diff --git a/games/factorio_manager.sh b/games/factorio_manager.sh
index 7010d0b6a94f44b34513993ae1dde7f8c3821957..41e7f53b70d8f24c7d09925c3591f9940bb758a3 100755
--- a/games/factorio_manager.sh
+++ b/games/factorio_manager.sh
@@ -843,10 +843,22 @@ function read_server_settings() {
 #       instance_directory_new
 #         Checks if path is unused and can be used for new instance.
 #
+#       instance_directory
+#         Checks if path contains a valid instance.
+#
+#       backup_directory_new
+#         Checks if path is usable as destination for a new backup.
+#
+#       backup_directory
+#         Checks if path contains a valid backup.
+#
+#       instance_import_source
+#         Checks if path is usable as source for importing an instance.
+#
 #   $2 (path)
 #     Path that should be validated.
 #
-#   $3 (exit_code0
+#   $3 (exit_code)
 #     Exit code to use when terminating the program.
 #
 # Exits:
@@ -877,6 +889,57 @@ function validate_path_or_terminate() {
             error "Instance directory already exists, but does not contain a valid Factorio instance: $path."
             exit "$exit_code"
         fi
+
+    elif [[ $path_test == "instance_directory" ]]; then
+        if [[ ! -d $path ]]; then
+            error "Missing instance directory: $path"
+            error "Perhaps you have misstyped the instance name or forgot to create one first?"
+            exit "$exit_code"
+        fi
+
+        if [[ ! -f $path/instance.conf ]]; then
+            error "Missing instance configuration file: $path/instance.conf"
+            exit "$exit_code"
+        fi
+
+        if [[ ! -f $path/config.ini ]]; then
+            error "Missing game configuration file: $path/config.ini"
+            exit "$exit_code"
+        fi
+
+    elif [[ $path_test == "backup_directory_new" ]]; then
+        if [[ -e $path/config.ini ]]; then
+            error "Backup already exists under directory: $path"
+            exit "$exit_code"
+        elif [[ -e $path ]]; then
+            error "Backup directory already exists, but does not contain a valid backup: $path"
+            exit "$exit_code"
+        fi
+
+    elif [[ $path_test == "backup_directory" ]]; then
+
+        if [[ ! -d $path ]]; then
+            error "Specified backup not available under: $path"
+            exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
+        fi
+
+        if [[ ! -f $path/instance.conf ]]; then
+            error "Backup missing instance configuration file: $path/instance.conf"
+            exit "$exit_code"
+        fi
+
+        if [[ ! -f $path/config.ini ]]; then
+            error "Backup missing game configuration file: $path/config.ini"
+            exit "$exit_code"
+        fi
+
+    elif [[ $path_test == "instance_import_source" ]]; then
+        if [[ ! -f $path/bin/x64/factorio ]]; then
+            error "Could not locate Factorio binary in directory under: $path/bin/x64/factorio"
+            error "Factorio Manager natively supports instance imports only when all game data (savegames etc) are stored within Factorio installation directory."
+            exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
+        fi
+
     else
         error "Unable to validate path '$path', unsupported test requested: '$path_test'."
         exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
@@ -1010,6 +1073,7 @@ fi
 command="$1"
 shift
 
+
 #==============#
 # set-game-dir #
 #==============#
@@ -1054,11 +1118,13 @@ if [[ $command == set-game-dir ]]; then
         exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
     fi
 
+
 #==========#
 # versions #
 #==========#
 elif [[ $command == versions ]]; then
 
+    # Make sure game installations directory has been set.
     validate_path_or_terminate "game_installations_directory" "$game_installations_directory" "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
 
     echo "Locally available Factorio versions:"
@@ -1072,10 +1138,15 @@ elif [[ $command == versions ]]; then
     done
     echo
 
+
 #======#
 # list #
 #======#
 elif [[ $command == list ]]; then
+
+    # Make sure game installations directory has been set.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "game_installations_directory" "$game_installations_directory" "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
+
     echo "Available instances:"
     echo
 
