Nintendo has been on the cutting edge of consoles for as long as they've been in business, shifting the industry time and time again with consoles like the SNES, 3DS, Wii, and now the Nintendo Switch. Being a console you can play while at home or on the go, the Nintendo Switch is focused on uncompromised gaming no matter where you are.

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Of course, games need to be optimized for the console's docked and undocked modes to work properly. That can come at the cost of absurdly large file sizes, unfortunately. Ranging as high as almost 40 gigabytes (and very rarely even beyond that), here are the Nintendo Switch titles that take up the most space on your memory card.

Updated December 7, 2023 by Jacqueline Zalace: Games frequently change in size due to patches and updates. As such, we've updated this list with the most up-to-date file sizes. Additionally, we've added a few more games with impressive file sizes.

21 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - 16.3 GB

tears of the kingdom promotional image of link diving to sky island
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Released
May 12, 2023
Genre(s)
Action-Adventure , RPG
Developer(s)
Nintendo

After several years, the sequel Breath of the Wild finally launched, with a vast world to explore. Compared to other games on our list, 16.3 GB isn't the biggest, but it's still a hefty file size.

Interestingly, the first game in the series only clocked in at 128kB. This is incredibly tiny compared to Tears of the Kingdom, showing just how far the franchise has come since 1986. The Legend of Zelda is still going strong after all this time, with no sign of decline.

20 Fire Emblem Engage - 16.6 GB

Male and Female Alear stand together in front of the cast of Fire Emblem Engage.
Fire Emblem Engage

Released
January 20, 2023
Developer(s)
Intelligent Systems
Genre(s)
Tactical , JRPG

Next, we have Fire Emblem Engage. This is the seventeenth game in the franchise, launched early in 2023. While not as popular as Fire Emblem: Three Houses, it's nearly five GB larger than this entry in the franchise from 2019.

Like The Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem has roots in the 90s. The first game in the franchise, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, was available on the Switch for a short time and only required 26 MB of space.

19 Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy - 17.7 GB

Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm gameplay

The Nintendo Switch is an excellent console for releasing trilogies and game collections on; just look at Capcom's Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy or the Spyro Reignited Trilogy. The first Ultimate Ninja Storm game was released in 2008 to a generally positive reception, with the following games in the series considered some of the best Naruto games by fans.

The entire collection includes Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst, taking up a whopping 17.7 GB just to run. The fourth game in the series takes up 13.2 GB on its own, with advanced graphics and DLC content taking up even more space than the last game.

18 Observer - 18 GB

Observer cutscene screenshot
Observer

Released
August 15, 2017
Developer(s)
Bloober Team
Genre(s)
Survival Horror

Fans of horror (particularly psychological horror) will no doubt know and perhaps already love this game. Launched on the Switch in February of 2019, Observer has a strong cyberpunk feel, reaping the benefits of Unreal Engine 4 and an excellent art style and aesthetic.

The attention to detail and overall cohesion makes almost every screenshot look engaging. Aesthetics often come at the price of space, however, and that space is a sizeable 18 GB in order to run on the Switch. Another reason to get the next size up in SD cards.

17 SD Gundam Battle Alliance - 18.3 GB

sd gundam battle alliance

SD Gundam Battle Alliance is based on the figures in the classic Gundam series. In this franchise, you can find games, manga, anime, and model kits dedicated to the wide range of content. In SD Gundam Battle Alliance, you will be able to unlock mobile suits, using them to battle against tough enemies.

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If you are a fan of Warriors-type games, then SD Gundam Battle Alliance is worth a try. The games are similar, but rather than focusing on huge waves of enemies, SD Gundam Battle Alliance focuses a bit more on combat skills and combos.

16 Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice - 18.4 GB

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

Released
August 16, 2017
Genre(s)
Action , Adventure
Developer(s)
Ninja Theory

Though Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice has been around since 2017, it only got a Switch release in 2019. This dark fantasy/action-adventure game is chock-full of content and interesting references that can be overlooked during a first playthrough, naturally justifying a second one.

Not only has it won over a dozen awards, but it also has a unique death mechanic, excellent sound design, and acts as a unique and extensively-researched depiction of psychosis. This combat-heavy game is well worth the 18.4 GB, especially at its affordable price.

15 Monster Hunter Rise - 19.8 GB

monster hunter rise sunbreak key cover art with hunters and buddies fighting malzeno
Monster Hunter Rise

Released
March 26, 2021
Genre(s)
Action , RPG
Developer(s)
Capcom

With how big Monster Hunter Rise feels, it's surprising that this game isn't further up our list. Launched originally on Nintendo Switch, Monster Hunter Rise follows the format of previous Monster Hunter games; prepare in the village/town hub, hunt monsters, and upgrade your gear.

