Valheim 1.0: can you keep your old world and saves?

Usable saves and new world generation are different questions

The official FAQ says you can continue an existing world. It also says new biome generation works properly in unexplored areas. Keeping an old save does not mean every previously explored location is regenerated with new content.

Before deciding, consider how much of your world you have already explored and whether keeping your builds matters more to you than seeing progression from the beginning. Starting again is the developer’s recommendation, not a statement that all old saves are incompatible.

Achievements start tracking from the new version

The FAQ says achievement statistics begin tracking when you download 1.0. An old boss kill, for example, is not necessarily credited retroactively; you may need to repeat the action.

Cheat commands and some world modifiers can affect achievement eligibility. The official FAQ distinguishes persistent cheat flags from temporary states. Read that section before using commands on a character or world where achievements matter.

Use a deliberate update checklist

• Make a separate backup of important world and character saves.
• Read the official FAQ for the current save and achievement rules.
• Check compatibility for each installed mod before updating a modded setup.
• Decide whether to keep the existing world or start a fresh one.
• If starting again, save a small early-game material plan rather than budgeting the entire progression at once.

What this page verifies

This summary is based on Iron Gate’s official 1.0 FAQ, checked on September 27, 2026. The backup checklist is our practical recommendation. We have not tested your specific save, server configuration or mod list, and no external tool can guarantee that combination’s compatibility.