Key Takeaways
- Be prepared for game file sizes ranging from 120 GB to as much as 400 GB, especially for content-rich RPGs and shooters.
- Popular games like Destiny 2 and Red Dead Redemption 2 require up to 160 GB of space, making storage management crucial.
With the evolution of technology in the gaming world, graphics and quality-of-life features have improved substantially compared to a decade ago. However, with improved technology comes bigger file sizes in order to fit everything into the game.
Patches, updates, and DLC can also contribute to bigger file sizes, and since those things are very commonplace now, you’ll most likely have a bigger game in a month than you did on day one. Some titles, in particular, really ramp up the file size to the point where it’s ridiculous. Here are some of the worst offenders on Steam.
Updated on October 2, 2024, by PJ Molloy: Several incredible PlayStation 5 ports have launched on Steam over the past few weeks, many with astronomical file sizes. We’ve updated the list with some of the biggest ones.
20 Destiny 2
87+ GB
Destiny 2 is a first-person shooter with some RPG elements, including different classes to choose from and skill trees to upgrade. But no matter your class, you’re a Guardian whose job is to protect humanity from alien invaders.
Online free-to-play games usually have many big updates added to them over time, and this one is no exception. It offers multiple expansions for you to go through, which enrich everything from story to gameplay. However, if you want to experience them all, you’re looking at it taking up 102.6 GB in total on Steam. And even without the DLC, Destiny 2 is still a bulky game at 87 GB.
19 Final Fantasy 15 Windows Edition
110 GB
Final Fantasy 15 is a JRPG focusing on Prince Noctis and his friends taking back his kingdom and discovering the truth behind tragic events. With all the DLC, the game is around 110 GB. It makes sense when you consider that the graphics are realistic and detailed, and it’s an open-world game with lots of content.
If you opt to download the 4k resolution texture pack that Steam offers, the file size jumps up to around 160 GB. If you’re thinking of giving the game a chance, keep in mind how much space and time it’ll take.
18 Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
120 GB
The Mass Effect games are some of the most iconic ones in the sci-fi genre. You play as a commander leading a team in a futuristic tale of war and betrayal. One of the series’ main strong points is how the story and characters’ fates change based on the choices you make throughout.
Needless to say, the Mass Effect series is worth playing, and Mass Effect: Legendary Edition gives you the first three games plus their DLC. With all that in one bundle, there will inevitably be a huge file size. Legendary Edition is 120 GB, which is even bigger than the original three games combined. But that’s because it adds technical and graphical improvements, especially to the first one.
17 Red Dead Redemption 2
120 GB
If you ask most people, Red Dead Redemption 2 is more than worth playing. It’s an open-world game set in the United States during the Wild West era. Cowboys are always cool, and the game brings that time period to life. However, you should definitely keep in mind that it takes up around 120 GB of space.
With all the content you have in terms of the main story, side quests, and NPCs, it’s no wonder the game’s file size is so huge. Not to mention the realistic graphics and elaborate animations for even the smallest things.
16 Microsoft Flight Simulator
127+ GB
As you may have guessed, Microsoft Flight Simulator lets you simulate flying planes (and other airborne vehicles like jets) around the world. It’s extremely realistic, making for a pleasantly immersive experience if you’re looking to try your hand at flying. It even has weather conditions that will affect how you navigate your plane.
With a game like Microsoft Flight Simulator, it makes sense why it’s so big. After all, the world is huge, and you can see virtually anything in it. Its file size starts at 127 GB, but that could (and probably will) go higher as it downloads and updates real-world data to make what you’re seeing as accurate to life as possible.
15 Black Myth: Wukong
130 GB
Based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, Black Myth: Wukong is an epic action RPG about the Destined One, who sets out to revive a legendary Buddhist named Sun Wukong by collecting his lost six senses.
In addition to engaging combat and a gripping narrative, Black Myth: Wukong delivers jaw-dropping visuals with highly detailed textures and photorealistic environments. Unfortunately, such a massive adventure comes with a steep price for your storage. Be prepared to free up 130 GB of space to experience this modern masterpiece.
14 Borderlands 3: Director’s Cut
135 GB
Borderlands 3 is a first-person shooter with RPG elements. It features quirky humor and even quirkier weapons. The Director’s Cut offers a few extras, like more side missions and a look behind the scenes. With all the DLC, the game totals around 135 GB. Though the graphics are more stylized than realistic, the textures are still high-res, contributing to the giant size.
There are also a lot more sound effects for weapons than in the previous Borderlands games. Basically, Borderlands 3 is a perfect example of many little improvements making a larger file size. Alone, they might not be much, but together, they make a big difference.
13 Halo: The Master Chief Collection
137 GB
Halo is such a big series that it can rival Call of Duty in terms of popularity. Playing it is a no-brainer if you’re into first-person shooters, especially when they’re set in a sci-fi world. The Master Chief Collection allows you to experience six entire games, making it quite the bargain.
You can save money on sales with this collection, but unfortunately, you can’t save your storage space. If you want to have every campaign in all the games and be able to play multiplayer, it’ll cost you approximately 137.8 GB. The good news is that you can install one game at a time within the bundle, so it won’t immediately eat up all the space on your PC.
12 Starfield
140 GB
Starfield is an RPG that was all over streaming platforms when it first came out. It’s set in 2330, and you play as a custom character in a team of spacefarers who hunt lost relics for a living. There are over 1,000 diverse planets to explore, from barely-touched environments to full-on cities that make you feel like you’re in Las Vegas.
Of course, with that kind of planet quantity, as well as all the ship and character options, plus the aliens you encounter, it’s no wonder Starfield is around 140 GB. You need an initial space of 125 GB to download the game, but the updates it’s gotten (and continues to get) have just increased that number.
