“I cleared my cookies and lost forty hours of progress” is one of the most common complaints in browser gaming, and it is entirely preventable once you know how saves work.
Where your saves actually live
Not on a server. Browser games store progress on your own device, in one of three places:
- localStorage — a small key-value store tied to the site’s domain. Most Ren’Py and simpler HTML5 games use this.
- IndexedDB — a larger browser database. RPG Maker and Unity WebGL builds usually use this.
- Cookies — rare and limited, but some older titles still do.
All three are tied to that domain, in that browser profile, on that device. No account, no cloud, no sync.
What deletes them
- Clearing cookies and site data. The big one — “clear browsing data” with site data ticked wipes every browser game save you have.
- Privacy extensions that auto-clear on tab close.
- Private or incognito windows. Everything is discarded when the window closes. Never start a long game in one.
- Switching browser or profile. Saves do not travel; a different profile is a different device as far as the game is concerned.
- Browser storage eviction. When disk space runs low, browsers evict site data from sites you have not visited recently, without asking.
How to back up your progress
Use the game’s own export
Many RPG Maker titles include a save-to-file option, and most Ren’Py builds offer a save export. This produces a file you keep, and it is by far the most reliable method. If a game offers it, use it — once an hour is not paranoid in a title you care about.
Screenshot your route in a visual novel
Crude, but if a branching story has taken you somewhere specific, a screenshot lets you rebuild it quickly rather than replaying blind.
Never clear site data for a domain you are mid-game on
If you need to clear cookies for a login problem elsewhere, clear them for that specific site rather than everything. Every browser supports per-site clearing.
The private browsing trap
People play adult browser games in private windows for obvious reasons, then lose everything when the window closes. If you want privacy and persistence, the answer is a separate browser profile, not a private window — it keeps history out of your main browser while still storing saves. More in what private browsing actually does.
Quick reference
| Action | Saves survive? |
|---|---|
| Closing the tab | Yes |
| Restarting the browser | Yes |
| Clearing cookies and site data | No |
| Private / incognito window | No |
| Different browser or profile | No |
| Different device | No |
| Exported save file | Yes — the only portable option |
If you are more than an hour into something, export now. The genre is full of people who found out the hard way.
Where to go next
This article is part of our Gamcore Guide — the full reference on how the platform works, whether it is safe, and what the alternatives are. For everything else we publish, start at Gamcore UK.
18+ only. Gamcore UK is an independent publication and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any platform we cover. Written and reviewed by the Gamcore UK editorial team.