@@ -1088,10 +1159,13 @@ elif [[ $command == list ]]; then
     done
     echo
 
+
 #========#
 # create #
 #========#
 elif [[ $command == create ]]; then
+
+    # Make sure game installations directory has been set.
     validate_path_or_terminate "game_installations_directory" "$game_installations_directory" "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
 
     # Read positional arguments.
@@ -1109,6 +1183,7 @@ elif [[ $command == create ]]; then
         exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
     fi
 
+    # Make sure new instance directory can be used.
     validate_path_or_terminate "instance_directory_new" "$instance_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
 
     select_factorio_version "$game_installations_directory" || exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
@@ -1159,8 +1234,15 @@ EOF
     warning "Factorio will offer to fix the corrupted configuration file by filling-in the missing information during the first startup."
     warning "It should be safe to accept this. This warning will be shown by Factorio only the first time."
 
+
+#========#
+# launch #
+#========#
 elif [[ $command == launch ]]; then
 
+    # Make sure game installations directory has been set.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "game_installations_directory" "$game_installations_directory" "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
+
     # Read positional arguments.
     instance="${1-}"
     shift
@@ -1177,19 +1259,12 @@ elif [[ $command == launch ]]; then
         exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
     fi
 
-    if [[ ! -f $instance_config ]]; then
-        error "Missing instance configuration file: $instance_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -f $game_config ]]; then
-        error "Missing game configuration file: $game_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
+    # Validate that instance directory contains valid instance.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "instance_directory" "$instance_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
 
     # Update instance write directory prior to launching - this is a
-    # failsafe in case it got changed by hand through some other means
-    # (or maybe it was copied over from another instance).
+    # failsafe in case it got changed by hand or perhaps the value
+    # comes from backups of a copied instance.
     current_write_data=$(grep "^write-data=" "$game_config")
     expected_write_data="write-data=${instance_directory}"
 
@@ -1227,7 +1302,15 @@ elif [[ $command == launch ]]; then
         "$factorio_bin" --config "$game_config"
     fi
 
+
+#========#
+# backup #
+#========#
 elif [[ $command == backup ]]; then
+
+    # Make sure game installations directory has been set.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "game_installations_directory" "$game_installations_directory" "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
+
     # Read positional arguments.
     instance="${1-}"
     description="${2-}"
@@ -1252,22 +1335,11 @@ elif [[ $command == backup ]]; then
         exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
     fi
 
-    # Verify that we are trying to backup an actual instance.
-    if [[ ! -f $instance_config ]]; then
-        error "Missing instance configuration file: $instance_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -f $game_config ]]; then
-        error "Missing game configuration file: $game_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
+    # Validate that instance directory contains valid instance.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "instance_directory" "$instance_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
 
-    # Make sure we do not overwrite the backup destination by mistake
-    # - although highly unlikely unless user spams the backup command.
-    if [[ -e $backup_destination ]]; then
-        error "Backup already exists: $backup_destination"
-    fi
+    # Validate destination path for backup directory can be used.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "backup_directory_new" "$backup_destination" "$ERROR_GENERAL"
 
     (
 
@@ -1302,6 +1374,7 @@ elif [[ $command == backup ]]; then
 
     ) 200>"$lock_file"
 
+
 #==============#
 # list-backups #
 #==============#
@@ -1323,21 +1396,8 @@ elif [[ $command == list-backups ]]; then
         exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
     fi
 
-    # Verify instance.
-    if [[ ! -d $instance_directory ]]; then
-        error "No such instance: $instance"
-        exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -f $instance_config ]]; then
-        error "Missing instance configuration file: $instance_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -f $game_config ]]; then
-        error "Missing game configuration file: $game_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
+    # Validate that instance directory contains valid instance.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "instance_directory" "$instance_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
 