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Since launch, Monster Hunter Rise has also seen the release of DLC, bringing new monsters, quests, items, and story to play through. With how much content is available in the game, the 19.8 GB file size is well worth it.

14 MLB The Show 22 - 19.9 GB

A screenshot showing gameplay in MLB The Show 22
MLB The Show 22

Released
April 5, 2022
Genre(s)
Sports
Developer(s)
San Diego Studio

Sports games on the Nintendo Switch are usually pretty big. In fact, the largest game on the Switch is an NBA game. With this in mind, it makes sense that MLB The Show 22 has made it on our list.

In this recent MLB game, we see an expanded March to October game mode, giving you more content to play through. Overall, fans of baseball will find this a worthy investment in both time and storage space.

13 South Park: The Fractured But Whole - 20.1 GB

South Park FracturedButWhole
South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Genre(s)
RPG
Developer(s)
Ubisoft San Francisco

A game all about comedy and zany satire, South Park: The Fractured But Whole is a newer entry in South Park's series of video games, with the Nintendo Switch version being released in 2018. Players control the New Kid as they become entangled in rival superhero factions fighting to create their own franchises.

The game does a great job of expanding the fictional universe while adding classic references to the show that started it all, but the sheer size of South Park, its characters, and its content will take up a "whole" lot of space on your Switch console.

12 DC Universe Online - 20.3 GB

DC Universe Online Players Fighting Cerberus Raid boss With Wonder Woman
DC Universe Online

Released
January 11, 2011
Genre(s)
Action , MMORPG
Publisher(s)
Daybreak Game Company

Judging DC Universe Online by its own merits leaves a lot to be desired. The game features a bland story with dated graphics from the seventh generation of consoles.

As a port to the Switch, however, this is a phenomenal port. The game plays exceptionally well on the Switch's controls and runs at a solid framerate. Fans of DC Universe Online will most certainly appreciate the fantastic port job here, if they can afford to sacrifice 20.3 GB of space to play this dated MMO. Still, as a free game, it's worth a try.

11 Wolfenstein: Youngblood - 20.9 GB

Wolfenstein Youngblood firing at robot mech with flamethrower
Wolfenstein: Youngblood

Genre(s)
FPS
Developer(s)
MachineGames , Arkane Studios

Critics and fans agree that Wolfenstein: Youngblood is the weakest Wolfenstein entry in the series, supporting unengaging characters, a weak plot, and mechanical changes that ruin gunfights.

It also takes up a significant portion of your memory card. On the Switch, this subpar game takes a whopping 20.9 GB just to install, not including potential save file bloat or downloadable content. Considering how large this game is, Youngblood simply isn't worth the space needed to run it.

10 DOOM - 22 GB

Doom 2016 cover

Id Software's reboot of Doom is a masterclass in design. The game gets the adrenaline pumping with its metal soundtrack and brilliantly designed levels.

This game was over 50 gigabytes on the PC and console versions, so it is no surprise that it would take up plenty of space on the Switch. Doom 2016 takes 22 gigabytes of space to run on the Switch, but the game makes no compromises. It looks great, plays incredibly well—docked or not—and has all of the features you would expect. While large, it is definitely worth the memory card space.

9 GTA Trilogy - 22.7 GB

GTA Trilogy-2

It's been roughly two decades since Rockstar rocked the gaming world with its 3D renditions of the esteemed Grand Theft Auto series. These PS2 classics redefined—and indeed helped define—sandbox gaming. While the once grand, cinematic romps may seem a bit crude now, they still offer dozens of hours of laugh-out-loud fun gameplay, and take up ample space to boot.

Thanks to efforts by Grove Street Games to compile and spruce up the titles—Switch gamers can enjoy GTA's best of the best, with three of the strongest titles in the franchise. Even when disregarding inevitable bouts of messing around and causing trouble, burning through GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas can take around 30 hours.

8 Resident Evil: Revelations 2 - 23.7 GB

Resident Evil Revelations 2: Clair and Moira shooting at zombies
Resident Evil: Revelations 2
Released
February 24, 2015
Genre(s)
Survival Horror
Developer(s)
Capcom

Resident Evil 4 was famous for its various versions across multiple consoles, ranging from the GameCube to the motion-based Wii. No matter the platform, the game ran incredibly well. Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is in the same boat.

