diff --git a/src/game/engine/src/core/save_manager.gd b/src/game/engine/src/core/save_manager.gd
index dcad4771..f7ebc3db 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/src/core/save_manager.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/src/core/save_manager.gd
@@ -105,10 +105,19 @@ static func _ensure_save_dir() -> Error:
 	return err
 
 
-static func _write_slot(slot_name: String) -> Error:
-	var dir_err: Error = _ensure_save_dir()
-	if dir_err != OK:
-		return dir_err
+static func save_to_path(abs_path: String, indented: bool = false) -> Error:
+	## Write a full GameState envelope to an arbitrary absolute path. Creates the
+	## containing directory if missing. Sorted keys are always on so re-saving the
+	## same state is byte-identical; `indented` toggles tab indent (true) vs
+	## compact (false). Compact is intended for hot-path per-turn saves.
+	var dir_path: String = abs_path.get_base_dir()
+	if dir_path != "" and not DirAccess.dir_exists_absolute(dir_path):
+		var dir_err: Error = DirAccess.make_dir_recursive_absolute(dir_path)
+		if dir_err != OK:
+			push_error(
+				"SaveManager: cannot create '%s': %s" % [dir_path, error_string(dir_err)]
+			)
+			return dir_err
 
 	var envelope: Dictionary = {
 		"version": SAVE_VERSION,
@@ -116,14 +125,14 @@ static func _write_slot(slot_name: String) -> Error:
 		"game_state": GameState.serialize(),
 	}
 
-	# Sorted keys + tab indent so re-saving the same state is byte-identical.
-	var json_text: String = JSON.stringify(envelope, "\t", true)
-	var path: String = _path_for(slot_name)
-	var file: FileAccess = FileAccess.open(path, FileAccess.WRITE)
+	# Sorted keys always on so re-saving the same state is byte-identical.
+	var indent: String = "\t" if indented else ""
+	var json_text: String = JSON.stringify(envelope, indent, true)
+	var file: FileAccess = FileAccess.open(abs_path, FileAccess.WRITE)
 	if file == null:
 		var open_err: Error = FileAccess.get_open_error()
 		push_error(
-			"SaveManager: cannot write '%s': %s" % [path, error_string(open_err)]
+			"SaveManager: cannot write '%s': %s" % [abs_path, error_string(open_err)]
 		)
 		return open_err if open_err != OK else FAILED
 
@@ -132,6 +141,10 @@ static func _write_slot(slot_name: String) -> Error:
 	return OK
 
 
+static func _write_slot(slot_name: String) -> Error:
+	return save_to_path(_path_for(slot_name), true)
+
+
 static func _read_slot(slot_name: String) -> Error:
 	var envelope: Dictionary = _read_envelope(slot_name)
 	if envelope.is_empty():