     # Extended regular expression for matching YYYY-MM-DD-hh:mm:ss format.
     backup_destination_name_pattern="[[:digit:]]{4}-[[:digit:]]{2}-[[:digit:]]{2}_[[:digit:]]{2}:[[:digit:]]{2}:[[:digit:]]{2}"
@@ -1377,11 +1437,15 @@ elif [[ $command == list-backups ]]; then
 
     fi
 
+
 #=========#
 # restore #
 #=========#
 elif [[ $command == restore ]]; then
 
+    # Make sure game installations directory has been set.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "game_installations_directory" "$game_installations_directory" "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
+
     # Read positional arguments.
     instance="${1-}"
     backup_name="${2-}"
@@ -1405,26 +1469,11 @@ elif [[ $command == restore ]]; then
         exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
     fi
 
-    # Verify we are working with legitimate instance and backup.
-    if [[ ! -d $instance_directory ]]; then
-        error "No such instance: $instance"
-        exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -d $restore_source ]]; then
-        error "Specified backup not available under: $restore_source"
-        exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
-    fi
+    # Validate that instance directory contains valid instance.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "instance_directory" "$instance_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
 
-    if [[ ! -f $backup_instance_config ]]; then
-        error "Invalid backup, missing instance configuration file: $backup_instance_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -f $backup_game_config ]]; then
-        error "Invalid backup, missing game configuration file: $backup_game_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
+    # Validate that backup directory contains valid backup.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "backup_directory" "$restore_source" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
 
     (
         # Obtain lock - Factorio uses the same mechanism, so we should
@@ -1502,11 +1551,15 @@ elif [[ $command == restore ]]; then
 
     ) 200>"$lock_file"
 
+
 #===============#
 # remove-backup #
 #===============#
 elif [[ $command == remove-backup ]]; then
 
+    # Make sure game installations directory has been set.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "game_installations_directory" "$game_installations_directory" "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
+
     # Read positional arguments.
     instance="${1-}"
     backup_name="${2-}"
@@ -1530,26 +1583,11 @@ elif [[ $command == remove-backup ]]; then
     backup_game_config="$removal_target/config.ini"
     lock_file="$instance_directory/.lock"
 
-    # Verify we are working with legitimate instance and backup.
-    if [[ ! -d $instance_directory ]]; then
-        error "No such instance: $instance"
-        exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
-    fi
+    # Validate that instance directory contains valid instance.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "instance_directory" "$instance_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
 
-    if [[ ! -d $removal_target ]]; then
-        error "Specified backup not available under: $removal_target"
-        exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -f $backup_instance_config ]]; then
-        error "Invalid backup, missing instance configuration file: $backup_instance_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -f $backup_game_config ]]; then
-        error "Invalid backup, missing game configuration file: $backup_game_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
+    # Validate that backup directory contains valid backup.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "backup_directory" "$removal_target" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
 
     # Present user with warning.
     echo
@@ -1583,10 +1621,15 @@ elif [[ $command == remove-backup ]]; then
 
     success "Backup removed."
 
+
 #=============#
 # set-version #
 #=============#
 elif [[ $command == set-version ]]; then
+
+    # Make sure game installations directory has been set.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "game_installations_directory" "$game_installations_directory" "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
+
     # Read positional arguments.
     instance="${1-}"
     shift
@@ -1597,33 +1640,13 @@ elif [[ $command == set-version ]]; then
         exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
     fi
 
-    # Make sure user has set directory with game installations - test
-    # both symlink and target destination.
-    if [[ ! -L $game_installations_directory ]]; then
-        error "Game installations directory has not been properly set. Please run the set-game-dir command first."
-        exit "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -d $game_installations_directory ]]; then
-        error "Game installations directory has not been properly set. Please run the set-game-dir command first."
-        exit "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
-    fi
-
     # Set-up derived variables.
     instance_directory="$manager_directory/$instance"
     instance_config="$instance_directory/instance.conf"
     game_config="$instance_directory/config.ini"
 
-    # Verify we are working with legitimate instance.
-    if [[ ! -f $instance_config ]]; then
-        error "Missing instance configuration file: $instance_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -f $game_config ]]; then
-        error "Missing game configuration file: $game_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
+    # Validate that instance directory contains valid instance.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "instance_directory" "$instance_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
 
