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.
Which storefront context matters
Documented NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… PC launchers/storefronts: 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. 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 can re-download deleted or replaced files when synchronization 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 GamesNieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139Steam<user-id>; the known 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.. 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
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. 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
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. If progress disappears or rolls back, 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. 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 NieR Replicant save path and community reports describing persistent GAMEDATA/cloud behavior.