Where Saving Is The Ultimate Challenge
Some games hand you save points like candy—others make you earn every one. And then there are the rare few that turn saving into something unforgettable. We’re spotlighting 20 games that treat memory as a form of gameplay: immersive, challenging, and often surprising. If you’ve ever appreciated a cleverly placed checkpoint, this list of 20 games was made with you in mind.
Braid - PC Gameplay (HD) by xnandor
1. Resident Evil (1996)
Saving in Resident Evil adds to the survival horror feel. You can save by using an ink ribbon in typewriters, and these ribbons are in limited supply. Such a restriction forces strategic thinking, especially during long mansion runs filled with zombies and scarce resources.
Unboxing Every Resident Evil Game Ever (1996-2023) by OpenGame
2. The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000)
Owl statues and the Song of Time govern how you log your journey in Majora’s Mask. You can temporarily suspend progress or reset the entire cycle by playing the song. This time-loop mechanic blends saving with world-state manipulation.
Nintendo Promotional VHS part 10 of 10: Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask (2000) by World of Nintendo
3. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
Codec-based saving in Snake Eater is surprisingly entertaining. You call a paramedic via radio to save, but she also shares quirky trivia, like movie recommendations. It adds levity to a stealth-heavy game and reflects Kojima’s signature blend of storytelling and surprise.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - PS2 Gameplay 1080p (PCSX2) by John GodGames
4. Metroid Prime (2002)
In this one, save stations enable players to record their progress and restore their health. They are strategically placed throughout the game and require manual activation. Their separation from scanning terminals ensures focused resource management. The absence of autosave heightens tension, making each save point a critical decision.
Metroid Prime Unboxing ⬇(Please Read)⬇ by Quick Game Unbox
5. Dark Souls (2011)
Bonfires are more than checkpoints—they’re lifelines. Lighting one restores health and Estus flasks, but also respawns every enemy you’ve slain. These flickering flames create high-stakes decisions: press forward with dwindling supplies or reset the world to rest and regroup.
6. Hyper Light Drifter (2016)
Saving is seamlessly integrated into the game’s cryptic and minimalist world. Progress is recorded automatically when entering specific zones or activating obelisks, but there’s no obvious save prompt, mirroring the game's enigmatic nature. It's a subtle save system that encourages players to stay alert and focused.
Hyper Light Drifter Gameplay (PC HD) by GameZine
7. Braid (2008)
Rather than relying on conventional saving, Braid lets you rewind time at will. The mechanic doubles as a puzzle-solving tool, eliminating the need for formal save spots. Progress is silently preserved as you open doors and collect puzzle pieces across surreal, time-bending worlds.
Braid - PC Gameplay (HD) by xnandor
8. Hollow Knight (2017)
Benches scattered throughout Hallownest act as rest points. Sitting on one records your progress and updates your map, but they’re few and far between. Reaching a bench after a long, enemy-filled stretch feels like a major accomplishment, mostly before a looming boss fight.
Hollow Knight (PS4) Unboxing!! by POPnGAMES
9. Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time (2003)
After major moments or combat sections, the game preserves your progress via story-driven vision sequences. These prophetic flashes narrate what has just occurred and hint at what is ahead. It’s a cinematic twist on saving, weaving plot advancement into the mechanics of memory.
10. Dead Space (2008)
This game uses physical save stations scattered throughout the Ishimura. Placed in dimly lit hallways and corners, they often make you question whether you're truly safe. Their presence amps up tension during high-stakes exploration, specifically when necromorphs might be lurking just around the bend.
11. Shovel Knight (2014)
Instead of traditional saves, Shovel Knight offers destructible checkpoints. Players can choose to keep them intact or smash them for treasure, risking a complete restart if they die. This risk-reward twist adds tension and player agency, especially in later, more punishing stages.
Shovel Knight PS VITA unboxing by bigmansavagedan81
12. Control (2019)
In the Federal Bureau of Control, progress is preserved at Control Points—strange, ritualistic spaces that must be cleansed of corruption. These areas also serve as fast travel hubs and upgrade stations. Their surreal design reinforces the game’s eerie, bureaucratic world of shifting rooms.
Control PS4 Unboxing by Destruction Games
13. EarthBound (1994)
To record progress, Ness must call his dad using a phone. It’s a quirky, in-universe mechanic that also rewards you with money based on your battle success. Phones are found in homes, hotels, and payphones—integrating the concept of memory into the fabric of the game world.
EarthBound - The Most Original RPG Ever? by Xygor Gaming
14. Death Stranding (2019)
Instead of pausing the action, Death Stranding weaves saving into its world through private rooms and terminals. These shelters let Sam recover, manage gear, and record his journey. The deliberate pacing and reliance on physical locations give each saved moment weight in the game’s sprawling, rain-soaked landscape.
Death Stranding (PS4) Unboxing by Louis Houng
15. Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (2015)
Crystal terminals are scattered throughout the academy and mission zones, letting you log your journey, buy supplies, and restore health. But some long stretches offer no such relief. You must carefully manage risk before major encounters, especially during perma-death missions in this darker entry of the series.
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD Unboxing by MrKing70000
16. Little Inferno (2012)
There’s no manual saving in Little Inferno—your progress is automatically recorded as you burn objects and open catalogs. The game subtly tracks advancement through your interactions with the fireplace. It mirrors the eerie theme of consumerism, as your destructive choices become permanent memories in the system.
Little Inferno Gameplay (PC HD) by xnandor
17. Far Cry 2 (2008)
Far Cry 2 eschews standard save mechanics for in-world safe houses. You rest on a cot to preserve progress, but you’re vulnerable during that process. In a game filled with malaria, gun jams, and sudden ambushes, even something as simple as sleeping carries calculated risk.
Far Cry 2 (2008) Video Game Unboxing-Overview HD 720P by GhostXGaming
18. Save Room – Organization Puzzle (2022)
This title flips the concept of saving entirely—it’s a game about inventory management. You organize items to “fit” in a case, much like arranging gear before preserving progress in Resident Evil 4. Completing each puzzle mimics the satisfaction of saving space and your loadout.
Save Room: Organization Puzzle | gameplay - 2022 by Play2it
19. Dead Rising (2006)
Restrooms and sofas serve as your only chance to preserve progress amid zombie chaos. With a time-sensitive narrative and multiple endings, poor planning can result in significant time losses. The pressure to find a quiet corner in a mall full of the undead makes each save a breath of relief.
Dead Rising on Xbox One - Unboxing by GorTheMovieGod
20. Returnal (2021)
Originally, Returnal didn’t allow mid-run saving in its punishing roguelike loop. Later updates added a "Suspend Cycle" feature, letting players pause a run without fully exiting. It preserves intensity without forcing players to commit hours per session, especially during longer biomes like Echoing Ruins or Abyssal Scar.
