Nintendo Switch Games With The Biggest File Size And How Many GB They Take
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Nintendo Switch Games With The Biggest File Size And How Many GB They Take
Nintendo Switch games understandably eat up memory space, but these titles take this necessity to an extreme. Nintendo has been on the cutting edge of consoles for as long as they've been in business, shifting the industry time and time again with consoles like the SNES, 3DS, Wii, and now the . Being a console you can play while at home or on the go, the Nintendo Switch is focused on uncompromised gaming no matter where you are. Of course, games need to be optimized for the console's docked and undocked modes to work properly. That can come at the cost of absurdly large file sizes, unfortunately. Ranging as high as almost 33 gigabytes (and very rarely even beyond that), here are the Nintendo Switch titles that take up the most space on your memory card. Updated December 15, 2021 by Stephen LaGioia: While the Nintendo Switch continues to chug along, it's begun to take on the vibe of "The Little Engine That Could" as MS and Sony's next-gen consoles have roared into high gear with sleeker, robust, and generally more epic software. With this more potent software on newer consoles brings a side effect of larger multiplatform games on Switch, as these games are increasingly crafted with newer hardware in mind. Factor in the rise of game compilations and studios getting more comfortable with Switch hardware-and one can see how the console has seen larger quantities of games crossing the 20 and even 30 gig mark. With a rising number of beefier games taking up large chunks of the original Switch's internal memory, it seemed appropriate to revisit and beef up this list of the largest Switch Games. THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY South Park The Fractured But Whole - 17 3 GB
, South Park: The Fractured But Whole is the latest entry in South Park's series of video games, with the Nintendo Switch version being released in 2018. Players control the New Kid as they become entangled in rival superhero factions fighting to create their own franchises. The game does a great job of expanding the fictional universe while adding , but the sheer size of South Park, its characters, and its content will take up a "whole" lot of space on your Switch console. Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy - 17 6 GB
The Nintendo Switch is an excellent console for releasing trilogies and game collections on; just look at Capcom's Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy or the Spyro Reignited Trilogy. The first Ultimate Ninja Storm game was released in 2008 to generally positive reception, with the following games in the series considered Naruto games by fans. The entire collection includes Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst,taking up a whopping 17.6 GB just to run. The 4th and most recent game in the series takes up 13.2 GB on its own, with advanced graphics and DLC content taking up even more space than the last game. Attack On Titan 2 The Final Battle - 17 8 GB
Anime games tend to be judged quickly and harshly by those not partial to the medium, but Attack on Titan 2: The Final Battle proves that , or even greater than good. The game and DLC combined cover the first 90 chapters of the manga, with the last mission of the core game differing from both the anime and the manga. The game without DLC is 13.3 GB alone, with the DLC taking up 4.5 GB of space on its own. Perhaps that large size can be traced back to those enormous titans. Observer - 18 GB
Fans of horror (particularly psychological horror) will no doubt know and perhaps already love this game. Released on the Switch in February of 2019, Observer has a strong cyberpunk feel, reaping the benefits of Unreal Engine 4 and an excellent art style and aesthetic. The attention to detail and overall cohesion makes almost every screenshot look engaging. Aesthetics often come at the price of space, however, and that space is a sizeable 18 GB in order to run on the Switch. Another reason to get the next size up in SD cards. Hellblade Senua' s Sacrifice - 18 2 GB
Though Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice has been around since 2017, it only got a Switch release in 2019. This dark fantasy/action-adventure game is chock-full of content and interesting references that can be overlooked during a first playthrough, naturally justifying a second one. Not only has it won over a dozen awards, but it also has a unique death mechanic, excellent sound design, and acts as a unique and extensively-researched depiction of psychosis. is well worth the 18.2 GB, especially at its affordable price. Wolfenstein Youngblood - 20 9 GB
