something similar happened to me, but when I clicked on settings the app's icon changed and it wouldn't open even though the computer said it was an executable, I've never seen it happen to anybody else and I couldn't fix it since.
btw which OS u on? bc it happened to me in macos high sierra
try copying the save files over and reinstalling the game, then u can put the savefiles exactly where u found them. I can't guarantee it working, but it probably will. it's better to research the topic before u try anything tho.