     # Load instance configuration.
     source "$instance_config"
@@ -1642,21 +1665,14 @@ elif [[ $command == set-version ]]; then
         success "Version changed to: $(colorecho -n green "$game_version_selected")"
     fi
 
+
 #======#
 # info #
 #======#
 elif [[ $command == info ]]; then
-    # Make sure user has set directory with game installations - test
-    # both symlink and target destination.
-    if [[ ! -L $game_installations_directory ]]; then
-        error "Game installations directory has not been properly set. Please run the set-game-dir command first."
-        exit "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
-    fi
 
-    if [[ ! -d $game_installations_directory ]]; then
-        error "Game installations directory has not been properly set. Please run the set-game-dir command first."
-        exit "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
-    fi
+    # Make sure game installations directory has been set.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "game_installations_directory" "$game_installations_directory" "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
 
     # Read positional arguments.
     instance="${1-}"
@@ -1673,16 +1689,8 @@ elif [[ $command == info ]]; then
     instance_config="$instance_directory/instance.conf"
     game_config="$instance_directory/config.ini"
 
-    # Verify we are working with legitimate instance.
-    if [[ ! -f $instance_config ]]; then
-        error "Missing instance configuration file: $instance_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -f $game_config ]]; then
-        error "Missing game configuration file: $game_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
+    # Validate that instance directory contains valid instance.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "instance_directory" "$instance_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
 
     # Load instance configuration.
     source "$instance_config"
@@ -1708,7 +1716,7 @@ elif [[ $command == info ]]; then
     if [[ ${#mod_files[@]} == 0 ]]; then
         echo "Available mods: none"
 
-    # Plain listing.
+    # Listing using just regular tools.
     elif ! hash jqs 2>/dev/null; then
         echo "Available mods:"
         echo
@@ -1748,7 +1756,7 @@ elif [[ $command == info ]]; then
 
         done
 
-    # Fancy listing with detection for enabled mods using jq.
+    # Listing using the jq utility.
     elif hash jq 2>/dev/null; then
         echo "Available mods (enabled/${_text_yellow}disabled${_text_reset}):"
         echo
@@ -1804,6 +1812,9 @@ elif [[ $command == info ]]; then
 #========#
 elif [[ $command == remove ]]; then
 
+    # Make sure game installations directory has been set.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "game_installations_directory" "$game_installations_directory" "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
+
     # Read positional arguments.
     instance="${1-}"
     shift
@@ -1819,16 +1830,8 @@ elif [[ $command == remove ]]; then
     instance_config="$instance_directory/instance.conf"
     lock_file="$instance_directory/.lock"
 
-    # Verify we are working with legitimate instance and backup.
-    if [[ ! -d $instance_directory ]]; then
-        error "No such instance: $instance"
-        exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -f $instance_config ]]; then
-        error "Missing instance configuration file: $instance_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
+    # Validate that instance directory contains valid instance.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "instance_directory" "$instance_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
 
     (
         # Obtain lock - Factorio uses the same mechanism, so we should
@@ -1912,17 +1915,8 @@ elif [[ $command == remove ]]; then
 #======#
 elif [[ $command == copy ]]; then
 
-    # Make sure user has set directory with game installations - test
-    # both symlink and target destination.
-    if [[ ! -L $game_installations_directory ]]; then
-        error "Game installations directory has not been properly set. Please run the set-game-dir command first."
-        exit "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -d $game_installations_directory ]]; then
-        error "Game installations directory has not been properly set. Please run the set-game-dir command first."
-        exit "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
-    fi
+    # Make sure game installations directory has been set.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "game_installations_directory" "$game_installations_directory" "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
 
     # Read positional arguments.
     source_instance="${1-}"
@@ -1949,22 +1943,10 @@ elif [[ $command == copy ]]; then
     destination_instance_directory="$manager_directory/$destination_instance"
     destination_instance_config="$destination_instance_directory/instance.conf"
 
