For everyday PC use and a modest gaming library, 1 TB is a practical starting point. Choose 2 TB or more if you want several large games installed at once or keep substantial media and creative files on the same drive. There is no universal capacity requirement: estimate what you plan to keep installed, then leave room for Windows, applications, updates, and future additions.
How much space do PC games use?
Published PC requirements show why the number of games you keep installed matters more than any single universal rule. These are publisher-listed requirements, not current post-update size checks or a statistical average of game sizes.
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| PC game | Published storage requirement | Drive type in the requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| God of War (PC, 2022) | 70 GB | HDD at minimum; SSD recommended and for higher configurations | PlayStation |
| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PC, 2023) | 75 GB | HDD at minimum; SSD recommended and for higher configurations | PlayStation Blog / Insomniac Games |
| Helldivers 2 (PC, 2024) | 100 GB | HDD at minimum; SSD for recommended and higher specifications | PlayStation |
| Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition (PC, 2024) | 150 GB | SSD across PC performance tiers | PlayStation |
| God of War Ragnarök (PC, 2024) | 190 GB | SSD listed as the minimum PC storage requirement | PlayStation |
Three games with requirements in the 100–150 GB range would account for several hundred gigabytes before the operating system, apps, personal files, updates, or other games. The figures above are the stated requirements when published; actual installed sizes can change with updates or optional content.
Choose capacity based on what you keep installed
1 TB: a practical starting point
A 1 TB SSD is a reasonable starting choice for everyday computing and a modest game library. It gives you room for the system, common applications, and a small number of games, provided you manage what stays installed. Check the games you most want to keep and add their stated storage requirements before deciding.
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2 TB or more: for larger libraries and local files
Consider 2 TB or more if you regularly keep several large games installed, prefer not to uninstall games between sessions, or store substantial video, photo, or creative-project files on the same drive. The right capacity depends on those files as well as games; the listed game requirements alone cannot determine your total need.
Estimate your own space requirement
- List what stays on the drive. Include games you play regularly, everyday applications, and personal or creative files.
- Use each game’s PC storage requirement. Add the figures for the games you want installed simultaneously, treating them as planning estimates rather than guarantees of final installed size.
- Reserve room for the system and change. Do not plan to fill the drive with games alone; leave space for the operating system, apps, updates, and future installs.
- Compare that total with usable capacity. A drive’s advertised capacity is not all available for your personal files, so avoid choosing a size that only just matches your estimate.
Does a game require an SSD?
Requirements are title- and configuration-specific. For example, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart lists an HDD at minimum and an SSD for recommended and higher configurations. Insomniac says it encourages an SSD with the recommended system requirements or higher to experience the game’s dimension-hopping gameplay as intended. That guidance applies to this game, not every PC title.
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Check the current PC requirements for each game you play. A listed storage capacity does not establish a general loading-time improvement or guarantee that an HDD is adequate for another title.
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Capacity is only one part of an upgrade. Confirm the specific desktop or laptop supports the drive’s interface and form factor, and check whether it has an available slot. Do not assume every PC accepts an M.2 NVMe drive. Also determine whether the SSD will be an addition or a replacement, since replacing a drive can require moving or reinstalling the operating system and files.
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Console specifications are not PC compatibility guidance. Sony’s PS5 guide, for instance, calls for a PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 drive with a capacity of 250 GB to 4 TB; those limits apply to the PS5, not to a general-purpose PC. Sony’s PS5 M.2 SSD guide is useful only if you are checking that console.
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