Tomb Raider Underworld Save Files - Windows PC

Downloading & Installing Tomb Raider: Underworld PC Savegame Files

This page pertains only to the Windows PC version of Tomb Raider: Underworld. For the Nintendo Wii version, please refer to the instructions here. For other Tomb Raider games, see here.

Tombraiders.net is not responsible for anything that happens to your computer as a result of downloading files or following advice given on this site or any linked site. I recommend taking the same precautions you would with any file you download from the Internet, including scanning the file with an anti-virus program, backing up your existing files before installing new ones, and following the instructions below, especially if you are unfamiliar with this process.

WHAT ARE SAVEGAME FILES?

Every time you pass a checkpoint or save your game in the Pause menu while playing Tomb Raider: Underworld, a file is created containing all the information about your game so far—Lara's inventory, enemies killed, puzzles solved, treasures and relics found, etc. These savegame files are coded so that the game program can "read" them. When you reload an earlier save, your computer interprets the savegame file and restores Lara and her world to the way they were at the most recent checkpoint.

Savegame files are named in a consistent format with a .TRUSave file extension. These may have names like "Savegame 1.TRUSave" if you do not type in a name for the save when you make it, or they may have names you choose. The file the game creates automatically at each checkpoint is called "autosave.TRUSave".

If you have downloaded and installed the Underworld PC patch, the game will also create a separate autosave at the start of each level. These files have longer names like 'SOUTHERN MEXICO - THE MIDGARD SERPENT.TRUSave'.

Players using the PC version of the game can trade saves with other players just as we would share text files, pictures or other documents—by saving the files on a disk, sending them as email attachments or placing them on a web server to be downloaded.

WHAT ARE .ZIP FILES?

All the PC save files on this site come in .zip files. A .zip file (also called a .zip archive) is like a digital "envelope" containing other files. Using .zip archives lets me group savegame files, such as all checkpoints in a level, together in one convenient "package,". Also, since the data in .zip files is compressed, the files are smaller and download more quickly.

WILL YOUR SAVES WORK IN MY GAME?

My Underworld save files were made using the North American DVD version of the game patched to version 1.1. As far as I know, they are compatible with all other DVD versions, patched or unpatched. I'm not sure about the Direct2Drive, Steam or GameTap download versions.

HOW DO I DOWNLOAD A SAVEGAME FILE?

Click any of the file links on the savegame download page. (There are also a few links to savegame files throughout the walkthroughs, such as spots where common bugs may occur.)
A dialog box will pop up asking if you want to Open or Save the file, or Cancel the download. Choose the 'Save' option.
Another dialog box will pop up asking where on your computer you would like to save the downloaded file. It doesn't matter where you save it, but I'd recommend using a location that's easy to remember so you can find the file after it has downloaded. (I like to download onto the Windows Desktop.) Choose the location you want and click the 'Save' button to start downloading the file.
A new box will pop up showing the progress of the download. You may need to click a button to close the box when the download is complete.

HOW DO I GET THE SAVE FILES OUT OF THE .ZIP FILE AND INTO MY GAME?

All but the last step should be done when the Tomb Raider game is not running.

Locate your existing Underworld save files: If you have a shortcut to the 'My Documents' folder on your desktop, just double-click it to open it. Otherwise, click on the Start menu, then right-click 'My Documents' and choose 'Open' from the drop-down menu. This should open the 'My Documents' folder.
Double click on the 'Eidos' folder within the 'My Documents' folder to open it.
Double click on the 'Tomb Raider - Underworld' folder within the 'Eidos' folder to open it.
Within this folder you should see several files including the autosave.TRUSave and any other TRUSave files you have made while playing.
Leave this folder open and return to the .zip file you downloaded.
Windows XP and Windows Vista (the operating systems on which Underworld is designed to run) opens .zip files automatically when you double-click them. Do that now. Inside the .zip folder, you will see one or more .TRUSave files and a text file containing additional information about those particular saves.
Select the .TRUSave files you want from inside the .zip file. Then copy and paste them into the profile folder you opened in steps 1-5. Or, if you can position both windows so they're open at the same time, just drag the .TRUSave files from one to the other.
Close all open files. Then start the game as usual. From Underworld's Main Menu, select Load Game, then choose the save you want from the radial menu and press Enter. The new save should load and you can play on from there.

IMPORTANT NOTES

I highly recommend that you do not rely exclusively on the autosave while playing through the game. Instead be sure to save manually at least once or twice each level. To do this, press Escape, choose 'Save Game' from the radial menu, enter a name for the current save and then click 'OK'. Then, if you miss something or run into a bug, you can reload rather than having to replay the entire level. Or, worst-case scenario, if your autosave becomes corrupted and won't load, you won't have to restart the entire game.

If you have been saving your game as you play—which hopefully you have been—you will already have some files in your Saved Games folder. In theory, you can have an unlimited number of files here; however, Underworld only allows for 32 save files to be displayed in-game. If you have more than that, some will not be visible.

Once you've reached the maximum of 32 files, you may want to create a separate folder, either within the Tomb Raider - Underworld folder or elsewhere, and move or copy some of your save files into it. Then, if you want to load them later, move them back into the Tomb Raider - Underworld folder, as described above.

I always back up my save files on a memory stick or disk, just in case something goes wrong with my game or my computer. Then, if necessary, I can reinstall the game and restore my save files so I don't have to start the game over.

If your questions weren't answered on this page, or if you have suggestions for how to improve this savegame 'walkthrough,' please feel free to email or use the Contact Form on this site.