Extract text from Pathfinder save files (ZKS)
To convert ZKS save files to another format, you need Pathfinder or other Game software.
To convert other file formats to the "Game Save File" file type, you need software like Pathfinder or a similar tool.
A .ZKS file is a save game data file utilized by Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous and Pathfinder: Kingmaker. These files record your current world state, character levels, inventory items, quest progress, and party statistics. The format is heavily tied to the proprietary game engine developed by Owlcat Games.
Gamers usually need to access the data inside a .ZKS file to fix game-breaking bugs, recover corrupted progress, or modify character stats. The disadvantage of the .ZKS format is that it acts as a black box. You cannot read or edit it directly within the operating system, and a single broken quest flag can ruin a 100-hour playthrough.
The best workaround is to convert or treat the .ZKS file as a standard ZIP file. Underneath the custom extension, it is just a compressed folder. By renaming the extension to ZIP, users can extract the internal files, which primarily consist of human-readable JSON data and a PNG thumbnail. Once extracted, you can edit the JSON files to modify game parameters. Be careful, as missing a comma or bracket in the JSON will permanently corrupt the save file.
Because .ZKS is a closed, game-specific container, standard online document converters fail to process it. Only the original game software can truly execute the state data.
Convert.Guru analyzes your ZKS file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
If you want to convert ZKS file to XLS, XLSX, XLSM, XLSB, ODS, CSV, TSV, TAB, DIF, SLK, WK1 or WK3, you can use Pathfinder or similar software from the "Game Save Storage" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert WQ1, XLSM, NOTES, QPW, WK3, WB2, WKS, XLSB, 123, XLS, WB1 or XLSX files to ZKS, try Pathfinder or another comparable tool in the "Game Save Storage" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our ZKS converter.