Instance Manager

Requirements

Visual C Runtime

Description

A tool to set up "instances" primarily for games. Using it you can set up portable "profiles" for almost any game. Can be used to make modern or old games store and load saves using USB or cloud storage. Separate saves, mod installs, etc. Works with Baldur's Gate 3, Stardew Valley, and many more.

For the latest versions, check the GitHub Repository. There you can find the most recently released version. In the main repository you can also find all the source code as well as the most recently built/"I've just coded this, it may contain new features or be completely broken" version.

Usage

In order to use this without assistance you will need to understand how a given application accesses files, such as where a game's save/data directories are.

For example; you'd need to know Baldur's Gate 3's saves are located in "\Local\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3\PlayerProfiles". Using that, you would use the "Link Directory" button, create/set a directory to store your saves in, then select BG3's save directory. Now whenever you launch an executable through Instance Manager, it will "overlay" the custom save directory over the real one and newly created saves will be stored in the custom directory.

To launch a game through Steam, you will need to configure the launch options under the Properties page for the game. For example, if you were to put the Instance Manager folder directly under your C drive, you would change the launch options to...

"C:\Instance Manager\Instance-Manager.exe" -quicklaunch %command%

Now when you try to launch the game through Steam, it'll give you a popup window to select the profile to use with it, then launch the game.

Gamepads are natively supported while using quicklaunch; the DPAD can be used to navigate selection and A/B can confirm/cancel.

If you intend to use this for modding a game, you will need supplementary tools, such as BG3ModManager for Baldur's Gate 3 or Stardrop for Stardew Valley. You will need to set up for and launch the tools through the Instance Manager interface, as well.