What is a game if it doesn’t have a save and load system? It would be a nightmare... well, for some.

It is essential that in games which require you to progress through levels that gradually increase in difficulty, you have an option to save—unless, of course, you're a masochist and/or enjoy putting your players through the perils of permadeath and starting over. Then, by all means, skip this section.

There are different reasons, and consequently, ways with which you can implement a save option for players. For example, your game may allow a player to save any time and anywhere. Games like Tomb Raider II and Abe's Oddysee offer such approaches to saving. Typically, this option is provided via the pause menu, and the player is allocated a set number of slots that they can use to save. Alternatively, you may also have checkpoints that automatically save at specific locations, such as before and/or after an important event during gameplay. Games like Army of Two offer this to players. Other options can include specific locations or save points that a player can save, which are like checkpoints, located at specific points that a player will reach within the environment during gameplay. Games like Final Fantasy X offer this, as shown in the following screenshot: