Games With Cross Platform Saves

Highlights

• Cross-platform saves and cross-progression are becoming more common in games, allowing players to pick up where they left off on different devices.
• Cross-platform saves incentivize players to buy multiple copies of a game, especially for story-rich games or ones with unlockables.
• Tying saves to accounts and utilizing cloud storage are common ways to implement cross-progression features.

Games with cross-platform saves are becoming the norm, thanks to cloud storage and multiplatform gamers. Cross-progression allows players to pick up where they left off on the couch or on the go if they don’t feel like booting up their desktops. It’s also a bonus for companies as gamers aren’t discouraged by lengthy replays if they buy the game again.

Cross-platform saves for games with co-op campaigns also incentivize players to grab another copy. This is especially true for story-rich games or titles with hundreds of unlockables. Regardless if it’s single or multiplayer, developers can extend a game’s lifespan by implementing this simple quality-of-life feature.

Update January 20, 2024 by Rie Takumi: Cross-progression is thankfully being adopted as the standard for video games, regardless of their genre. Giving players the ability to pick up and play on any platform incentivizes them to grab a copy of the game on every console they’re able to. The feature is noticeable especially with live service games, although standalone games also make use of it.

Tying saves to accounts remains the most common way to implement cross-progression. It’s also convenient for players who likely already have accounts with the game’s publisher or platform they’re playing on. Cloud saves are also often involved, as Steam and Epic Games offer the option.

10 Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War

Metascore: 76

Activision supports full cross-progression across all platforms for Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War. Any progress made on Battle Pass for Warzone also applies to Cold War. It’s a great deal for players who own the game on multiple platforms and made significant progress in the game.

Like other Call of Duty games, Cold War’s gameplay is unchanging but its single-player campaign features multiple player-determinant endings. It also features Fireteam, a new game mode that supports up to 40 players. Zombies also has a new campaign based on the Aether story.

9 SMITE

Metascore: 80

SMITE distinguishes itself from other MOBAs with its third-person perspective. Lowering the POV changes how its MOBA mechanics feel, from bodyblocking, to sneaking, skillshotting, and even landing. SMITE also offers more casual-friendly modes and easier, and cheaper, ways to unlock characters than its competitors.

The MOBA also allows PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Switch cross-play, cross-progression, and cross-commerce. Voice chat and cross-input parties are also possible across platforms. Unlike other cross-progression games, these features are available in-game and do not require a Hi-Rez account.

8 Hoyoverse Games

Metascore: 80 (Honkai Impact 3rd), 81 (Genshin Impact), 80 (Honkai: Star Rail)

• 	Honkai Impact 3rd	Genshin Impact	Honkai: Star Rail
  Platform(s)	PC, iOS, Android	PS5, PS4, PC, iOS, Android, Mobile	PS5, PC, iOS, Android
  Released	2016-10-14	2020-09-28	2023-04-26
  Genre(s)	Action, RPG, Adventure	Gacha, Action, RPG, Adventure	RPG
  Developer(s)	HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)	HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)	HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)

Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Honkai Impact 3rd allow cross-play and cross-progression. This feature allows mobile players to relieve their phones of each game’s massive memory demand. The convenience of cloud saves also lets console and desktop players take their saves on the road.

Because all three require a Hoyoverse account, players automatically unlock cross-platform features. Additionally, Honkai: Star Rail’s PlayStation 5 version will also support cross-saves. But the same can’t be said of Genshin Impact’s announced Switch release, which remains shrouded in mystery.

7 MLB The Show 23

Metascore: 82

MLB The Show 23 received great reviews upon release, thanks to breaking out PlayStation exclusivity and a load of new features. A competitive multiplayer mode and update to pitching and batting encouraged players to hop on a game online. Ranked co-op functions were also expanded for a richer experience with friends.

Players can move from platform to platform by creating an MLB The Show account. Linking console accounts with an MLB The Show account allows players to retain their items, stubs, and XP across platforms.

6 Minecraft (Bedrock)

Metascore: 88

Borderlands 3 and Sea of Thieves are go-to’s for action co-op gameplay, but Minecraft isn’t lacking for exciting adventures either. Recent updates added new dangerous biomes such as the deep dark escalates action on routine foraging rounds. At the same time, it remains king for creating stunning builds and comfy villages with friends.

Minecraft: Bedrock Edition allows players to access their Realms across different platforms. Windows 10 and current Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft consoles can play the same Realm. PlayStation players need to follow a few extra steps, while iOS players can use the iCloud as an alternative.

5 Civilization VI

Metascore: 88

Civilization VI is getting on in years, yet its community is still quite dedicated to it. Mods still come out for the game quite often and forums dedicated to it are still running. Even with the announcement of Civilization VII, it still receives official updates.

One thing that helped its longevity was its cross-progression. PC, Nintendo Switch, and iOS players have access to cross-saves, with workarounds for Switch to iOS transfers. Xbox players also have access to PC cloud saves, though PS4 and Linux owners are out of luck.

4 Final Fantasy 14

Metascore: 88 (Average, All Expansions)

Nearly two years after the critically acclaimed MMORPG concluded its first main storyline with Endwalker, the game and its fans are still going. Dawntrail, the next big expansion, is hotly anticipated and will kick off a new era in unexplored lands.

If a Warrior of Light wants to play the new expansion, or whichever version they have, all they need to do is register their licenses to the same Square Enix account. Players must purchase a copy of the game and their expansions for each platform separately. However, their subscription applies to all platforms.

3 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077

Metascore: 92 & 86

• 	The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	Cyberpunk 2077
  Platform(s)	Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Switch, PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox One	Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PS5, PS4, PC, Stadia, Xbox One
  Released	2015-05-19	2020-12-10
  Developer(s)	CD Projekt Red	CD Projekt Red
  How Long To Beat	52 Hours	25 Hours

CD Projekt Red’s massive games need to be purchased for each platform separately. But their progress can be carried over across each system. Barring regional restrictions, players can load saves transferred between PCs, console to PCs, and PCs to console.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077 must be updated to their latest patch before players can activate cross-progression. Its toggle can be found in the Load Game menu or under Gameplay in the Settings menu. Players must connect the games to their GOG account as well, so they can access their latest games on any connected platform.

2 Hades

Metascore: 93

Hades remains a favorite of rogue-like fans due to its incredibly addictive gameplay loop, vibrant cast and setting, and intriguing story. The fact that the whole story can’t be unlocked unless players blaze through a dozen or so loops adds to its replayability.

Thankfully, Hades has cross-progression, which means players don’t have to painstakingly unlock everything on every platform again. Players only need to select cross-saves in the main menu and connect their Steam or Epic Games account. Their saves will be automatically updated every time they quit the game.

1 Baldur’s Gate 3 & Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition

Metascore: 96 & 92

• 	Divinity: Original Sin 2	Baldur’s Gate 3
  Platform(s)	Switch, PS4, PC, Xbox One	Xbox Series X, PS5, PC, macOS, Stadia
  Released	2017-09-14	2023-08-03
  Developer(s)	Larian Studios	Larian Studios

Larian Studios made significant improvements on Divinity: Original Sin 2 to make Baldur’s Gate 3 a smashing success. As Larian’s love letter to pen-and-paper adventures, Baldur’s Gate 3 gave players the tools to unleash their creativity and fully immerse themselves in Faerûn. But Divinity: Original Sin 2 still holds up as one of the best examples of crowdfunded games and tabletop RPG-inspired videogames in recent history.

Both games also allow players to continue their journey on any platform. While cross-progression is limited to Windows, Switch, iPad, and Mac for Divinity, Baldur’s Gate 3 players only need to create a Larian account to have access to their last five saves on their PC, PS5, and Mac.