I ran into the same issue. Couldnt load after dying, couldnt load from escape menu, shut the game down and restarted and still couldnt load save game file.
When you pause the game after one of your characters is knocked down and is still being attacked there is an audio loop of the monster hitting your character that never ends until you unpause. It would be helpful to have the attack sounds muted or stopped in this instance.
I would love to see more stretch goals. I would however like clarification about any additional time these goals would add. If significant I would be just as happy having additions through expansions.