Save lite - Save and Load System for Godot 4

Save Lite: free save and load system for Godot 4

Save Lite is a free, MIT-licensed save and load addon for Godot 4.5 and newer (tested on 4.5.2 and 4.7.2), for desktop and web exports. Mark what to save with a node and a checklist, call two functions, and get one signed, crash-safe save slot that never runs code. Made by cardeiro-studio.

Try it in your browser: the demo above is a counter. Change the number, press Save and reload the page: the number comes back. Press Delete save and reload: it starts from zero.

Need more slots, autosave or world state? See Save Pro.

How does it work?

1. Copy addons/save_lite/ into your project and enable Save Lite in Project > Project Settings > Plugins.
2. Add a SaveLiteComponent node as a child of what you want to save (your player, for example).
3. In the Inspector, tick the properties to keep (position, health, coins...).
4. Call:

await SaveLite.save_slot("slot1")
await SaveLite.load_slot("slot1")

Features

• No-code property marking: one node and a checklist. Properties that cannot be saved are greyed out with the reason.
• Automatic unique ids, including scenes placed many times and duplicated nodes.
• Code-first saving for data that does not live on a node: register an object with two methods.
• Global player data outside the slot (volume, unlocks): set_global / get_global.
• Signed save files (HMAC-SHA256): a damaged or edited file is refused and changes nothing.
• Crash-safe desktop writes: a power cut or a closed game mid-save does not destroy the previous save.
• Browser saves using the browser's own storage.

Is it secure?

A save file can only carry plain values. Nothing in it is ever loaded, created or run, and every bad file is refused with a typed error. Files are JSON inside a signed envelope, with size and nesting limits.

Signing is not anti-cheat. The signing secret ships inside your exported game; anyone who extracts it can forge saves. Signing stops accidental corruption, casual editing and hostile files from other sources, not a determined cheater.

Limits

• Slots: 1. Saving under a second name returns SLOT_LIMIT; saving again under the same name overwrites.
• Values: plain values only (numbers, strings, booleans, vectors, colors and other engine value types, plus arrays and dictionaries of them).
• File size: 16 MB by default (configurable from 1 to 256).
• Recovery: a damaged file is refused; no earlier copy is kept.
• Encryption: none. Files are signed, not encrypted.
• Scene state: none. Removed or runtime-spawned objects are not remembered.

Who is it for?

Works for: games with a single save (a "continue" button, a one-profile arcade or puzzle game, game jam entries), desktop and web builds, values on nodes (position, health, counters, flags).

Not for: several save slots, autosave, per-scene state, custom Resource types or save migration (see Save Pro); server or cloud saves; competitive anti-cheat; C# (the API is GDScript only).

Save Lite vs Save Pro

Save Pro is the paid edition: unlimited slots, autosave, per-scene world state, custom data types, save migration, encryption, backups, export/import, a slot menu and an editor dock. It uses the same file format: one editor action converts your project, and your players' Save Lite saves are imported on the first start.

FAQ

Is Save Lite really free?

Yes. It is MIT-licensed: use it in free or commercial games and modify it. Keep the LICENSE file with the addon.

Which Godot versions does Save Lite support?

Godot 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7. The test suite passes on Godot 4.5.2 and 4.7.2, checked in fresh projects before each release. Verified platforms: Windows and web export.

Does it work in HTML5 / web exports?

Yes. Web builds save to the browser's own storage. The demo on this page is a Godot web export using Save Lite.

Can a save file run code or crash my game?

No. Save files only carry plain values. Damaged, oversized, tampered or hostile files are refused with a typed error and change nothing.

Can I move to Save Pro later without losing saves?

Yes. Save Pro reads the same file format, converts your scenes with one editor action, and imports your players' Save Lite saves on desktop and in the browser.

What's in the download?

• addons/save_lite/, ready to drop into your project.
• README with a 5-minute quick start and the full API reference, SECURITY.md, CHANGELOG, LICENSE (MIT).

Version: 1.0.0 · License: MIT · Engine: Godot 4.5+ · Language: GDScript · Author: cardeiro-studio

Save Lite: https://cardeiro-studio.itch.io/save-lite
Save Pro: https://cardeiro-studio.itch.io/save-pro