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Do you ever find yourself wondering how much space your favorite Switch games take up? Well, wonder no more! In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the gaming library of one Switch owner and find out just how much storage space those games take up.
Contents
- 1 How much space do Switch games take up?
- 2 How to free up space on your Switch for new games
- 3 The best ways to store your Switch games
- 4 How to delete games from your Switch
- 5 How to backup your Switch games
- 6 The pros and cons of digital vs. physical Switch games
- 7 How to transfer Switch games to an SD card
- 8 How to expand your Switch game storage with an external hard drive
How much space do Switch games take up?
When buying a new game for your Nintendo Switch, one of the things you might be wondering is how much storage space that game is going to take up. Games on the Switch can range anywhere from 1-32 GB, so it’s important to know how much space you have available on your console before making a purchase.
1 GB = 1,000 MB
1 MB = 1,000 KB
Here are some examples of popular Nintendo Switch games and how much storage space they take up:
-The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: 13.4 GB
-Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: 16 GB
-Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: 7 GB
– Splatoon 2: 5.7 GB
-Xenoblade Chronicles 2: 14 GB
How to free up space on your Switch for new games
If you’re running out of space on your Nintendo Switch, you can do a few things to free up some room.
First, you can delete any games or apps that you’re no longer using. To do this, go to the home screen, select the game or app you want to delete, press the + button, and then select Delete Software.
You can also transfer your saved games and user data to a microSD card. Go to Settings > Data Management > Save Data/Manage Software to do this. From here, you can select which games you want to transfer and choose an external storage device. Keep in mind that not all games support this feature.
Finally, if you have any digital games that you’ve downloaded but haven’t installed, you can delete them from your system without losing your purchase. To do this, go to the home screen, select the game you want to delete, press the + button, and then select Delete License only. You’ll still be able to re-download and install the game at any time from your Nintendo eShop account.
The best ways to store your Switch games
Nintendo Switch games come on small cartridges that are easy to lose track of. Here are some of the best ways to store your Switch games so you can keep them organized and safe.
Game cases
The simplest way to store your Switch games is in a protective case. You can find official Nintendo cases that hold several games or third-party options that hold even more. Cases protect your games from scratches and drops, and keep them organized so you can find the one you want to play quickly.
Game sleeves
Consider using game sleeves if you want something even more lightweight and portable than a case. These allow you to slip multiple game cartridges into a single sleeve, which is perfect for taking your games on the go. Many different designs and materials are available, so you can find an option that fits your needs.
Dividers
If you have a large collection of Switch games, dividers can help you keep them organized by genre or alphabetical order. This way, you can easily find the game you want to play without having to search through your entire collection. Dividers also help prevent game cartridges from getting scratched or damaged when they’re not being used.
How to delete games from your Switch
If you want to delete a game from your Nintendo Switch, you first need to uninstall it. To do that, follow these steps:
1) Select the game you want to delete from your Home menu.
2) Press your controller’s + or – button to open the Options menu.
3) Select Manage Software.
4) Select the game you want to delete and press X or Y to uninstall it.
How to backup your Switch games
Nintendo Switch games are relatively small when compared to games on other consoles. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild takes up only 13.4 GB on the Switch, while it takes up 25 GB on the Wii U. With that said, some games are larger than others, with titles like Super Mario Odyssey taking up a whopping 32 GB.
To backup your Switch games, you’ll need to purchase a microSD card. We recommend getting a 64 GB card, as it will give you plenty of space for games, photos, and videos. Once you have your microSD card, insert it into the Switch console and format it from the Settings menu.
Once your microSD card is formatted, you can backup your games by going into the System Settings menu and selecting “Data Management.” From there, select “Copy Save Data” and choose which game you’d like to copy to the microSD card.
The pros and cons of digital vs. physical Switch games
The Nintendo Switch has been out for about a year and a half now, and in that time, the system has seen a steady stream of releases across both digital and physical formats. Each format has pros and cons, and it ultimately comes down to personal preference as to which one you choose. Here’s a look at some of the key differences between digital and physical Switch games.
Digital games:
– Pros: You can download them directly to your Switch console; no need for physical game cards or cartridges; they are often cheaper than physical games; they are easy to carry around with you on your Switch.
– Cons: Takes up space on your Switch’s internal storage; if you delete a digital game, you’ll have to repurchase it if you want to play it again; can’t easily lend or sell digital games to friends.
Physical games:
– Pros: No need to worry about storage space on your Switch; easy to lend or sell physical games; physical copies of games often hold their value better than digital versions.
– Cons: Need to have the physical game card or cartridge with you in order to play; generally more expensive than digital versions; can be scratched or damaged more easily than digital files.
How to transfer Switch games to an SD card
Nintendo Switch games are not cheap. The average price for a Switch game is around $60, and some of the most popular games, like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, can cost upwards of $70. With prices like that, you’re going to want to get as much use out of your games as possible.
Fortunately, the Nintendo Switch has a microSD card slot that allows you to expand the console’s storage. This is perfect for people who have a lot of digital games or for those who want to keep their physical games collection to a minimum. This article will show you how to transfer Switch games to an SD card.
Before you start, there are a few things you’ll need:
-A physical copy of the game you want to transfer (cartridge or download code)
-A microSD card (at least 32GB)
-A computer with a microSD card reader (optional)
To transfer a Switch game from your console to an SD card, simply insert the game cartridge into the Switch console or insert the SD card into the console if you have a digital copy. Then, open the main menu and select “Data Management.” From there, select “Manage Software” and then “Copy Software.” Select the game you want to transfer and choose “Copy Edition & Save Data.” Choose an empty space on your SD card and select “OK” when prompted. The game will now be transferred to your SD card.
If you want to transfer a Switch game from your computer to an SD card, you can do so by inserting the SD card into your computer using an SD card reader. Then, open up the file explorer and navigate to the location of your Switch game files. Select all of the files related to the game you want to transfer and Copy/Paste them onto your SD card. Once the files have been copied over, eject the SD card from your computer and insert it into your Nintendo Switch console. The game will now be available to play from your SD card.
How to expand your Switch game storage with an external hard drive
If you’ve ever gone to download a new game on your Nintendo Switch only to be greeted with the message that you don’t have enough space, you know how frustrating it can be. Luckily, there’s an easy solution: just buy an external hard drive!
A good external hard drive for the Switch will be relatively small and portable (so you can take it with you on the go), have a USB 3.0 connection (for fast data transfer), and offer at least 1TB of storage (which should be enough for most gamers).
Once you’ve got your hard drive, simply connect it to one of the Switch’s USB ports, and then open up the Settings menu. From there, select “Data Management,” then “Manage Software.” You’ll see a list of all the titles currently installed on your system; just select the ones you want to move to your external hard drive and hit “Copy.” That’s it!
If you ever need to free up space on your Switch’s internal storage, simply connect your external hard drive and repeat the process above in reverse.
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