Window Game save files location... hack? (Solution to avoid save to "users/user/AppData/" ?)

[fos1x]

- I play a lot of non-steam game, mainly "Visual novel", and most of my game don't came with an installer, usually a zip file that contain the game, you unzip and play

maybe the dev try to avoid player accidentally nuke their save by delete the folder that contain the game, so they usually save game file in: "users/user*/AppData/" and depend on the dev the save file can be Local, LocalLow or Roaming, adding salt to the wound the file usually name after the game studio, not the game itself.

 

- So any "hack" program that lets you select a specific application to launch then create a fake app data location for the game to save for easy to manage?

I was thinking to migrate to Linux, but this is the pain I don't want to commit, not only I have to dig through 100+ game save file, I have to check each and individual game and potential trouble shoot.

 

- And any tip to delete LEFTOVER file when I "uninstall" a game, like I said I don't have an installer for the game I just shift delete the whole folder.

[PDifolco]

Under Windows you can change appdata folder by modifying the registry

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-to-move-the-cusersusernameappdata-folder-to/35e0e881-6e66-4905-9f63-bd99477586b4

 

Idk for Linux

[fos1x]

10 minutes ago, PDifolco said:

Under Windows you can change appdata folder by modifying the registry

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-to-move-the-cusersusernameappdata-folder-to/35e0e881-6e66-4905-9f63-bd99477586b4

 

Idk for Linux

That isn't ideal since, everything that save to appdata will be changed, I want specific application to change their save location.

But thank for the information

[PDifolco]

21 minutes ago, fos1x said:

That isn't ideal since, everything that save to appdata will be changed, I want specific application to change their save location.

But thank for the information

 Can't do that except by modifying the app code, but it's renpy usually so maybe doable  

[Nuzicx]

Symbolic Link

[Poinkachu]

I just use Sandbox / VM to play them with.

Less hassle in the long run.

[Nuzicx]

On 5/7/2025 at 5:11 AM, fos1x said:

…

 

On 5/7/2025 at 6:42 AM, Nuzicx said:

Symbolic Link

What’s a Symbolic Link (Symlink)?

Think of it like a signpost in a folder that says, “Hey, the real files are over there.” It’s not a copy — it’s a clever shortcut that acts like the real folder or file. On Windows, these are often used to organize data or trick programs into thinking files are in a different location.

 

But what happens when you copy a folder that contains a symlink?

If you drag it into another drive (like a portable HDD), Windows doesn’t copy the sign — it copies what the sign points to. So instead of ending up with a shortcut, you get a real copy of the actual files and folders, fully recreated on your external drive.