As a lifelong gamer, I feel like I’m constantly playing ‘storage Tetris’ on my PC’s SSD. It seems every new AAA title demands another 100GB of precious space. That got me wondering: what are the absolute biggest storage hogs in modern gaming?
I dug through my own game library, scoured official store pages, and did the research to find the Top 20 champions of file size. Some of these you’ll expect, but the game at number one genuinely shocked me. Let’s dive in, but you might want to check your remaining disk space first.
Honorable Mention: GTA V – Premium Edition (114 GB)
Not on the list officially, but it had to be mentioned. GTA V is a legendary open-world crime simulator. The recent PC version clocks in at 114 GB, and that’s without the legacy edition, which took up far less space. If you’ve downloaded it, let us know in the comments how long it took!
Here is the list of the Top 20 Biggest Games by File Size
20. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition – 120 GB
The Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition includes single-player base content and over 40 DLC from the highly acclaimed Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3 games, including promo weapons, armors, and packs — remastered and optimized for 4K Ultra HD. This remastered RPG trilogy includes 4K support, updated textures, improved gameplay mechanics, and over 40 DLCs, making the size hit a solid 120 GB.
19. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War – 125 GB
Black Ops Cold War, the direct sequel to Call of Duty®: Black Ops, will drop fans into the depths of the Cold War’s volatile geopolitical battle of the early 1980s. With a full campaign, multiplayer, and fan-favorite Zombies mode, plus ultra-high-resolution textures, this one hits a 125 GB size mark.
If there’s one game that symbolizes the “storage wars” of modern gaming and consistently makes the Top 20 Biggest Games by File Size lists, it’s Call of Duty: Warzone.
18. Assassin’s Creed: Shadows – 125 GB
Experience an epic action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal shinobi assassin and powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Set in feudal Japan with two protagonists, stealth mechanics, and a dynamic open world. The size? 125 GB – and possibly more with future DLCs.
17. Black Myth: Wukong – 130 GB
Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG based on Chinese mythology. You play as the Destined One, embarking on a journey filled with challenges and wonders to uncover the hidden truths behind a remarkable legend from the past. Inspired by the classic tale “Journey to the West,” this highly anticipated game features over 100 boss fights and is developed using Unreal Engine 5. Please note that it requires 130 GB of storage space.
16. Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition – 135 GB
Borderlands 3 is a first-person shooter video game that combines action and role-playing elements. Developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K, it was released in 2019 as a sequel to 2012’s Borderlands 2, making it the fourth installment in the main Borderlands series. The game features multiple planets, six downloadable content (DLC) packs, additional characters, and various cosmetic items. The total size of the game, including all its content, is approximately 135 GB.
15. Monster Hunter Wilds – 135 GB
Monster Hunter Wilds is the latest entry in the beast-slaying franchise. We’ve already created a dedicated video about its core mechanics, but here’s a quick overview: every monster fight in this game feels like a cinematic experience. The environment isn’t just a backdrop—it plays a crucial role in the gameplay. With its massive scale, stunning visuals, and dynamic world mechanics, the game requires 135 GB of storage. This requirement may increase with future updates. In summary, every monster encounter is cinematic, the world is dynamic, and the visuals are incredible. To accommodate all this, the game needs 135 GB of space, and this might grow with upcoming updates.
14. Starfield – 140 GB
Starfield, Bethesda’s ambitious space RPG. While the game didn’t quite live up to everyone’s sky-high expectations, there’s no denying the sheer scale and ambition behind it.
Starfield lets you explore over 1,000 planets, each crafted with detailed environments, unique biomes, and in some cases, full cityscapes. The graphics and lighting are top-tier, and the immersion level is intense. Combine all of this with cinematic cutscenes and high-resolution assets, and you’re looking at a file size that clocks in around 140 GB.
Whether or not the game was worth the hype — that’s for you to decide. But one thing’s for sure: it takes up a serious chunk of your SSD.
13. The Last of Us Part II Remastered – 150 GB
Next up is The Last of Us Part II Remastered, a PlayStation classic that recently made its way to PC. This edition takes the already cinematic experience to the next level, with improved visuals, quicker load times, and new gameplay modes such as the No Return roguelike survival mode.
