NieR Replicant stores its Steam PC data beneath a user-ID directory, which is useful because it keeps different Steam accounts separated but also makes casual copy/paste mistakes easier. Community troubleshooting shows that persistent completion state can survive in shared game-data files, so a single character slot is not a complete backup strategy. SaveEditor recommends copying the whole user-ID directory, keeping Steam Cloud state in mind, and restoring files from the same snapshot rather than mixing a new slot with old global data.
Choose the correct backup boundary
For NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…, the researched PC save location is Windows: %USERPROFILE%DocumentsMy GamesNieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139Steam<user-id>. The known save file or folder pattern is Game and system data are stored inside the Steam-user-specific save directory; community reports commonly reference GAMEDATA among the persistent files.. Close the game and Steam synchronization, then copy the entire user-ID directory. Keep a dated untouched copy before experimenting with GAMEDATA or individual slot files. Copying the complete documented save boundary is safer than selecting one visually obvious file, because companion metadata, indexes, backups, or multiple slots can be required together.
Make an offline copy before changing anything
Close the game first, wait for the active launcher to finish writing, then copy the save data to a separate folder that the game and sync client do not watch. Label the copy with the game, storefront, profile, and date. Documented launcher context: Steam. The save directory is Steam-account-specific. Do not merge files from different user-ID folders without keeping a known-good copy of each set.
Account for cloud saves
Steam Cloud can re-download deleted or replaced files when synchronization is enabled. Before restoring an older backup, decide which copy should win. If the game or launcher starts while an older manual copy is in place, synchronization can replace it before you confirm that it works. Keep the untouched backup outside the live save path until the restored progress has been opened and saved normally.
Restore without changing format assumptions
The remaster stores PC progress under a Steam user ID directory in Documents. Some persistent state can remain outside the currently selected character slot, so folder-level backup is safer than removing one file. Compatibility note: Persistent completion/system state may be stored alongside character saves. Deleting a file to reset one behavior can have broader consequences and cloud sync may restore it. Restore into the matching storefront/profile context whenever possible. Do not rename a save extension, move a folder into a different container type, or assume a console/mobile copy is equivalent unless a tested migration path specifically says so.
Recovery fallback
If deleted data reappears, check Steam Cloud. If a save is reported corrupt after a manual replacement, restore the full matching backup set instead of mixing files from different dates. If the restored copy fails, put the untouched original back first. Then compare location, account/profile, cloud state, and the full directory structure before trying a different backup. The objective is reversible recovery, not repeated destructive experiments on the only copy.
Verification context: Reviewed against current PCGamingWiki NieR Replicant save path and community reports describing persistent GAMEDATA/cloud behavior.