Approximately 8 to 20 Nintendo Switch games can fit on a 128GB memory card, depending on each game’s individual file size.
Thinking about expanding your Nintendo Switch game library? A frequent question is, how many games can 128gb hold nintendo switch? The answer isn’t as simple as a single number, because game sizes vary considerably.
Some indie titles might be just a few gigabytes, while massive open-world games can eat up 10 or 20 gigabytes alone. So, the amount of games you can store differs greatly.
How Many Games Can 128GB Hold on a Nintendo Switch?
So, you’ve got a Nintendo Switch and a shiny new 128GB microSD card. Awesome! Now for the big question: how many games can you actually fit on that thing? It’s a bit like trying to guess how many cookies you can squeeze into a jar – it depends on the cookies! Let’s dive deep and explore what you can expect to store on your 128GB card, and consider a few things that might change the outcome.
Understanding Game Sizes
Before we can give you an exact number of games, we need to talk about game sizes. Just like real-world items, digital games come in different sizes. Some games are small, like a little puzzle game that takes up just a few hundred megabytes (MB). Other games are big and sprawling, with lots of detailed graphics and levels, those can take up tens of gigabytes (GB). It’s really not a one-size-fits-all situation! This variability is the biggest reason we can’t give you a single, perfect answer on how many games will fit.
Typical Nintendo Switch Game Sizes
To give you a general idea, here’s a quick look at the range of sizes you might see for Nintendo Switch games:
- Small Indie Games: These can be as small as 100MB to 1GB. Think of little puzzle games, classic retro games or simple arcade-style games.
- Mid-Sized Games: Many popular platformers, adventure games, and racing games fall into this category, typically ranging from 2GB to 8GB.
- Large AAA Games: These big budget games with large maps and extensive assets, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and newer titles, can be 10GB and even greater, going up to 15GB, 20GB, or more.
- Digital-Only Games: Games only available on the Nintendo eShop can be anywhere from the very small indie to the larger sizes.
Remember, these are just examples. Game sizes can and do vary quite a bit. A seemingly small game can sometimes surprise you with a surprisingly large file size!
Calculating Storage Space
Okay, so we know games have different sizes. How does that fit into our 128GB card? Let’s break it down.
The Truth About 128GB
When you buy a 128GB microSD card, it’s important to know that the full 128GB isn’t actually available to you for storing games. This is because of how computers and storage devices work. The operating system and file formatting require some space for its own processes. As a result, you get slightly less storage space than advertised on the packaging. Don’t be alarmed, this is perfectly normal and the same for all storage devices.
Typically, you can expect around 119GB to 122GB of actual usable storage space on a 128GB microSD card. It’s not a big difference, but it is something to keep in mind. So, for our calculations, we’ll use 120GB as a good estimate of the available space.
Doing the Math (Sort Of!)
Now, let’s try to figure out how many games fit using our estimate of 120GB. There’s no way to provide an exact figure, but we can make some estimates:
- Scenario 1: Mostly Small Games – If you mostly download smaller indie games that average around 1GB each, you could potentially fit around 120 games. That’s a big collection of smaller fun titles!
- Scenario 2: A Mix of Games – Let’s say you have a mix of small indie games (1-2 GB), medium-sized games (4-6 GB), and a few bigger titles (10-15GB). In this scenario, you might fit between 30-50 games. It would definitely vary based on the exact size of the game.
- Scenario 3: Mostly Large AAA Games – If you only have the very large AAA games that are 10-15GB in size or larger, then you can expect to fit around 8-12 games.
As you can see, there is a wide range, and the number of games can really vary depending on the titles. The important thing is that you understand the differences in game sizes, which will be helpful in your decisions.
Factors That Impact Storage
Game sizes aren’t the only things that can impact your storage. Let’s look at some other aspects:
Game Updates and Patches
Games sometimes get updates, and these updates can increase the game’s file size. Also, some games have day-one updates that require additional storage. Updates usually are relatively small but be aware that they could use up a bit more space on your microSD card.
