How Many Switch Games Can 128Gb Hold

How Many Switch Games Can 128GB Hold?

Alright, let’s dive into the exciting world of Nintendo Switch storage! If you’ve got a 128GB microSD card for your Switch, you’re probably wondering exactly how many games you can fit on there. It’s a great question, and the answer isn’t always straightforward. It depends on a few different things, so let’s explore what those are and get you a good idea of how much gaming goodness you can expect.

Understanding Game File Sizes on the Nintendo Switch

The biggest factor in determining how many games fit on your 128GB card is the size of the games themselves. Just like apps on your phone, Switch games come in different file sizes. Some are small, like indie titles or retro-style games. Others are HUGE, with sprawling open worlds and tons of detailed graphics. Think of it like comparing a little drawing to a massive painting – one takes up a lot less space!

Physical vs. Digital Games

First off, it’s important to note that we’re talking about digital games here. If you buy a physical game cartridge, that game’s data lives on the cartridge, not your storage card. So, if you mostly buy physical games, the 128GB card might be used for save data, game updates, downloadable content (DLC), and a few digital games you’ve purchased. If you are planning on buying most of your games as digital copies from the Nintendo eShop, that is when the 128GB card will truly be put to the test.

Factors Affecting Game Size

Several elements influence a game’s size. Let’s break down a few key ones:

• Graphics Quality: Games with highly detailed graphics, complex environments, and special effects usually take up more space.
• Game Length: Long, epic games with tons of content naturally have larger file sizes than shorter, more compact games.
• Sound and Music: High-quality audio files and music scores increase the overall file size.
• Downloadable Content: DLC, which includes additional levels, characters, or items, adds to the total space a game takes up.
• Updates: Game updates that fix bugs, add features, or change existing content also take up space.

Average Game Sizes

To get a better idea, let’s look at some typical game sizes. These are just averages, and keep in mind that individual games can vary wildly. There are games that are less than 1 GB and some that are close to 20 GB or even more!

• Small Indie Games: 1GB to 3GB
• Mid-sized Games: 4GB to 8GB
• Large AAA Games: 10GB to 20GB or more

Keep in mind that Nintendo Switch games do not have a “standard” size. Some of the popular and critically acclaimed titles can take up more space than many other similar-looking games.

Crunching the Numbers: How Many Games Can 128GB Hold?

Now for the big question! Based on these file size ranges, we can estimate how many games a 128GB card can hold. Let’s remember that a 128GB card actually has a little less usable space after formatting (it’s usually around 119GB). We also have to remember that this amount is also shared with the games save data, screenshots and videos, and system data.

Worst-Case Scenario: Large Games Only

Let’s consider a scenario where you only purchase big, graphics-heavy titles around 15 GB each. In this case, you could likely fit around 7 to 8 large games on a 128GB card, with some room left for save data and updates.

Best-Case Scenario: Mostly Indie Games

If you mostly play small indie games averaging 2-3 GB, you could easily store upwards of 30 to 40 games on the same 128GB card! That’s a huge difference.

A More Realistic Scenario

Most people have a mix of game types. Let’s assume you have a collection of some big titles, some mid-sized games, and a few smaller indie games. In this case, you might be able to hold between 15 to 25 games on your 128GB card. This is a rough estimation, and you might find you can hold a few more or a few less based on what specific games you play.

Practical Examples: How Many Games Can You Actually Install

Let’s see some examples of popular Switch games and their sizes.

Looking at this table, you can see why your exact number of games would vary. If you have something like Zelda, that’s a large portion of your storage. If you have a lot of smaller indie titles, that’s very different.

Managing Your Storage Space

So, if you’re worried about running out of space, what can you do?

Deleting Games

The most basic way to free up space is to delete games you aren’t playing. You can always re-download them from the eShop later. When you delete the game, you will have the option to leave the saved data, so you don’t have to start over when you re-download the game.

• Go to System Settings.
• Choose Data Management.
• Select Manage Software.
• Choose the game you want to delete, and select “Delete Software”.

Archiving Games

Another option is to archive games. This removes the game files but keeps the icon on your Switch, and keeps the save data intact. When you want to play it again, you simply select the icon to re-download. This way, you don’t lose your game progress.

• Go to System Settings.
• Choose Data Management.
• Select Manage Software.
• Choose the game you want to archive and select “Archive Software”.

Using Multiple SD Cards

If you have a very large game collection and the 128GB still isn’t enough, you could consider using multiple microSD cards. However, the Switch will only recognize one card at a time. This means that you will have to swap out the card to play games on the other card. Some players find this a good solution when they own a vast library of games.

Prioritize What You Play

Think about the games you really enjoy playing regularly. Focus on keeping those installed. Don’t let storage space go to waste on games that you may not play as much.

Tips for Maximizing your 128GB of Storage

• Purchase a Game Card when Possible: Buying a physical copy when available will free up space for digital games you can’t buy on a game card.
• Utilize the Archive Feature: If you think you might want to play a game again sometime soon, Archive it instead of deleting it completely.
• Manage Your Downloads: Keep a close eye on how much space is available in your storage. Delete or Archive games when you need space for new ones.
• Consider Cloud Saves (Nintendo Switch Online): If you have a subscription for Nintendo Switch Online, you can backup your save data to the cloud. This is useful when you need to delete a game and want to ensure you do not lose your progress.

Future Proofing Your Storage

As your game collection grows, you might start thinking about if 128GB is enough. If you plan to buy a lot of digital games, it is wise to plan for the future and think about whether you will need even more storage. The Nintendo Switch supports microSD cards up to 2 TB, so there are many options for you to choose from. If you foresee a large collection of digital games, consider upgrading to a bigger card, like a 256GB or even a 512GB card. It is an investment that will save you the headache of managing storage so much in the future.

While a 128GB microSD card is a solid start for your Nintendo Switch, the number of games it can hold will depend heavily on your gaming habits. With a mix of large, mid-sized, and small games, you’re likely looking at somewhere between 15-25 games. By using archiving, deleting, and possibly multiple cards, you can stretch that 128GB to cover quite a bit of gaming!