Horses of Hoofprint Bay Guide

Does your demo save carry over to the full game?

Updated · Basics

Quick answer

It depends which demo. Saves from the October 2026 demo (the Steam Next Fest build) are compatible with the full game because it contains all the rebalancing; saves from the February 2026 demo are not — the developers announced in March that the balancing overhaul broke compatibility. Both demos stay available after launch (the February one on a separate Steam branch), each limited to 25 in-game days. The full game has no day limit.

Which demo is which

Demo Released Day limit Save carries to full game?
February 2026 demo Feb 16, 2026 25 in-game days No (balancing overhaul)
October 2026 demo (Next Fest) Oct 19, 2026 25 in-game days Yes

The October demo also added walking your horse (foals come along), Caprilli tests, new trail-ride environments, desensitization training, face markings and appaloosa patterns — all of which are in the full game.

Known save reports from launch week

Two Steam threads from the first days ask about importing saves manually and about a new save disappearing after a small update while deleted saves came back. These are player reports, not confirmed bugs. Until the developers reply, keep a copy of your save folder before uninstalling a demo or deleting saves — one thread titled “Lost Progress When Uninstalling the Demo” suggests that step can bite.

FAQ

How do I play the February demo again?

Right-click the demo in your Steam library → Properties → Betas (Game Versions and Betas) → select the February Demo branch. The developers kept it on a separate branch.

Why did the October demo start me with a weaker horse?

Deliberate. The October demo mirrors the rebalanced full game: starter horses have much lower stats so breeding for good stats is a long-term goal, and the first show-jumping class is out of reach for a starter — that's what Caprilli tests are for.

Is there a day limit in the full game?

No. The FAQ jokes the only limit is an integer overflow at around two million days.

I deleted old saves and now my new save is missing

A launch-week thread reports exactly this after a small update; another player asks how to import a save manually. No developer answer yet as of November 6 — back up your save folder before deleting anything.

Related guides

Sources

Checked against the current version on · High confidence — confirmed by the developers or two independent sources. Spotted something outdated? Tell us.

Advertisement