Downloadable Content (DLC)
Many games offer extra content you can download and purchase, like new characters, levels, and items. These DLC packs will take up extra space on your storage. It’s helpful to consider this when planning your library.
Save Data
Game save data does take up space but is typically quite small for most games. However, some more complex games with lots of save slots, might have a slightly larger save data file size. So, this will be a negligible impact on your 128 GB card.
Cloud Saves
Nintendo Switch offers cloud saves for some games through Nintendo Switch Online. Cloud saves do not take up space on your microSD card, but they are good for keeping save data safe. They allow you to have your save data available even if something happens to your Switch or microSD card. However, not all games support cloud saves, so it’s important to keep that in mind.
Tips for Managing Storage
It is possible to make the most out of your 128GB microSD card. Here are a few helpful tips for managing your storage and how to make sure you can fit more games.
Physical Game Copies
One of the best ways to save space on your storage card is to buy physical game copies whenever you have the option to do so. Physical games come on game cards, which means you do not need to download the whole game, only game updates and patches when necessary. This is great for bigger games, which will otherwise take up a lot of space on your storage card.
Re-Download Games When Necessary
If your memory card is filling up, it’s perfectly okay to delete games that you don’t play regularly. If you want to play them again in the future, you can easily re-download them from the Nintendo eShop when you need them. This method can free up a lot of valuable space on your storage card.
Monitor Your Storage Space Regularly
It’s a good idea to check your storage space on your Nintendo Switch from time to time. This will help you stay aware of how much space you have left and allow you to delete games to clear up some space, or purchase a larger memory card.
Choosing a microSD Card
While 128GB is a good starting point for many players, you may want to consider other sizes based on your gaming needs.
Other microSD Card Sizes
If you’re a big fan of digital downloads or like to have a large library of games, you may want to consider a larger microSD card. Larger sizes will allow you to store a lot more games. Here is a list of some common sizes you may see:
- 64GB: This size is great for people who only play a few games or buy mostly physical game copies.
- 128GB: Good for most users, provides a fair amount of storage for a mixed collection.
- 256GB: Good for people who love digital games, as it provides a lot of room for a larger collection.
- 512GB or 1TB: Recommended if you want to have a really big library of digital games and you don’t want to worry about storage space.
Consider Your Gaming Habits
When choosing a size, consider how you play. If you like to switch between a lot of games, or want access to many games on the go, then you will need more storage. However, if you like to focus on one or two games, then you might be able to get away with less storage.
Real-World Examples
Let’s think of some examples to help you get a better understanding of what you can fit on your 128GB card. These are only estimates and will vary.
- Example 1: Casual Gamer – Someone who only plays a few times a week, often likes smaller games. With a 128GB card, you might have 2-3 larger games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and 30 or more smaller indie games.
- Example 2: Digital Collector – Someone who really likes to collect and play lots of digital games. They will likely have some AAA games, lots of mid-sized titles, and some smaller games. You might be able to fit around 30-50 games.
- Example 3: AAA Enthusiast – Someone who only plays larger AAA titles. If you only play games like The Legend of Zelda or Super Smash Bros., you would likely be able to fit around 8-12 large AAA games.
Remember that these are just example scenarios, your own library will have unique storage requirements.
The 128GB microSD card is a great option for many Nintendo Switch users. It gives you plenty of space to start your digital game library. But it’s worth thinking about your gaming habits to make sure that you get the right amount of storage for your needs.
How Many Games Can You Store With A 256 Micro SD Card?!(Nintendo Switch)
Final Thoughts
The number of games a 128GB Nintendo Switch can hold varies greatly. It depends on individual game file sizes. Larger titles will naturally take up more storage.
On average, you might fit around 15 to 30 digital games. Keep in mind, this is just an estimate, and smaller indie games will take up less space. Ultimately, how many games can 128gb hold nintendo switch is highly game-dependent.
