Summary

  • File sizes for games keep increasing, leading to the need to uninstall to make room for new titles.
  • Small-sized games like Orion Trail and Ib offer complete gaming experiences under 1GB.
  • AdventureQuest 3D and Loop Hero provide robust gameplay without taking up excessive storage space.

It feels like games just keep getting bigger and bigger, and it’s not even just about their scope. File sizes have reached a point where many you must contend with uninstalling and picking which titles get to stay in the active library if you want to try the latest launch (whether or not it’s even a triple-A title.)

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Arguments can be made for compressing the size of high-definition textures and audio, but for now, you may just be looking for a complete gaming experience that isn’t trying to be the only apple of your drive’s eye. Thankfully, there are quite a few stunning releases across different genres that won’t even hit 1GB upon installation. Hooray for game hoarding.

10 Orion Trail

Size Requirement: 300 MB

A hilarious space reimagining of the Oregon Trail games, Orion Trail throws you into a journey of captivating planets, ridiculous choices, and even wilder outcomes. You must manage your team of reds as a plucky captain, making your way through the trail in one piece and all your parts unmutated.

You assemble your crew from the start, face encounters, and manage your resources. It’s a fun way to while away a couple of hours strategizing, though most of the game relies on the kindness of the RNG gods. If you’re frustrated by the game’s reliance on the luck of the draw, then you may at least be placated by the hilarity of the absurd decisions you need to make in space.

9 Ib

Size Requirement: 400 MB

Ib is a classic RPG Maker title, remaining as one of the best 2D pixel horror games that showcases the potential of the platform for narrative and gameplay. The Steam remake launched in 2022 and, even with its redesigned graphics, improved screen resolution, expanded gameplay, and new music, still tops up at a humble download size of 400 megabytes.

You can get up to seven different endings, all dependent on your actions throughout the game. You’ll know you got the True Ending when you trigger a credits sequence that isn't present in other endings. This is the game that either outright spooks you or gets under your skin slowly.

8 AdventureQuest 3D

Size Requirement: 500 MB

If you’re more of an MMORPG player, then AdventureQuest 3D will scratch the itch without hoarding all of your storage space. This title is constantly updated and features crossplay, so you can play with other people even if you’re on PC, Android, or iOS. And, yes, you can even play from your browser if that’s your style. Its genre contemporaries may surpass it in many ways, but it’s amazing how robust of an experience you can get with this size.

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It’s fun, not very demanding, and highly self-aware, making it the perfect homage to an old classic. Even if you haven’t played the originals, this is a nice entry point for the series. Besides, you can’t go wrong with a free-to-play game loaded with content.

7 Lethal Company

Size Requirement: 1 GB

Lethal Company

Horror Released October 23, 2023 Developer(s) Zeekerss Platform(s) PC Powered by Expand Collapse

Lethal Company received a lot of hype and quickly became a multiplayer favorite in its first month alone. It even went on to win the 2023 Better With Friends award on Steam. With plenty of modding options and continuous dev updates, this game still makes a great addition to any library.

The premise is simple: go to a seemingly abandoned moon and scavenge it for scraps you can sell. As with any good horror co-op title, things are never as they seem. Endless laughs and scares await you in this small package, just making the cut at 966 MB.

6 Loop Hero

Size Requirement: 300 MB

Loop Hero

RPG Roguelike Strategy Released March 4, 2021 Developer(s) Four Quarters Platform(s) Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand Collapse

If we’re talking endless replayability, Loop Hero is an easy pick. It mixes deck-building and map planning to create a unique roguelike experience with a simple yet engaging narrative. The world is trapped in a time loop, which lets you plot out your journey again and again until you find the perfect expedition to overcome this trial.

Expect multiple runs dedicated to perfecting your modifications and getting the right resources for the next one. Despite the management aspects of the game, the grind escapes any feeling of boredom or tediousness.

5 Papers, Please

Size Requirement: 100 MB

Papers, Please is a gem among political simulators, turning seemingly mundane paperwork and routine into a riveting narrative of choices and moral conundrums. Border control is always a touchy topic, but this game manages to flow through its often-grim nature with ease.

The main goal is simple, but the choices and added complications make this an increasingly challenging adventure. Make your way through a slew of desperate immigrants, suspicious potential spies, and outright terrorists as you tow the line within your small cube by the border.

4 Slay The Spire

Size Requirement: 600 MB

Slay the Spire

Roguelike Deckbuilding Released January 23, 2019 Powered by Expand Collapse

When it comes to deckbuilding roguelikes, Slay The Spire is a genre staple. It perfectly encapsulates the genre’s tenets and gives you a rewarding experience if you care about the strategy. It doesn’t take much to learn how to play the game, but actually getting to the end is where the real battle lies.

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Whether you need something to kill some time or you have the whole day to deep dive into your adventure, there’s always something fascinating when you try to slay the spire. Every unique attempt is its own feat, even without trying out the different characters at your disposal.

3 Undertale

Size Requirement: 200 MB

Undertale

RPG Released September 15, 2015 Developer(s) Toby Fox Platform(s) PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Switch, PC Powered by Expand Collapse

Undertale is one of few RPGs expressly built to be replayed. The world responds to your choices accordingly, and you get to decide what kind of hero you want to be. Where other adventures inevitably force you to make tough and violent choices for the greater good, this title reminds you there’s always a peaceful option.

Whether you go the way of peace or full murder, this is a game that will stick with you one pixel at a time. Get yourself a heartwarming, funny, and sometimes challenging game for the very forgiving size of just 155 MB.

2 Stardew Valley

Size Requirement: 500 MB

Stardew Valley

RPG Simulation Released February 26, 2016 Developer(s) ConcernedApe Platform(s) PC, Xbox One, Android, iOS, PS4, Switch Powered by Expand Collapse

To categorize Stardew Valley as a simple farming sim is to limit its vibrant tales and rich gameplay. Every player needs at least one game dedicated to relaxation, and you can’t go wrong picking this up. You can play solo or with up to seven friends, with either approach offering a fulfilling and charming time.

Who said you can only have fun with high-intensity games? Sit back, build your farm, breathe new life into forgotten corners of the land, get to know the townsfolk, and even find yourself a marriage candidate to complete the storybook fantasy.

1 Dead Cells

Size Requirement: 500 MB

Dead Cells

Roguelike Released August 7, 2018 Developer(s) Motion Twin Platform(s) Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One Powered by Expand Collapse

A lot of hype surrounds Dead Cells, and it’s often slapped with the buzziest of genre tags like Metroidvania and Soulslite. What elevates this action platformer from the pack is its expansive and ever-engaging world and gameplay. The chances of you coming into this and being disappointed are lower than your odds of beating the game in one go.

The lack of checkpoints makes this a demanding title requiring your full attention, but it can still provide a solid casual go-to. A stunning title with so much packed into a small package should be the easiest addition to your library if you’ve only got so much storage space to spare.

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