-    # Verify we are working with legitimate source and destination.
-    if [[ ! -d $source_instance_directory ]]; then
-        error "No such instance: $source_instance"
-        exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -f $source_instance_config ]]; then
-        error "Missing instance configuration file: $source_instance_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -f $source_game_config ]]; then
-        error "Missing game configuration file: $source_game_config"
-        exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"
-    fi
+    # Validate that source instance directory contains valid instance.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "instance_directory" "$source_instance_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
 
+    # Make sure destination instance directory can be used.
     validate_path_or_terminate "instance_directory_new" "$destination_instance_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
 
     (
@@ -2031,22 +2013,14 @@ elif [[ $command == copy ]]; then
 
     ) 200>"$source_lock_file"
 
+
 #========#
 # import #
 #========#
 elif [[ $command == import ]]; then
 
-    # Make sure user has set directory with game installations - test
-    # both symlink and target destination.
-    if [[ ! -L $game_installations_directory ]]; then
-        error "Game installations directory has not been properly set. Please run the set-game-dir command first."
-        exit "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
-    fi
-
-    if [[ ! -d $game_installations_directory ]]; then
-        error "Game installations directory has not been properly set. Please run the set-game-dir command first."
-        exit "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
-    fi
+    # Make sure game installations directory has been set.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "game_installations_directory" "$game_installations_directory" "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
 
     # Read positional arguments.
     instance="${1-}"
@@ -2072,6 +2046,13 @@ elif [[ $command == import ]]; then
     source_config="$source_directory/config/config.ini"
     source_lock_file="$source_directory/.lock"
 
+    # Make sure new instance directory can be used.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "instance_directory_new" "$instance_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
+
+    # Make sure that the import source is valid (should be Factorio
+    # installation directory).
+    validate_path_or_terminate "instance_import_source" "$source_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
+
     # List of entries to import from the source directory.
     declare -A import_entries=()
     import_entries["achievements-modded.dat"]="contains achivement information for modded plays"
@@ -2086,14 +2067,6 @@ elif [[ $command == import ]]; then
     import_entries["player-data.json"]="contains global information about the player, such as username, login token, chat history, etc."
     import_entries["saves"]="contains savegames"
 
-    validate_path_or_terminate "instance_directory_new" "$instance_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
-
-    if [[ ! -f $source_directory/bin/x64/factorio ]]; then
-        error "Could not locate Factorio binary in source directory under: $source_directory/bin/x64/factorio"
-        error "Factorio Manager natively supports instance imports only when all game data (savegames etc) are stored within Factorio installation directory."
-        exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
-    fi
-
     # Display list of available Factorio versions and let user pick one.
     echo "Factorio version must  be selected manually for imported instances."
     echo
@@ -2172,19 +2145,11 @@ EOF
 # create-server #
 #===============#
 elif [[ $command == create-server ]]; then
-    instance="${1-}"
 
-    # Make sure user has set directory with game installations - test
-    # both symlink and target destination.
-    if [[ ! -L $game_installations_directory ]]; then
-        error "Game installations directory has not been properly set. Please run the set-game-dir command first."
-        exit "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
-    fi
+    # Make sure game installations directory has been set.
+    validate_path_or_terminate "game_installations_directory" "$game_installations_directory" "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
 
-    if [[ ! -d $game_installations_directory ]]; then
-        error "Game installations directory has not been properly set. Please run the set-game-dir command first."
-        exit "$ERROR_CONFIGURATION"
-    fi
+    instance="${1-}"
 
     # Read positional arguments.
     instance="${1-}"
@@ -2204,6 +2169,7 @@ elif [[ $command == create-server ]]; then
         exit "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
     fi
 
+    # Make sure new instance directory can be used.
     validate_path_or_terminate "instance_directory_new" "$instance_directory" "$ERROR_ARGUMENTS"
 
     select_factorio_version "$game_installations_directory" || exit "$ERROR_GENERAL"