Dragon Quest XI has an uncomplicated-looking Saved/SaveGames path, but the critical backup detail is edition identity. The original Windows release and Dragon Quest XI S are not merely storefront labels for the same executable, so SaveEditor does not collapse them into one compatibility claim. A good backup includes the full SaveGames folder plus a note of which edition created it. This prevents a perfectly valid save from being diagnosed as corrupt when the real problem is that it belongs to a different release.
Which storefront context matters
Documented Dragon Quest XI PC launchers/storefronts: Steam. The 2018 PC release and Dragon Quest XI S are separate products with different data expectations. This hub documents the original Dragon Quest XI URL from the project plan. The active storefront/account should be identified before any restore because cloud and local storage may not use the same path or container across editions.
Documented cloud behavior
Steam Cloud is documented; OneDrive can also affect Documents when backup is enabled. Cloud synchronization is useful for continuity, but it can also turn a restore into a conflict-resolution event. Let synchronization settle before making a manual backup, and keep an offline copy outside any folder monitored by the launcher or operating-system sync service.
Local save roots still matter
The researched local save boundary is Windows: %USERPROFILE%DocumentsMy GamesDRAGON QUEST XISavedSaveGames; the known file or folder pattern is Unreal Engine save files beneath SavedSaveGames; exact generated filenames can vary with slot/profile context.. A cloud-enabled game still has concrete local data involved in ordinary play, and that local context is what you need when identifying which copy was modified most recently.
Avoid accidental overwrite loops
Back up the entire SavedSaveGames directory and label it with the exact game edition and build. Keep configuration/mod backups separately so a gameplay save can be restored without changing unrelated settings. When restoring, close the game and launcher, preserve both the current local copy and the backup you want to test, then place the intended data in the matching profile/storefront location. Do not repeatedly open the game between different copies without noting which side the cloud client selected.
Compatibility and conflict checks
Do not assume a save from Dragon Quest XI S or a console edition is compatible with this original PC release. Edition identity is part of the backup metadata. If progress disappears or rolls back, If progress is not detected after a restore, verify that the installed title is the same edition and that Documents/OneDrive points to the location you backed up. Resolve identity/path/cloud questions first. A cloud conflict is not proof that the save itself is corrupt, and a successful upload is not proof that files from another storefront are compatible.
Verification context: Reviewed against current PCGamingWiki Dragon Quest XI save location and cloud documentation.