11 Forspoken
150 GB
Square Enix’s Forspoken is an open-world RPG about Frey, a young thief who is mysteriously transported from New York City to the fantasy realm of Athia. Equipped with new magical abilities, Frey must learn a slew of powerful spells to survive the many dangers that await in this strange new world.
Thanks to its massive open world, highly detailed environments, and high resolution, you’ll need a powerful PC and a staggering 150 GB of free space to experience this adventure. The file size is even more atrocious considering the PS5 version is 63 GB smaller.
10 Horizon Forbidden West
150 GB
Hi-res open-world games are a surefire way to fill up your hard drive, and Horizon Forbidden West is no exception. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the plot follows a hunter named Aloy, who explores the ruins of the United States in search of a way to save humanity.
All of the usual storage-eating factors can be found here. The vast open world, detailed textures, jaw-dropping graphics, and dozens of hours of content amount to 150 GB. Better make some room on your PC if you plan to explore the Forbidden West any time soon.
9 Baldur’s Gate 3
150 GB
Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of those games that exploded in popularity when it first launched and is still being talked about to this day. The world and gameplay are based on Dungeons & Dragons. You take the role of someone who’s been infected with a parasite that gives you both immense power and a desire for destruction. Whether you give in or resist determines what happens to you and the world around you.
The different routes you can take aren’t just flavor text; they come with full-fledged cutscenes. To account for all of these possibilities and all the interactions you can have with your companions, it’s no wonder the game needs at least 150 GB of space to install. With Baldur’s Gate 3 still being updated constantly, you can expect it to become even bigger down the line.
8 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
155 GB
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a direct sequel to Fallen Order. The story follows Cal Kestis, a Jedi Knight on the run from the Empire. Though he’s an established character, you can customize his hair, outfit, and even lightsaber color. There are also different fighting stances and lightsaber styles you can use in combat to keep things fresh.
But this variety in gameplay and character appearance isn’t really the reason for a whopping 155 GB of required space. The main culprit is the high-definition textures and effects that Survivor has, which are mandatory rather than an option you can toggle. While the 4K graphics do make everything look beautiful, they come at the cost of taking up a big chunk of your storage space.
7 Final Fantasy 16
170 GB
Final Fantasy 16 hit Steam over a year after it launched on PlayStation 5, sporting a much larger file size than its console counterpart. This award-winning action RPG follows a warrior named Clive Rosfield, who gets tangled up in an intense war while trying to avenge his brother’s death.
Featuring a massive single-player campaign and 11 hours of cutscenes, Final Fantasy 16 can easily keep you immersed for a very long time. Granted, that amount of content leads to a hefty file size. The game takes up a whopping 170 GB of space – 60 GB more than the PS5 version.
6 Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
175 GB
Like its title says, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is a first-person shooter set during the events of the Cold War. It’s also a sequel to the positively received Call of Duty: Black Ops. If you’re interested in experiencing the Cold War as a soldier, you need to be okay with a file size of 175 GB for the game.
The game is huge, whether because of the maps, assets, or lack of compression. That’s not all; if you want the best graphics the game can offer, the size goes up to a whopping 250 GB. This one game can take the place of multiple smaller titles, so make sure it’s worth it.
5 Medal Of Honor: Above And Beyond
177 GB
Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond is a VR game, which might be part of the reason it takes up a file size of 177 GB. It’s a first-person shooter set during the Second World War. Besides shooting at enemies, the game promises jumping from planes and swimming from sinking ships.
If war games are your thing, it could be worth experiencing in a virtual reality setting. The experience is bound to be more intense with VR. Just know that the file size is so big that you may have to delete some other things just to try it out.
4 God Of War: Ragnarok
190 GB
Initially a PlayStation exclusive, God of War: Ragnarok finally launched on Steam two years after its debut. As the sequel to 2018’s God of War, Ragnarok continues the story of Kratos, who must team up with his son Atreus to stop the titular universe-ending event.
This PC port preserves everything you love about the console version, including its spectacular combat and mind-blowing graphics. Sadly, PC owners need double the storage space to play through the adventure. Ragnarok takes up 190 GB on Steam – a stark contrast to its 84 GB file size on PS5.
3 DCS World
200+ GB
DCS World may be free to play, but your storage will certainly pay the price. Short for Digital Combat Simulator, DCS puts you in the cockpits of various military aircraft across several historical wars. In addition to participating in online battles, you can learn the ins and outs of how each aircraft works in real life.
If there’s one thing to be said about DCS, it doesn’t skimp on the details. On top of the highly detailed maps and cockpits, each aircraft comes with an extensive manual covering its history and operating systems. All of that totals to at least 200 GB, which doesn’t even include the 150 DLC packages.
2 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare
235 GB
Black Ops Cold War isn’t the only Call of Duty game that takes a massive chunk of your hard drive space. To be fair, the free-to-play Warzone bundled with Modern Warfare accounts for some of that 235 GB. Excluding Warzone saves you some space, but if you’re interested in both games, you’ll have to make a lot of room for them.
The game didn’t start at such a high file size (though it was still pretty high at over 100 GB). However, patches and updates have made it balloon up to where it is now.
1 Ark: Survival Evolved
400 GB
As its name suggests, Ark: Survival Evolved is a survival game where you must gather resources, craft items, and build structures to sustain yourself. What’s unique about it is that you can tame a variety of different dinosaurs to aid with your survival. You can even work with or against other players.
The game has a bunch of expansion packs and maps, but they contribute greatly to the huge file size of around 400 GB. Even if you delete some things, you could still be looking at a game that takes over 200 to 300 GB of space.