Critics and fans agree that Wolfenstein: Youngblood is the weakest Wolfenstein entry in the series, supporting unengaging characters, a weak plot, and mechanical changes that ruin gunfights. It also takes up a significant portion of your memory card. On the Switch, this subpar game takes a whopping 20.9GB just to install, not including potential save file bloat or downloadable content. Considering how large this game is, Youngblood simply isn't worth the space needed to run it. WWE 2K18 - 21 1 GB
Though WWE games , they are the most well-known for many reasons. Wrestling fans might be excited to know that is available on the Switch, complete with most features one would expect from the series. Unfortunately, it takes up over 20 gigabytes of space to play. This 21.1 gigabyte behemoth of a wrestling game is lacking compared to its other console versions, supporting poor performance that makes the game feel sluggish and a plethora of bugs. DOOM - 21 7 GB
Id Software's reboot of DOOM is a masterclass in design. The game gets the adrenaline pumping with its metal soundtrack and brilliantly designed levels. This game was over 50 gigabytes on the PC and console versions, so it is no surprise that it would take up plenty of space on the Switch. DOOM 2016 takes 21.8 gigabytes of space to run on the Switch, but the game makes no compromises. It looks great, plays incredibly well-docked or not-and has all of the features you would expect. While large, it is definitely worth the memory card space. Mortal Kombat 11 - 22 5 GB
Coming in at 22.5 gigabytes, Mortal Kombat 11 on the Switch is a fighting game that transitioned surprisingly well onto Nintendo's platform. It is missing a few features and updates, but what is available is pretty good. Content like co-op towers is missing, but the main campaign and fighting roster are all here. Combat is fluid and satisfying on the Switch thanks to a well-thought-out control scheme. Unfortunately, the visual fidelity was hit rather hard in this port, making it look one or two generations older than it really is. If you can stomach the worse visuals, there is a great combat game waiting to be enjoyed. Keep in mind, this doesn't even factor in the more robust Ultimate edition, which is a whopping 32.6 GB. NBA 2K18 - 23 5 GB
Via sportingnews.com Fans of sports titles know what to expect from the NBA, NFL, or FIFA series of video games. NBA 2K18 is a serviceable basketball game, although it requires an SD micro card to play most of its online offerings. Why? Because the game is an astounding 23.5 gigabytes! The game recommends a minimum of 32 GB, likely due to saves and online functionality. The game itself is rather good, and the port to the Switch was very well done. It is just that massive space requirement that makes this game a hard recommendation. Resident Evil Revelations 2 - 23 6 GB
Resident Evil 4 was famous for its various versions across multiple consoles, ranging from the GameCube Wii. No matter the platform, the game ran incredibly well. Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is in the same boat. Visually, this might be the most stunning Switch game currently on the market. It runs at 1080p docked, has little performance drops, and the motion controls are surprisingly good. Its only con is the absurd 23.6 GB installation requirement. If you can afford that space on that memory card, the game makes up for it in spades. DC Universe Online - 24 1 GB
Judging DC Universe Online by its own merits leaves a lot to be desired. The game features a bland story with dated graphics from the seventh generation of consoles. As a port to the Switch, however, this is a phenomenal port. The game plays exceptionally well on the Switch's controls and runs at a solid framerate. will most certainly appreciate the fantastic port job here, if they can afford to sacrifice 24.1 GB of space to play this dated MMO. As a side note: tacking on the Gotham City Starter Pack adds nearly another half gig into the fold. Apex Legends - 24 8 GB
While one's play can be cut abruptly short in this punishing Battle Royale, the game itself is anything but small. This one-and-done FPS is an adrenaline-fueled romp that will have gamers' palms sweating from the moment they leap from their soaring aircraft, as they scramble to gather any goodies they can find to unleash on foes. A surprise hit in early 2019, Respawn Entertainment has spent ample time and resources making balance adjustments and ironing out other kinks for Apex Legends. At the same time, they've injected loads of new challenges, , and vast locales into the fold, adding to this already expansive squad shooter. Even when excluding inevitable updates, this one will take some time to download-but it's well worth the wait. GTA Trilogy - 25 4 GB