The game’s post-apocalyptic setting is rich in detail, and technological advancements heightened the emotional impact of Ellie’s journey. From lifelike character models to accurate lighting and fluent animations, the remastered edition requires approximately 150 GB of storage.
If you want a story-driven game that will tug at your heartstrings while pushing your system to its limits, this is the one. Just make sure you have the space.
12. Horizon Forbidden West – 150 GB
Horizon Forbidden West, one of PlayStation’s hallmark exclusives, transports gamers back to a breathtaking post-apocalyptic world where gigantic robotic beasts roam freely — and you, as Aloy, must survive and explore what remains of society.
The sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn significantly improves the world with denser landscapes, smarter AI, and new exploration mechanics, including underwater traversal and gliding. With next-generation visuals, larger stories, and updated fighting mechanics, it’s clear to see why this game requires 150 GB of your valuable storage.
Whether you’re conquering mountains, diving into submerged cities, or facing towering mechs, every inch of the landscape is meticulously built, and your SSD will undoubtedly feel the weight of it.
11. Red Dead Redemption 2 – 150 GB
There are huge open-world games, and then there’s Red Dead Redemption 2. It’s one of the few games where I’ve spent 140+ hours and never regretted just tracking an animal through the wilderness, completely forgetting about the main story.
That single experience shows you where the 150 GB of data went. It’s not just in the map size; it’s in the insane level of detail. Every NPC has a daily routine, every animal has a complex animation, and the mud on Arthur’s boots changes depending on the soil in the Heartlands versus the swamps of Lemoyne.
The massive size is a direct result of Rockstar’s obsession with realism, from the uncompressed audio of thousands of lines of dialogue to the high-resolution textures that make every sunset look like a painting.
10. Baldur’s Gate 3 – 150 GB
As we move further down the Top 20 Biggest Games by File Size, you’ll notice a trend—massive open worlds, HD textures, and uncompressed audio are the main culprits.
Baldur’s Gate 3, the 2023 Game of the Year winner, is a modern CRPG masterpiece built on the Dungeons & Dragons foundation. Larian Studios created this game, which mixes dense storytelling, intricate turn-based combat, and extensive role-playing elements that reward each decision you make.
The game is jam-packed with content, including hundreds of hours of dialogue, several branching stories, and a vast cast of characters, all brought to life through motion capture and voice acting. The game’s richness and player agency are so intricate that its storyline became one of the longest ever written for a video game, only recently surpassed by titles like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is 150 GB in size, thanks in large part to its high-resolution visuals, theatrical cutscenes, and a world that reacts to nearly every decision you make. Whether you’re leading a group into battle, debating moral quandaries, or romancing a vampire spawn, this RPG is worth every byte of its file size.
9. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – 155 GB
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Jedi: Fallen Order, and it takes everything fans loved about the original and amps it up to eleven. This third-person action-adventure follows Cal Kestis’ voyage and combines lightsaber battles, Force powers, and exploration across numerous planets into a vast cinematic experience.
The game is built on a more powerful engine with beautifully detailed settings, and it has improved character models, next-generation lighting, and larger, more open sections. New gameplay concepts, like as rideable monsters and deeper lightsaber positions, make the experience even more challenging.
All of these enhancements come at a cost: a massive file size of 155 GB. The game’s many areas, rich animations, and high-fidelity cutscenes take up a significant amount of disk space. But for Star Wars enthusiasts looking for an engaging narrative and furious combat, Jedi: Survivor is well worth the storage space.
8. STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl – 160 GB
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is one of the most ambitious post-apocalyptic survival horror games ever made, and it shows – not only in gameplay, but also in its vast 160 GB size.
Set in the radioactive wastelands of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, this game is powered by Unreal Engine 5, which provides next-generation graphics, complex settings, and hauntingly realistic lighting. You’ll fight monsters, investigate dark oddities, and make crucial decisions in a world where every bullet and bandage matters.
However, with big ambition comes enormous storage suffering – STALKER 2 has already been chastised for its lack of optimization, to the point that even powerful rigs like an RTX 5090 can suffer frame drops. Despite this, the game’s atmosphere, powerful survival mechanics, and dynamic storytelling make it worth keeping an eye on.
