How to prevent the player from messing with the game files?

UpsetChicken

A game usually has complementary files, like the save file, settings file, etc. These are usually put in a folder the user controls. However, the user can cheat the game my editing the game files, such as editing how much money he/she has, or what level he/she currently is. Is there is a way to fully prevent that?

DaveTheCoder

You can use encryption.

It's not bullet-proof, since the game needs to have the password somewhere for decryption, but it makes it harder. (kuligs2's first video below discusses that in more detail.)

https://docs.godotengine.org/en/4.4/classes/class_configfile.html#class-configfile-method-save-encrypted-pass
https://docs.godotengine.org/en/4.4/classes/class_fileaccess.html#class-fileaccess-method-open-encrypted-with-pass

kuligs2

and here he looks at second method using resources

axolotl

Is it a single player game? If, I wouldn't even bother. Let them cheat if it makes them feel happy. Why spend time on something that will not make the game better for those who play by the rules?

UpsetChicken

axolotl it's a multiplayer game.

kuligs2

UpsetChicken p2p or server based?

axolotl

UpsetChicken

Ok if it’s multiplayer then the solution is probably to keep whatever state you don't want them messing with on the server side. Or just replicated on the other peers, depending on how exactly your game works.