What does it mean to save scum, and should you employ it as a strategy? Let’s have a look at how save scumming works in games. Game Save Scumming: The majority of gamers don’t give the save systems in video games much thought. But what if there’s more to saving and loading than simply storing your work and resuming up where you left off later?. If you’ve ever heard the term “save scumming,” you’ve probably wondered what it means. Let’s look at what save scumming is, the benefits and drawbacks, and whether it’s something you should do.
What Is Save Scumming and How Does It Work?
Save scumming is the practice of repeatedly saving your game and reloading it anytime you don’t like the current condition in video games. The actual reasons for save scumming and the regularity with which it occurs vary depending on the situation, as we’ll see below. Save scumming is especially useful in games like RPGs that allow you to save anywhere. It’s less typical in games with fixed save places or autosaves.
This is also true for games like the Legend of Zelda series, which don’t always return you to the same position when you load a saved game. The word was coined by roguelike gaming players. Reloading a save to avoid a mistake or reroll a random event is deemed “scummy” in roguelikes because they are based on permadeath.
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Save Scumming’s Benefits
How is save scumming employed in different games now that you know what it is? Let’s have a look at some examples. It’s worth noting that we’re concentrating on saving scum utilizing a game’s built-in choices.
One of the disadvantages of using an emulator is that you can save scum everywhere because to the emulator’s built-in save states. Game Save Scumming: While the same concepts apply, save states can also save the game in an unwinnable circumstance, so proceed with caution.
Save Scumming for a Better Outcome: Game Save Scumming
Making a save and loading it again is a frequent way to improve a game’s randomness, often known as RNG. In Fallout 3, for example, Game Save Scumming: your Speech skill level impacts your chances of employing optional speech lines to achieve a benefit, Game Save Scumming: such as persuading someone to pay you more for a quest.
Even if you have a low Speech skill, save scumming allows you to keep reloading a save file and retry until you pass the speech check. Game Save Scumming: Another example can be found in strategy games, where your characters have a % probability of hitting their target. Game Save Scumming: If the game allows you to save at any moment, you can keep reloading a save until the hit connects, eliminating the risk of missing the hit.
Players can’t accomplish this because clever developers have devised ways to stop them. The random dice rolls in XCOM 2 are predetermined from the beginning and persist even if you reload a save. This implies you won’t be able to keep reloading until you achieve the desired outcome.
To Avoid Consequences, Save Scumming
Save scumming, on the other hand, is a tactic for promptly undoing everything negative that occurs in a game. Assume you’re playing a stealth game and your goal is to complete the game without waking up any adversaries. Scum will save before each encounter and then reload if they are discovered.
A similar scenario can occur in any game with a large number of options, such as immersive sims or sandbox games. If you’re unsure whether a particular decision or action is the best course of action, you can save it and undo it later if you don’t like the outcome.
This form of save scumming can help you improve your playtime, but it can also take the pleasure out of a game if done too often. When you play through your mistakes rather than instantly erasing them in order to try a perfect run, you create exciting and unforgettable moments.
The Divine Pulse feature in Fire Emblem:
Three Houses is another example of creators incorporating anti-save scumming into their games. You can undo a certain number of movements every level with this option. This reduces the need for frequent reloading while still allowing you to repair a few mistakes.
Save time by avoiding summing.
Another benefit of save scumming is that it allows players to avoid replaying parts of a game they’ve already completed. Unlike the last two examples, this does not necessarily result in the intended gameplay being broken. In the Ace Attorney series of visual novels, for example, you play as a lawyer who must present evidence in court to refute logical contradictions. You’ll lose the game if you make too many blunders.
However, because the penalty for failing to save before making a decision is having to restart the chapter and go over everything you’ve already solved, it’s more convenient to save before making a decision and reload after making an error. This approach can be used to avoid playing through monotonous sections of gameplay in almost any genre; however, it isn’t always considered save scumming.
If you have to go through a 10-minute encounter with regular adversaries to reach a boss, for example, it’s appropriate to save after the mob because you’ve previously demonstrated you can beat it. Scumming is when you save during a boss fight every time you land a few hits without taking damage.
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Is it Worth It to Save Scum?
As we’ve seen, there are various advantages and disadvantages to saving scum.
On the plus side, save scumming can save you time by preventing you from wasting time on boring parts of the game or bits that need trial and error. It can also be used to experiment with different solutions in a game without incurring any penalties for doing something “wrong.”
Save scumming, on the other hand, may swiftly transform a game from a pleasurable experience into one in which you squeeze every last drop of enjoyment out of it. It’s tedious to go back and try again every time the tiniest problem arises, and when there’s no penalty for failing, your choices are meaningless. If you never allow yourself to make mistakes, you’ll never appreciate the sense of defying the odds or coming up with novel solutions to difficulties.