Visually, this might be the most stunning Switch game currently on the market. It runs at 1080p docked, has little performance drops, and the motion controls are surprisingly good. Its only con is the absurd 23.7 GB installation requirement. If you can afford that space on that memory card, the game makes up for it in spades.

7 Apex Legends - 24.3 GB

Apex Legends New Map Storm Point Drop Spots POIs to Land at The Wall
Apex Legends

Released
February 4, 2019
Genre(s)
Battle Royale , First-Person Shooter
Developer(s)
Respawn Entertainment

While one's play can be cut abruptly short in this punishing Battle Royale, the game itself is anything but small. This one-and-done FPS is an adrenaline-fueled romp that will have your palms sweating from the moment you leap from a soaring aircraft, as you scramble to gather any goodies you can find to unleash on foes.

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A surprise hit in early 2019, Respawn Entertainment has spent ample time and resources making balance adjustments and ironing out other kinks for Apex Legends. At the same time, they've injected loads of new challenges, unique Legends, and vast locales into the fold, adding to this already expansive squad shooter.

6 L.A. Noire - 27.5 GB

LA Noire Phelps and Bekowsky
LA Noire
Released
May 17, 2011
Genre(s)
Action , Adventure
Developer(s)
Team Bondi

L.A. Noire is Rockstar's crime thriller. Like with most of their titles, the port to the Switch is masterfully done. It looks just as good as the Xbox 360 version with tight controls and solid performance.

For some reason, L.A. Noire takes up more space than the Xbox and PlayStation variants, coming in at a whopping 27.5 Gigabytes. For comparison, the Xbox One backward compatible version is only 17.09 GB. With that said, those who want to play as a detective in a story-driven game will not be disappointed.

5 DOOM Slayers Collection - 32.3 GB

Doom Slayers Collection Switch oldschool Doom aiming at demon in dark hall

This collection is a true celebration of the classic demon-slaying FPS, whose content spans over two decades. While the included Doom 2016 takes up a huge chunk of space alone, its storied predecessors—the first three Doom titles and 64—bring enough epic 3D gameplay to put this remaster over the top size-wise.

As if the countless hours of over-the-top gore and action weren't enough, Bethesda elevates this beast to new heights with local multiplayer (Doom 1 and 2) as well as online support (2016). Some choppy framerates and limited multiplayer aside, this is the definitive way to experience Doom history for Switch gamers.

4 Mortal Kombat 11 - 32.5 GB

Sub Zero Mortal Kombat 11
Mortal Kombat 11

Genre(s)
Fighting
Developer(s)
NetherRealm Studios
Released
April 23, 2019

Coming in at 32.5 gigabytes, Mortal Kombat 11 on the Switch is a fighting game that transitioned surprisingly well onto Nintendo's platform. It is missing a few features and updates, but what is available is pretty good.

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Content like co-op towers is missing, but the main campaign and fighting roster are all here. Combat is fluid and satisfying on the Switch thanks to a well-thought-out control scheme. Unfortunately, the visual fidelity was hit rather hard in this port, making it look one or two generations older than it really is.

3 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition - 39.3 GB

The Witcher 3 Screenshot Of Woman By Harbor
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Released
May 19, 2015
Genre(s)
RPG , Action , Adventure
Developer(s)
CD Projekt Red

Given the deep, epic nature of most modern RPGs, it shouldn't be surprising that this rare representation on Switch is one of its largest games. Including both expansions and DLC, this massive adventure requires 39.3 GB of space.

One of the prettiest, most dynamic RPGs to grace the Switch—CD Projekt Red captivates with layers of action-laced swordplay and spells, tactical role-playing, and a gripping story. The Witcher 3 takes up most of the OG Switch's memory, but it's a small price to embark on this awesome monster-slaying journey across the Continent.

2 NBA 2K23 - 55.6 GB

Joel Embiid nba 2k23
NBA 2K23

Genre(s)
Sports
Developer(s)
Visual Concepts
Released
September 9, 2022

Visual Concepts and 2K Sports further up the ante in terms of complexity and file size for this robust edition of NBA2K, making it a rare entry that exceeds the internal memory of the Switch. It's hard to justify its massive file size to all but the most diehard of fans, given its microtransactions and less-than-ideal performance at times.

Still, this beefier data usage does allow it to run quite smoothly more often than not, while shining as one of the best-looking games on the platform. If you are looking to play NBA 2K23, just know that you will need to purchase an SD card separately.