What's the best way to store games?
The best setup for most players is two tiers: keep the games you're playing now on a fast internal SSD, and keep the rest on a larger, cheaper drive — an external HDD or SSD — so you can move them back instead of re-downloading. For physical games, store discs and cartridges in their cases, upright, in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
SSD or HDD?
- SSD (especially NVMe): much faster load times and required by many modern games. Best for what you play.
- HDD: far cheaper per terabyte, slower. Good for archiving and for older games.
On consoles
- PS5: PS5 games must be played from the internal SSD or a compatible M.2 SSD added to the expansion slot. A USB drive can store PS5 games and play PS4 games.
- Xbox Series X|S: Series games must run from the internal drive or an official expansion card. A USB drive can store them and play Xbox One and older backward-compatible games.
- Nintendo Switch: use a microSD card for extra space. The Switch 2 needs faster microSD Express cards for its own games.
Moving a game between drives is usually much faster than downloading it again.
On PC
- Install your current games on an NVMe SSD.
- Add a second SSD or HDD as an extra library folder in Steam, Epic, EA app or other launchers.
- Use the launcher's built-in "move install folder" option instead of copying files manually.
- Keep cloud saves enabled so a drive failure doesn't take your progress with it.
Physical discs and cartridges
- Store discs vertically in their original cases, like books.
- Avoid heat, humidity and sunlight; don't keep them in a hot car, attic or damp basement.
- Hold discs by the edges and keep them clean.
- Keep cartridges in cases to protect the contacts.
How much space do you need?
Modern AAA games often take 50–150 GB each. A 1–2 TB SSD fits a handful of large games; a 4–8 TB external HDD is plenty for most archives. Very large drives are rarely needed unless you keep a huge library installed.
FAQ
How do I store games on an external hard drive?
Format it in your console's or launcher's storage settings, then move games to it from the console's storage menu or the launcher's library settings.
Where is game save data stored?
On consoles, in system storage and usually also in the cloud with an online subscription; on PC, often in Documents or AppData folders, and in the launcher's cloud saves.
Is 16 TB enough for gaming?
Yes, far more than most players need.
How do I keep game discs from scratching?
Store them in cases, never stack them bare, and handle them by the edges.