Can I save during missions, or only in free roam?

In Red Dead Redemption 2, saving your progress is a crucial part of managing your gameplay experience. However, the ability to save during missions is limited compared to saving in free roam. Understanding the game''s save mechanics will help you avoid losing progress and ensure you can pick up where you left off.\n\nDuring missions, the game does not allow manual saves. This is because missions are designed to be completed in one continuous session, and saving mid-mission could disrupt the flow or cause glitches. Instead, the game uses an autosave feature that triggers at specific checkpoints during missions. These checkpoints are usually placed after completing significant objectives, such as reaching a new area or finishing a combat encounter. If you fail a mission or quit mid-mission, you will typically restart from the last checkpoint.\n\nTo manually save your progress, you must be in free roam. Free roam refers to any time outside of missions, where you can explore the open world, hunt, fish, or engage in side activities. To save manually, open the pause menu and navigate to the ''Story'' tab. From there, select ''Save Game'' and choose an empty slot or overwrite an existing save. It''s a good idea to create multiple save files to avoid losing progress due to unexpected issues.\n\nOne common challenge players face is forgetting to save before starting a mission. If you''re unsure how long a mission will take or want to ensure you don''t lose progress, always save before initiating a mission. For example, before starting a story mission marked with a yellow icon on the map, take a moment to save your game. This way, if something goes wrong during the mission, you can reload your save and try again.\n\nAnother practical tip is to use the game''s camp system to save. When you''re at your gang''s camp, such as Horseshoe Overlook or Clemens Point, you can sleep in Arthur''s tent to trigger an autosave. This is especially useful if you''re planning to log off or take a break. Additionally, sleeping at camps or inns in towns like Valentine or Saint Denis will also save your progress.\n\nFor players who want to experiment with different choices or outcomes, saving before key story moments is essential. For instance, before making a major decision in a mission, save your game so you can reload and explore alternative paths. This is particularly helpful for missions with moral dilemmas or branching outcomes.\n\nIn summary, while you cannot manually save during missions, you can rely on autosave checkpoints to preserve your progress. Always save manually in free roam before starting missions or engaging in risky activities. Use multiple save slots to create backups, and take advantage of the camp and inn systems to save regularly. By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience in Red Dead Redemption 2.