How Does Import Game System Work in KenshI

Look, I’ll be honest when I first discovered Kenshi’s import system, I thought it was some kind of black magic. One minute my save was a bloated mess with dead NPCs cluttering the world, and the next minute I had a fresh, clean game world with all my hard-earned progress intact.

After hundreds of hours experimenting with different import configurations (and yes, making some spectacular mistakes along the way), I’ve figured out exactly how this system works. Whether you’re dealing with stuck characters, corrupted saves, or just want to clean up your world state, the import function is your best friend in Kenshi.

What Is Kenshi Import System?

The import system is basically Kenshi’s version of “New Game+” on steroids. It regenerates the entire world from scratch while letting you choose exactly what aspects of your previous save to carry over. Think of it as a selective reset button that gives you incredible control over your gaming experience.

When you hit that import button, the game creates a completely fresh world all the loot respawns, nests get cleared, generic NPCs reappear, and the world feels alive again. But here’s the kicker: you decide what stays and what goes from your old save.

I remember the first time I used it… my main character was stuck inside a building wall (classic Kenshi physics), and I was about to rage quit. Then a friend of mine mentioned importing with reset squad positions. Best gaming advice I ever received.

P.S. You can also use reset squad option when loading your game, no need to import every time!

How Does Kenshi Import Actually Work?

Here’s what happens behind the scenes when you import:

1. The game generates a brand new world state using the current game rules
2. Your characters get pulled from the old save with all their stats, gear, and inventory intact
3. Selected elements get transferred based on your import options
4. Everything else gets reset to default world conditions

The process takes your squad and drops them into this fresh world. Your character’s position stays the same unless you mess with the squad position settings (we’ll get to that nightmare later).

All those bandits you killed? They’re back. 😈 All that loot you grabbed? It’s respawned. That research outpost you cleared out for the fifth time? Yeah, it’s got fresh loot again.

Kenshi Import Options Explained

Reset Squad Positions

This one’s a lifesaver, literally. When checked during import, it teleports everyone slightly east of the Hub. When checked during regular loading (not importing), it moves everyone to wherever your camera was positioned when you saved.

I use this constantly for unsticking characters. Got someone trapped in terrain? Reset squad positions. Want to fast travel your entire faction? Position camera, save, reset squad positions. It’s like having a teleport command in a game that refuses to give you one.

Import Buildings

Check this if you want to keep your bases and purchased properties. Uncheck it, and everything you built gets deleted—your beautiful fortress, that shop you bought in the Hub, all of it vanishes like you never existed.

Pro tip: I always keep this checked unless I’m specifically trying to abandon a base that’s become too much of a hassle to maintain.

Import Research

This one’s non-negotiable for me. Unchecking this resets ALL your research progress except the default starting tech. Even if you started with a research-heavy beginning, you lose everything.

Unless you’re doing some kind of challenge run, always import your research. Nobody wants to re-research crossbow crafting for the twentieth time.

Import Dead NPCs

Here’s where things get interesting. This option controls whether UNIQUE NPCs you’ve killed stay dead or come back to life.

• Checked: Dead important characters stay dead, world changes remain
• Unchecked: Everyone respawns, major world events get reversed

I learned this the hard way when I unchecked it after finally defeating the Bugmaster. Guess who was back to terrorize the world the next time I visited? Yeah, that was a fun surprise.

Import Relations

This preserves your faction relationships and reputation. Uncheck it, and you’re back to neutral with everyone—though bounties don’t get cleared, which is weird but whatever.

Keep this checked unless you specifically want to reset your diplomatic standing. Sometimes it’s useful if you’ve managed to anger literally everyone in the wasteland.

Step-by-Step Import Process

Here’s exactly how to import your Kenshi save:

1. Exit to main menu (never try to import from within the game)
2. Select “Import Game” from the main menu
3. Choose your save file from the list
4. Configure Advanced Options:
   • Check “Import Buildings” to keep bases
   • Check “Import Research” to preserve tech
   • Check “Import Dead NPCs” to maintain world state
   • Check “Import Relations” to keep faction standings
   • Check “Reset Squad Positions” if needed
5. Click “Import” and wait for world generation

Pro tip: Always create a backup save before importing, especially when experimenting with different option combinations.