And while your SSD may cry, your inner hardcore gamer will most likely thank you.
7. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla – 160 GB
Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla immerses players in the cruel and magnificent realm of Viking legend, and it doesn’t hold back on scale, scope, or storage requirements. With an install size of 160 GB, it is one of the largest entries in Ubisoft’s renowned franchise.
You put on the fur-lined boots of Eivor, a formidable Norse warrior who raided Anglo-Saxon countries, formed alliances, and established a Viking settlement in 9th-century England. The game contains enormous open-world landscapes, from Norway’s cold fjords to England’s lush fields, all brought to life with high-resolution visuals, realistic weather systems, and lifelike NPC interactions.
Valhalla is jam-packed with content, including hundreds of quests, intricate RPG systems, base-building, and many storylines that branch based on your choices. Add in post-launch DLCs like Wrath of the Druids and Siege of Paris, and it’s clear why this game takes up so much space.
Whether you’re here for the backstory or the longships, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla is a heavyweight in every way, and your hard drive will feel the impact.
6. Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond (VR) – 175 GB
Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond takes the classic combat franchise to virtual reality, with a genuinely huge footprint: 175 GB of storage. This is more than just a game; it’s a full-fledged VR war simulation experience created by Respawn Entertainment specifically for PC VR systems such as Oculus Rift.
Set during World War II, the game puts you in the shoes of an OSS agent (the precursor to the CIA), immersing you in high-stakes missions across Europe, ranging from damaging Nazi strongholds to participating in full-scale combat. What makes it so heavy on your hard drive?
- Photorealistic environments captured from real-world locations
- High-fidelity motion capture for realistic character animations
- Dozens of fully rendered weapons and gear
- An entire documentary series embedded within the game, called Gallery, featuring interviews with real WWII veterans
VR games require larger data loads due to the necessity for ultra-high-resolution textures, 3D audio, and low-latency asset streaming, which are all required to avoid motion sickness and maintain immersion.
It’s one of the most ambitious VR games ever created, both in terms of scope and scale. If you have the space and a strong stomach, this is a battle story unlike any other.
Top 5 Biggest Games by File Size
5. God of War: Ragnarok – 190 GB
God of War: Ragnarok is more than just a game; it’s an epic Norse narrative delivered on a scale few titles can match, which is why it requires 190 GB of storage.
Santa Monica Studio’s PlayStation-exclusive (which will soon be available on PC) sends Kratos and Atreus further into the Nine Realms. It builds on every feature of its 2018 predecessor with:
- Vast and densely detailed open environments
- Seamless transitions between cinematics and gameplay
- 4K textures, high-poly character models, and lifelike lighting effects
- Multiple accessibility layers, language options, and audio tracks
Unlike many action games, which use tactics like skyboxes or cutscenes to disguise loading, Ragnarok is practically flawless. Every world is filled with detailed environmental storytelling, dynamic weather, and a plethora of voice-acted side quests.
Another major factor in its size? The game includes complete dual audio and cinematic support in multiple languages, each requiring its own set of high-quality files.
Whether you’re exploring the dwarven forges of Svartalfheim or facing Thor in a realm-shattering duel, God of War: Ragnarok pushes both narrative and graphic quality to their limits — and your SSD will feel the strain of that ambition.
4. Microsoft Flight Simulator – 200 GB
Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the most ambitious and visually spectacular games ever created, with a download size of around 200 GB. The magnificent recreation of the entire Earth, utilizing real-world satellite data and photogrammetry, is what makes this game so huge. This enables players to soar above intricately detailed towns, mountains, rivers, and monuments with amazing precision.
The game constantly broadcasts real-time weather, live air traffic, and dynamic lighting conditions, creating a truly immersive flying experience that feels alive and ever-changing. The clouds, runways, water reflections, and even minor elements such as runway lights and airport terminals are meticulously sculpted and rendered in 4K quality for spectacular views.
For flight enthusiasts and casual gamers alike, it offers a unique blend of exploration, technical challenge, and breathtaking beauty, making its massive file size more than justified.
