Stop using your phone for game notes. This forgotten Steam feature is godsend for RPG players

As a gamer, I often find myself overlooking Steam updates, whether it’s a minor adjustment like clicking the game icon during download to be instantly transported to its library page, or something more beneficial, such as alerts for games in Early Access that have been neglected. This can lead to missing out on fresh features and enhancements without even noticing, including ones that are particularly useful for role-playing games with expansive maps.

Steam Notepad, a feature that’s been around for some time, is relatively unknown to many gamers. Instead of scribbling chest locations in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 on your mobile device, you can now effortlessly jot down notes directly via the Steam Overlay.

How to use Steam Notes to keep track of everything in your games

In a significant revamp during the Steam Desktop Update on April 27, 2023, the Steam Overlay saw an expansion of its functionalities. Initially, it served primarily as a tool for chatting with friends and gathering game details. However, since then, it has been enriched with numerous additional features. Among these new additions is the Notes function, which allows you to jot down multiple memos for individual games and even works offline.

To initiate writing, simply hold down the Shift and Tab keys simultaneously, then click on the pencil icon located third from the left. This will activate the Overlay for you.

Your game notes are automatically stored for each title and synced across all your computers, including the Steam Deck. You can retrieve these notes either through the in-game menu overlay or by visiting the specific game’s information page within your library on the right side of the screen.

If you’re wondering where they’re stored locally, you can find them here:

  1. C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\(your ID#)\2371090\remote

The main disadvantage is that they can’t be synchronized with a mobile app. I hope Valve introduces this feature at some point in the future.

Using Steam Notes, you can effortlessly jot down and organize various information such as milestones, reminders, and details about quests. Many games, particularly remasters and reboots, may lack comprehensive quest logs and map marking systems. To illustrate this point, let’s consider the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. With Steam Notes, you can conveniently pinpoint vital locations, hidden spots, navigate complex labyrinthine maps, or note essential story cues – all in a single, easily accessible location.

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2025-02-10 23:02