# What's the best way to store games?

> Keep games you play on a fast internal SSD, archive the rest on a large external drive, and store discs upright in their cases away from heat.

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

1. Install your current games on an NVMe SSD.
2. Add a second SSD or HDD as an extra library folder in Steam, Epic, EA app or other launchers.
3. Use the launcher's built-in "move install folder" option instead of copying files manually.
4. 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.

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https://gamevoyages.com/what-s-the-best-way-to-store-games/ · Game Voyage · Checked 2026-10-30