It’s difficult to achieve the correct balance when it comes to saving “just the right amount.” If you don’t save often, you’ll have to retry large sections of the game each time you die. However, having the ability to remedy all of your mistakes with two button pushes eliminates all of the game’s intensity.
Are you undecided about whether or not to save scum? Here’s what we recommend:
- Especially on your first game, don’t save and reload to acquire a flawless outcome from random events or rewind all your blunders. Allow the game to run its natural course and have fun playing along.
- Strike a balance between how often you save and how much you save. Don’t save every two minutes, but don’t go more than an hour without saving.
- There’s little damage in saving before trying something foolish in games like immersive sims that encourage experimenting with diverse approaches, especially if you don’t plan to retry the game with a different style.
- You’re fine if you’re saving to avoid having to replay parts of a game you’ve previously completed. You’re slime if you’re saving to make your run as near to perfect as possible.
While the method you play a game is entirely up to you, we believe that following these rules will ensure that you have the greatest enjoyment. Save scumming, on the other hand, only affects single-player games, therefore it doesn’t affect anyone else. Depending on the game, you might use a different method.
Save Scumming Shouldn’t Take the Fun Out of Games
You now understand what save scumming is, how it’s done, and whether you should do it. While repeatedly saving and reloading can let you skip the boring parts of games, it’s a strategy we recommend avoiding whenever feasible.
When finishing a challenge run of a game, scumming can be useful, but it rapidly converts the initial delight of discovery into forced perfectionism, which isn’t entertaining.
Conclusion
Save scumming represents a double-edged sword in gaming that offers convenience at the potential cost of genuine enjoyment. While it can be a practical tool for bypassing frustrating or repetitive sections, overusing this technique transforms games from organic experiences into mechanical exercises in optimization. The practice removes the emotional stakes that make gaming memorable, replacing the thrill of uncertainty with the monotony of manufactured perfection. Players who constantly reload lose the opportunity to experience the unpredictable narratives and creative solutions that emerge from accepting imperfect outcomes.
The key to healthy gameplay lies in finding balance and understanding context. Saving before attempting a difficult section you’ve already mastered makes sense, but reloading every time a single hit misses or a dialogue choice doesn’t yield maximum rewards strips away the essence of what makes games engaging. First-time players especially benefit from allowing their playthroughs to unfold naturally, embracing both successes and failures as part of their unique journey through the game. The most memorable gaming moments often come not from perfect execution, but from clutch victories snatched from the jaws of defeat or unexpected consequences that force creative adaptation.
Ultimately, how you approach save scumming should align with your personal gaming goals and the specific game you’re playing. Since single-player games only affect your own experience, there’s no moral imperative either way. However, consider whether your saving habits are enhancing or diminishing your enjoyment. If you find yourself spending more time managing save files than actually playing, or if victories feel hollow because you’ve eliminated all risk, it might be time to let go of the reload button and embrace the beautiful chaos of unscripted gameplay. Games are designed to be challenging, surprising, and occasionally unfair—that’s what makes overcoming them feel rewarding.
FAQs
Q: What exactly is save scumming in video games? S
Ave scumming is the practice of repeatedly saving your game and immediately reloading whenever something unfavorable happens. Players use this technique to manipulate random outcomes, avoid negative consequences, or achieve perfect results by essentially “rewinding” gameplay until they get their desired outcome.
Q: Which types of games are most susceptible to save scumming?
RPGs and games that allow saving anywhere are particularly vulnerable to save scumming. Strategy games with percentage-based hit chances, stealth games, immersive sims, and visual novels are common examples. However, games with fixed save points, autosave-only systems, or mechanics like XCOM 2’s predetermined dice rolls are designed to prevent this practice.
Q: Is save scumming considered cheating?
While save scumming isn’t technically cheating since it uses the game’s built-in save system, it’s controversial among gamers. The term originated in the roguelike community, where it’s considered “scummy” because these games are built around permadeath. However, since it only affects single-player experiences, whether to use it remains a personal choice without impacting other players.
Q: What are the main advantages of save scumming?
Save scumming can save significant time by allowing players to skip repetitive sections they’ve already mastered, experiment with different approaches without penalty, and overcome challenging RNG-based obstacles. It’s particularly useful for avoiding tedious replays after minor mistakes or when learning complex game mechanics through trial and error.
Q: Can save scumming ruin the gaming experience?
Yes, excessive save scumming can diminish enjoyment by removing tension, making choices meaningless, and turning gameplay into a tedious perfectionist grind. When players reload after every small mistake, they miss out on memorable moments that come from overcoming adversity, adapting to unexpected situations, and developing creative problem-solving skills under pressure.