3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) – 250+ GB
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III’s 2023 release is not only big in popularity but also in size, with PC versions topping 250 GB. While the main game takes up more than 100 GB, the addition of huge multiplayer modes, fan-favorite zombie experiences, Warzone battle royale, and high-resolution texture packs raises the total storage required well above 250 GB—some users have reported amounts nearing 270 GB.
This astonishing download size shows the game’s commitment to providing cutting-edge graphics, intensive gameplay, and a diverse range of material. The multiplayer landscapes are complex and diverse, the story is cinematic and engaging, and the zombie mode offers never-ending cooperative combat. Warzone integration creates a continually developing battle royale experience with frequent upgrades and new content drops, all of which contribute to increased storage requirements.
Players will need a strong PC and enough storage space due to the large install size. However, for aficionados of the franchise, the wide range of game types and superb production values more than make up for the space required.
2. ARK: Survival Evolved – 300-400 GB
ARK: Survival Evolved is an open-world survival game notable for its vast scale and intensive gameplay, in which players tame dinosaurs, establish bases, and navigate perilous regions. Its file size can range between 300 and 400 GB, particularly after installing many DLCs and expansions.
The game’s massive size is owing to its wide, realistic areas populated with a variety of biomes and species, all produced with high-quality textures and models. The multiplayer mode accommodates massive player communities, resulting in dynamic and persistent landscapes that necessitate extensive data storage. Several expansions have added new places, animals, and gameplay elements, expanding the game’s overall size.
1. DCS World (Digital Combat Simulator) – 500 GB
Now we have DCS World, which is not your normal game; it is a full-fledged, highly realistic combat flight simulator that even experienced pilots use for training. With a file size of over 500 GB, this simulator requires significant storage space and hardware power.
Every aircraft’s cockpit has been thoroughly reconstructed, with complete operation of switches, buttons, and radar systems, resulting in an unsurpassed degree of realism and authenticity. The simulator includes a variety of fighter jets, helicopters, and other aircraft, many of which are quite accurately modeled.
The immense scale is driven by comprehensive topography data, high-resolution textures, and detailed environments that cover vast geographical areas, including realistic cities, airfields, and landscapes. The simulation also contains advanced flying mechanics, weather systems, and mission scenarios that immerse gamers in realistic aerial combat situations.
DCS World’s emphasis on realism necessitates a strong PC and sufficient disk space—half a terabyte is not uncommon. This level of realism has made it a favorite of both serious flight sim enthusiasts and professional pilots, providing a true-to-life flying experience that goes far beyond normal gaming.
Why Are Game File Sizes Exploding?
It’s not just poor optimization. Several key factors contribute to these massive sizes:
- 4K Textures: To look crisp on modern displays, game assets like wood, metal, and clothing require incredibly high-resolution image files.
- Uncompressed Audio: Developers are increasingly using uncompressed audio for dialogue, sound effects, and music to provide the richest soundscape, which takes up much more space.
- Cinematic Cutscenes: Pre-rendered cutscenes, especially in 4K, are essentially high-quality movie files embedded in the game.
- World Complexity: Games like Microsoft Flight Simulator stream the real world, while games like Baldur’s Gate 3 have to store data for thousands of choices and consequences.
How to Manage Your Game Storage
Feeling the squeeze? Here are a few quick tips to manage these storage monsters:
- Invest in an NVMe SSD: They are faster than older SSDs and HDDs, and prices have become much more affordable. A dedicated 1TB or 2TB drive for games is a lifesaver.
- Use an External SSD: For console gamers on PS5 or Xbox Series X/S, a high-speed external SSD is a great way to store and play older titles.
- Do a Regular “Cull”: Be honest. If you haven’t played a game in a year, it might be time to uninstall it. Your save files are usually stored in the cloud, so you can always reinstall it later!
Final Thoughts
So there you have it – the Top 20 Biggest Games by File Size available on PC and consoles. Some of them are epic experiences, others might just be poorly optimized space hogs. Either way, one thing’s for sure: modern gaming isn’t SSD-friendly.
Have you played any of these Top 20 Biggest Games by File Size on PC or Console? Let us know in the comments!
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