When You Should Use Import?

Mod Installation and Management

Most major mods require importing to work properly with existing saves. I’ve got my overhaul mods list for Kenshi and every time I add a new one, I import to make sure everything plays nice together.

The game world needs to regenerate with the new mod rules, otherwise you get weird conflicts and missing features.

Bug Fixing and Performance Issues

Kenshi saves get bloated over time it’s just how the game works. Regular importing prevents save corruption and keeps performance smooth. I import every few weeks during active playthroughs, and it’s kept my saves stable for hundreds of hours.

World State Management

Sometimes you make decisions you regret. Killed an important NPC by accident? Want to bring back faction leaders you eliminated? The import system lets you selectively reverse world changes while keeping your character progress.

Summary of Key Effects When Importing Game

Import Option	When Checked	When Unchecked
Your Characters	Always imported	Always imported
Gear & Stats	Always imported	Always imported
Squad Position	Optional teleport	Stays current
Buildings	Preserved	Removed/reverted
Research	Preserved	Reset to default
Dead NPCs	Stay dead	Respawn
Relations	Preserved	Reset to neutral
Bounties	Always preserved	Always preserved

Important Things to Remember

Prisoners in cages always disappear during import, even with “Import Dead NPCs” checked. If you’re holding important captives, deal with them before importing.

Items in backpacks within storage containers might vanish. I’ve lost valuable gear this way—now I always empty containers into regular storage before importing.

Some mods can cause issues with shops, buildings, or NPCs disappearing due to priority conflicts. Test your mod setup carefully.

Character vs Save Import Confusion

There’s often confusion about importing characters versus importing saves. Let me clear this up:

• Character Appearance Import (during character creation) only transfers physical appearance using .bod2 files. No stats, no equipment, just looks.
• Full Character Transfer between different saves requires the Forgotten Construction Set (FCS) and manual save editing. It’s complex and not what most players need. But if you want you can try it yourself, here is the guide with console commands and FCS basics.

When people ask “how do I import my character,” they usually mean the regular save import process we’ve been discussing.Oh, and if you need help creating new characters for different playthroughs, I’ve built a Kenshi name generator tool that creates lore-friendly names for any faction or background.

Final Words I guess

The import system might seem complicated at first, but once you understand it, it becomes an essential tool for managing your Kenshi experience. It’s the difference between being stuck with every mistake you make and having the power to selectively fix problems while keeping your progress.

Trust me, master the import system, and you’ll never have to restart a character just because of a game bug or unfortunate world event again. 

Is importing safe? Will it corrupt my save?

Absolutely safe. Importing creates a new save file—it never overwrites your original. I’ve imported hundreds of times without a single corruption issue. The worst that happens is you don’t like the results and go back to your backup.

Does import reset my bounties?

No, bounties stay with your characters. Even if you reset relations, criminal records persist. If the Holy Nation wants you dead, they’ll still want you dead after importing (unless you specifically reset relations, but even then bounties can stick around).

Can I import just one character into a different save?

Not through the normal import system. You’d need to use the FCS and manually edit save files. The regular import process moves your entire faction as a unit. Most players just start new characters in fresh saves instead.

What happens to my research if I don’t import it?

You lose everything except default starting research. Even if you began with a tech-heavy start, unchecking research import strips you back to basic survival knowledge. Always import research unless you’re doing a specific challenge.

Do generic NPCs respawn after import?

Yes, all generic NPCs respawn regardless of import settings. The “Import Dead NPCs” option only affects unique, named characters. Your favorite bartender will be back, but that unique faction leader you assassinated might not be (depending on your settings).

How often should I import my save

Every few weeks during active play, or whenever you add major mods. I import when my save starts feeling sluggish or when I’m adding new content. There’s no hard rule, but regular importing prevents the save bloat that can eventually cause performance issues.