Reminiscing the frustrating gameplay of Getting Over It, Only Up is an indie game by SC-KR Games with a controversial progression system. As a no-save title, Only Up asks players to put all they have at stake in order to reach the top — and achieve infinity. The game’s premise is simple, and that is to go up without falling because those who fail are doomed to start all over again. But that bold statement makes players wonder if the game has a save button. Read on to find out more about saving the progression in Only Up.

Does Only Up Have a Save Functionality?

image showing an end-game area in only up gameplay.

Unfortunately, Only Up has no save mechanics. Since the game comes with no checkpoints, players will need to beat it in one sitting without save-scumming. Otherwise, they will lose all their progress and start over. Currently, the only workarounds are unofficial mods, which players are advised to avoid as they may cause harm.

In Only Up, falling is like Permadeath: It doesn’t kill the main character, but it erases most of his progress. The only way to save some progress is by clinging to another object upon falling. Of course, the game offers some shortcuts like trampolines to help players save time. But none of them are guaranteed skips.

How to Save the Progress in Only Up?

image showing an exotic location in only up.

Only Up is a no-save game. But as a quick solution, players can pause the game and leave the device running. (This is, of course, a risky option as the game is likely to crash.) Some Steam users have also been using mods that teleport them to a specific location as a way of saving advancements.

Although the lack of save functionality is frustrating, Only Up is short enough to beat in one go. According to the game’s developer, SC-KR Games, it takes an average player 40 to 120 minutes to reach the top and finish the main story.

To compensate for any progress lost in the early stages of the gameplay, try jumping skips. Watch speedrunners and follow the secret paths they take to complete the game quickly without the need to save it.

Will There Be a Save Button in Only Up?

image showing the starting point in only up.

According to a Steam Community post by Only Up’s developer, the game is indeed set to receive a checkpoint mechanic in the future. SC-KR Games has stated that an accessibility feature will let players continue their gameplay from the point they left off.

Note that the checkpoints won’t affect the core gameplay, and hardcore fans will still be able to enjoy the risky playthrough. It also seems the game won’t get any autosave features, keeping the stakes high for players who haven’t reached a checkpoint.

Only Up is available now for PC via the Steam platform.

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