PS2 shader mod applied to GTA remastered It's been roughly two decades since Rockstar rocked the gaming world with its 3D renditions of the esteemed Grand Theft Auto series. redefined-and indeed helped define-sandbox gaming. While the once grand, cinematic romps may seem a bit crude now, they still offer dozens of hours of laugh-out-loud fun gameplay, and take up ample space to boot. Thanks to efforts by Grove Street Games to compile and spruce up the titles-Switch gamers can enjoy GTA's best of the best, with three of the strongest titles in the franchise. Even when disregarding inevitable bouts of messing around and causing trouble, burning through GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas can take gamers around 30 hours. Is it any wonder then, that these open-world epics, as old as they are, demand close to 26 GB? L A Noire - 27 4 GB
Rockstar's crime thriller is now available on the Nintendo Switch. Like with most titles, the port to the Switch is masterfully done. It looks just as good as the Xbox 360 version with tight controls and solid performance. For some reason, L.A. Noire takes up more space than the Xbox and PlayStation variants, coming in at a whopping 27.4 Gigabytes. For comparison, the Xbox One backward compatible version is only 17.08 GB. With that said, those who want to play as a detective in a story-driven game will not be disappointed. Seeing the incredible on the go is an absolute treat, even if the memory size sure isn't. NBA 2K19 - 31 5 GB
You would think that 2K would have realized how large 2K18 was and find a way to reduce it. Turns out we would have been wrong, as NBA 2K19 is somehow larger than 2K18 while adding almost nothing new, taking 31.5 gigabytes to install. Even though not much changed between the last installment and this one, the quality of life refinements and roster updates made were still improvements. Compared to every other entry in the series for the Switch, 2K19 is arguably the best in the series. Just like the last installment, 2K19 runs very well on the Switch as well, docked or otherwise. The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt - 31 5 GB
Given the deep, epic nature of most modern RPGs, it shouldn't be surprising that this rare representation on Switch is one of its largest games. Including both expansions and DLC, this already massive adventure of 28.1 GB extends to nearly 32. One of the prettiest, most dynamic RPGs to grace the Switch-CD Projekt Red captivates with layers of action-laced swordplay and spells, tactical role-playing, and a gripping story to boot. The Witcher 3 takes up most of the OG Switch's memory, but it's a small price to embark on this awesome monster-slaying journey across the Continent. DOOM Slayers Collection - 32 2GB
This collection is a true celebration of the classic demon-slaying FPS, whose content spans over two decades. While the included DOOM 2016 takes up a huge chunk of space alone, its storied predecessors-the first three DOOM titles and 64-bring enough epic 3D gameplay to put this remaster over the top size-wise. As if the countless hours of over-the-top gore and action weren't enough, Bethesda elevates this beast to new heights with local multiplayer (DOOM 1 and 2) as well as online support (2016). Some choppy framerates and limited multiplayer aside, this is the definitive way to experience DOOM history for Switch gamers. NBA 2K20 - 32 9 GB
This must be the game where 2K fixes the egregious file size requirement for the Switch, right? Well, no. Again, 2K has created a sequel to their famous NBA series while increasing the file size bloat to such extremes. With an insane 32.9 gigabyte install requirement, this is among the largest installations on the Switch to date. To make matters worse, you need a microSD card to even play this game. Adding insult to injury is the fact that 5GB of system memory is also reserved when you play this game... and that is not even including potential save files. Fans of the series will see little improvement compared to 2K19 as well, making this a hard pass for many Switch players. NBA 2K21 - 39 4 GB
Visual Concepts and 2K Sports further up the ante in terms of complexity and file size for this robust edition of NBA2K, making it a rare entry that exceeds the internal memory of the Switch. It's hard to justify its massive file size to all but the most diehard of fans, given its spotty gameplay and marginal improvements or additions, which brought mixed reception. The few real changes can be traced to roster tweaks and a card-based minigame called Ascension. Still, this beefier data usage does allow it to run quite smoothly, while shining as one of the best-looking games on the platform. A strengthened "MyCareer" mode returns to the fold, complete with the customizable Neighborhood hub, and the return of staples like MyLeague and the season-sim "MyGM."