You’re ready to play that new Nintendo Switch game everyone’s been talking about. You’ve waited and waited, and finally the release date is here. But when you go to download the game, you find out your system doesn’t have enough storage. So how many games can you actually store on the Nintendo Switch?
The Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite offer 32 GB of storage, while the Switch OLED offers 64 GB. Most games require about 10 GB of space, so you can store 3-6 games on the console (though some games are much larger than 10 GB). SD cards are a great way to boost space on your device.
So, if you’re using Nintendo Switch, how do you know you need a card and how can you be sure you’ll always have enough storage? This depends on the specific games you play, how much storage they take up, and where you play. Let’s take a look at why you might want an SD card and what size to go for.
How Much Data Can You Store on Nintendo Switch?
Storage on a Nintendo Switch depends on a few factors, including the specific type of Switch device you have. The Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite hold 32 GB, while the Switch OLED offers 64 GB.
Neither of these is enough to hold many games. The majority of games require at least 10 GB of space, so you can see how fast you’ll run out of storage. All it takes is 3-6 games.
That’s where SD cards come in. But the question is, how much storage should that SD card have? Since they come in all sizes, you have lots of options.
There are many SD cards on the market at various prices, but don’t always go for the least expensive one. Those might contain malware and not be as effective. Stick to trusted brands and sellers, and look at reviews before you purchase.
And before you go too much further, be aware of our related guides that you may want to skim in tandem with this. We have lot’s of detailed sources on the Switch, like how to pick a bundle with the games you want, what to do when you run out of space, and what do do if you have any problems with the Nintendo Switch’s game card reader itself or the overall Nintendo Switch data usage.
What Happens When The Switch Storage Fills Up?
If you fill your storage all the way up, the console will start to struggle for elbow room to operate it’s own OS in, and it will basically stop being able to save or run games at this point. Tl;dr? It will start crashing when the storage is full, and may force you to reset the console.
What Size SD Card Should I Get?
The best choice would be to get a card with at least 64 GB, such as the Gigastone High Speed Micro SD (on Amazon). With a card of this size, you’ll have enough space to hold a few games that take up different amounts of storage.
If you only buy digital games and don’t use any physical ones, then you’ll want to buy an SD card with a higher storage capacity. That’s so you’ll have enough storage to hold all (or at least a lot of) the games.
Cards with smaller amounts of storage will require you to delete, archive, and reinstall games as you use them. This can get annoying and tedious and probably isn’t something you want to spend a lot of time doing. Therefore, it’s worth the extra cost for a bigger SD card.
Those who use plenty of physical games in addition to or instead of digital ones can get away with a 64-GB card or one that is slightly bigger. If you only plan to use a small number of physical cartridges, then you can buy a 64 GB card too.
On the other hand, if you buy a lot of games and plan to use the cartridges, then you’ll want a bigger card. Try one at 128 GB or 256 GB, which should be plenty of space to allow for storing multiple games. At this size, you might not have to uninstall and then reinstall any games.
If you play a lot and use multiple games, there’s also the option to get a card with a maximum of 512 GB of space, like the SanDisk 512 GB micoSDXC-Card (on Amazon).
If you get into a situation where you need multiple SD cards for your games, you’ll need a computer to transfer the information from one to another. It’s not an easy process but it can be done. However, it might make more sense to get one card with more space so you can keep everything together.
It’s also important to note that with an SD card, the Switch’s built-in storage and SD card storage can be used at the same time, so this will give you some more space to work with.
New games are constantly coming out with even larger file sizes, so this is another reason to go big when it comes to an SD card.
File Sizes of Nintendo Switch Games
It’s important to get an idea of how much memory different games use so that you can figure out which SD card is best for you.
Here’s a list of some Switch games that take up a lot of space:
- South Park: Fractured But Whole: 17.3 GB – Play as the New Kid and fight rival superheroes in this game based on the popular TV show.
- Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy: 17.6 GB – Fight your way past enemies and others in this popular series that keeps you coming back for more.
- Attack On Titan 2: The Final Battle: 17.8 GB – This anime game allows you to play as any character and see what it’s like to fight from each one’s perspective.
- Observer: 18 GB – This game has its roots in psychological horror with strong graphics, realistic-looking people and settings in an environment with war and plagues.
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice: 18.2 GB – This award-winning fantasy action game is big on combat and psychosis, and it contains lots of references that you’ll want to pay close attention to.
- Wolfenstein: Youngblood: 20.9 GB – Widely thought of as the worst of the Wolfenstein series, this game has minimal plot and weak characters, so it probably isn’t worth all the space it takes up.
- WWE 2K18: 21.1 GB – This game isn’t as strong as other wrestling games, the performance is low, it contains bugs, and it takes up way too much space for what you get.
- Doom: 21.7 GB – The design, look, feel and intensity hit the mark, making this game a top choice and one worth playing even with all the space it consumes.
- Mortal Kombat 11: 22.5 GB – This game contains all the basics and characters, and it’s fun, but it lacks visual strength compared to other versions in the series.
- NBA2K18: 23.5 GB – Strong content, realistic-looking players, and good graphics make this a popular choice with everything you could want in an NBA game, but keep the big space requirement in mind.
- Resident Evil: Revelations 2: 23.6 GB – Superb visuals and high performance make this one of the best games available on Switch if you can stomach all the space it takes up.
- DC Universe Online: 24.1 GB – While this game’s makeup is older and it reminds you of games from way back in the day, it does play well on Switch.
- Apex Legends: 24.8 GB – This high-energy shooting and battle game gets many points with a unique setup and challenges to keep things interesting and exciting.
- GTA Trilogy: 25.4 GB – The revamped, popular Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series makes this a very fun option, and you’ll be reminded of how this became a household name in gaming and pop culture.
- L.A. Noire: 27.4 GB – In this crime thriller that keeps its strong performance from versions on other devices, play as a detective to help solve mysteries.
- NBA 2K19: 31.5 GB – This game is very similar to its 2K18 predecessor; not much changes besides some small improvements and roster updates — and it uses even more memory.
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: 31.5 GB – Play as a bounty-hunter and monster-killer in this action-packed thriller that will take you on many awesome adventures.
- DOOM Slayers Collection: 32.2 GB – Go through more than 20 years of demon slaying on different planets and get a real history of this series.
- NBA2K20: 32.9 GB – Small improvements from NBA2K19 and more memory required, including having to reserve 5 GB and the use of a microSD card.
- NBA2K21: 39.4 GB – The size of this game is larger than the Switch’s internal memory; there are added customizable features, it looks great, and it runs well.
Digital vs. Physical Switch Games
The great dilemma for any Switch gamer: Physical or digital versions? If you’re not looking to build up a collection, you can save a lot of shelf space by using the digital versions. You won’t need to think about where you put them, losing them, or bringing them with you when traveling.
Furthermore, if you upgrade Switch consoles or get a new one, the digital games will still be there since they are linked to your Nintendo Account.
Another benefit is that you can play the digital versions right away — no waiting in lines on release day or for the game you ordered to arrive. Those who favor the environment would want to know that the digital games cut down on pollution and waste, as there’s no plastic or garbage to worry about.
If you do opt for digital, you’ll need an SD card, given how much space the games take up.
For those who favor the physical cartridges, there are some benefits:
- It’s much easier to trade, exchange, or take the cartridge to a friend and use it in their Switch.
- Collector’s editions come with memorabilia such as statues, stickers, and books.
- You can save money by purchasing a smaller-size SD card, as you won’t need as much storage on the console.
- Buy, sell, or trade the games with ease and find deals by purchasing used versions.