Game Backup Monitor vs SideSave

Game Backup Monitor detects games while they are running and backs up saved games after play ends, compressing them with 7-Zip. It can monitor other PC applications too, and supports an unlimited number of monitored games with individual settings. Optional features track total play hours and separate sessions, and users can launch monitored games from the program. It detects games running through DOSBox, ScummVM, or Wine, and can import unofficial configurations from the Ludusavi Manifest. Cloud backup requires pairing the software with a cloud storage provider and folder synchronization client. The program is free for Linux and Windows. Windows requires .NET Framework 4.8; Linux requires Mono and additional packages, including SQLite3 and 7-Zip. The maker describes the project as complete, with maintenance updates but no major changes. Its application is not digitally signed, so Microsoft may flag the installer or executable as unsafe. Development testing verifies Windows 11 and Linux Mint 21.

SideSave is free, open-source software that synchronizes save data for non-Steam games added to Steam as shortcuts. It pairs two approved machines and transfers tracked saves over a local network or an internet relay, sending only changed content blocks. Versioned snapshots and branches preserve history, while lineage-based conflict detection asks whether to keep the local copy, remote copy, or both. Saves can be restored individually or as complete versions. Detection reads Steam’s shortcuts.vdf file and offers Proton save locations for tracking. The scan excludes real Steam Cloud games, emulator saves, repack-wrapper detection, and portable installs. Optional backups can mirror snapshots to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, a webhook, or local/NAS storage. SideSave has no accounts or telemetry; relay traffic is encrypted but not end-to-end. The project publishes no releases, so users build the CLI, desktop app, relay, or Steam Deck components from source.