Nivalis Nights Save File Location and Backup
Open the official Windows save and log directory, then make a separate backup before troubleshooting or using community tools.
The official support post places saves and logs at %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\ION LANDS\Nivalis Nights. It says .sav files are in the same folder as Player.log and Player-prev.log. The FAQ confirms manual saving from the pause menu and automatic saving at the end of each day.
On this page
Open the Windows save folder
Press Win + R and paste %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\ION LANDS\Nivalis Nights, then open the folder. This uses the Windows environment variable for your account; it is not a literal account name.
Look for .sav files, Player.log and Player-prev.log. The official post does not establish a complete filename list or a fixed number of autosave slots.
Make a separate backup
Save in the game
Use the pause-menu manual save before exiting. Wait for the save operation to finish.
Quit before copying
This is conservative backup advice to avoid copying while the game may be writing.
Copy to another location
Keep a separate dated copy of the folder. Preserve the original; this page does not require editing or deleting any save.
Check the copy
Confirm the copied files exist. A successful copy is a backup check, not proof that a different game version will load the save. For a slow game after travel, see official performance workarounds.
Autosave and Steam Cloud
The FAQ describes end-of-day autosaves and manual saves from the pause menu. Steam Cloud support is separate from retaining an independent older backup: do not assume it will preserve every overwritten version.
Update #2 announces better protection for an existing save when an unexpected crash happens during overwriting. That announcement does not guarantee recovery from every crash or corrupt save.
Logs, other platforms and save editors
Use the official support instructions when preparing logs or DxDiag. A log file is diagnostic material, not the saved game itself. If the problem is slow play after travel, check performance workarounds.
The documented folder here is the official Windows location. Epic-specific filenames and cross-version restores have not been verified. A community editor author also describes Proton paths, which does not establish native Linux support. Read mod and editor support before considering file changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Player.log my saved game?
No. The official post distinguishes log files from the .sav files in the same directory.
When does the official FAQ say autosaves happen?
At the end of each day; manual saving is available from the pause menu.