diff --git a/PKHeX.Core/Saves/Util/Recognition/ISaveHandler.cs b/PKHeX.Core/Saves/Util/Recognition/ISaveHandler.cs
index 3a94b65c2..a95697544 100644
--- a/PKHeX.Core/Saves/Util/Recognition/ISaveHandler.cs
+++ b/PKHeX.Core/Saves/Util/Recognition/ISaveHandler.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 namespace PKHeX.Core
 {
+#if !(EXCLUDE_EMULATOR_FORMATS && EXCLUDE_HACKS)
     /// <summary>
     /// Provides handling for recognizing atypical save file formats.
     /// </summary>
@@ -19,4 +20,21 @@ public interface ISaveHandler
         /// <returns>Null if not a valid save file for this handler's format. Returns an object containing header, footer, and inner data references.</returns>
         SaveHandlerSplitResult? TrySplit(byte[] input);
     }
+#endif
+
+#if !EXCLUDE_HACKS
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Provides handling for recognizing atypical save file formats.
+    /// </summary>
+    public interface ISaveReader : ISaveHandler
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Reads a save file from the <see cref="data"/>
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="data">Raw input data</param>
+        /// <param name="path">Optional file path.</param>
+        /// <returns>Save File object, or null if invalid. Check <see cref="ISaveHandler"/> if it is compatible first.</returns>
+        SaveFile? ReadSaveFile(byte[] data, string? path = null);
+    }
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/PKHeX.Core/Saves/Util/SaveUtil.cs b/PKHeX.Core/Saves/Util/SaveUtil.cs
index 8d1698a3b..6e607ab04 100644
--- a/PKHeX.Core/Saves/Util/SaveUtil.cs
+++ b/PKHeX.Core/Saves/Util/SaveUtil.cs
@@ -61,6 +61,15 @@ public static class SaveUtil
 
         private static readonly SaveHandlerGCI DolphinHandler = new();
 
+#if !EXCLUDE_HACKS
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Specialized readers for loading save files from non-standard games (e.g. hacks).
+        /// </summary>
+        // ReSharper disable once CollectionNeverUpdated.Global
+        public static readonly List<ISaveReader> CustomSaveReaders = new();
+#endif
+
+#if !EXCLUDE_EMULATOR_FORMATS
         /// <summary>
         /// Pre-formatters for loading save files from non-standard formats (e.g. emulators).
         /// </summary>
@@ -70,6 +79,7 @@ public static class SaveUtil
             new SaveHandlerDeSmuME(),
             new SaveHandlerARDS(),
         };
+#endif
 
         internal static readonly HashSet<int> SizesSWSH = new()
         {
@@ -487,7 +497,7 @@ private static GameVersion GetIsG8SAV(byte[] data)
         public static SaveFile? GetVariantSAV(string path)
         {
             var data = File.ReadAllBytes(path);
-            var sav = GetVariantSAV(data);
+            var sav = GetVariantSAV(data, path);
             if (sav == null)
                 return null;
             sav.Metadata.SetExtraInfo(path);
@@ -496,13 +506,27 @@ private static GameVersion GetIsG8SAV(byte[] data)
 
         /// <summary>Creates an instance of a SaveFile using the given save data.</summary>
         /// <param name="data">Save data from which to create a SaveFile.</param>
+        /// <param name="path">Optional save file path, may help initialize a non-standard save file format.</param>
         /// <returns>An appropriate type of save file for the given data, or null if the save data is invalid.</returns>
-        public static SaveFile? GetVariantSAV(byte[] data)
+        public static SaveFile? GetVariantSAV(byte[] data, string? path = null)
         {
+#if !EXCLUDE_HACKS
+            foreach (var h in CustomSaveReaders)
+            {
+                if (!h.IsRecognized(data.Length))
+                    continue;
+
+                var custom = h.ReadSaveFile(data, path);
+                if (custom != null)
+                    return custom;
+            }
+#endif
+
             var sav = GetVariantSAVInternal(data);
             if (sav != null)
                 return sav;
 
+#if !EXCLUDE_EMULATOR_FORMATS
             foreach (var h in Handlers)
             {
                 if (!h.IsRecognized(data.Length))
@@ -519,6 +543,7 @@ private static GameVersion GetIsG8SAV(byte[] data)
                 sav.Metadata.SetExtraInfo(split.Header, split.Footer);
                 return sav;
             }
+#endif
 
             // unrecognized.
             return null;