.