It isn't a collective hallucination: video game file sizes keep getting bigger and bigger. Once upon a time, players could simply pop a cartridge or a disc into a system, and it would play. But nowadays, players must sit and wait while the game downloads. This process could take hours or even days, depending on the size of the game, internet speed, and whether or not the PS4 feels up to it.
While some games are a respectable and understandable size, some are true behemoths. Surprisingly, not all of them are newer releases either such as Grand Theft Auto V — the game that seems to have been released on every system in the last decade or so. These are the biggest PS4 games by file size, ranked.
Updated on December 29, 2022, by Nahda Nabiilah: Although PS5 was released a while back along with some PS5-exclusive games, the PS4 remains popular to this day. It’s not a surprise that the platform keeps its old games up to date while releasing a couple of new ones occasionally. Currently, most developers are launching the same game on both platforms and some of them can be considered the biggest PS4 Games. The thing with PS4 games' size is that it’s not a fixed value. A game can start with a small size and ends up being one of the biggest games thanks to DLCs and other Added Packs.
23 Middle-earth: Shadow of War, ~ 40-70 GB
Developed by Monolith and published by Warner Bros, Middle-earth: Shadow of War carried on using the Nemesis System. Introduced by, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, the Nemesis System created a network between Orcs, adding ranks and titles that players can infiltrate in order to assassinate their holders. On the other hand, leaving them alive for a long time makes fighting them harder.
The game's initial file size was 40 GB, but with the release of four new add-ons, some major changes were introduced to the game. The PS4 game size now varies based on the number of add-ons downloaded by players.
22 Elden Ring, ~ 45 GB
Developed by FromSoftware Inc, Elden Ring is a souls-game that achieved the title of Game of the Year. Although the map is not the largest, the number of items and hidden areas found while simply exploring is frighteningly huge. The amount of content divided between storytelling and exploring can take up to 50+ hours to complete.
While the game is released on multiple platforms and each has its size, Elden Ring started as 40 GB and ended up taking 45 GB of hard drive space due to multiple update patch notes and the 2 GB Colosseum Update. The size is roughly similar to the Uncharted 4 game size.
21 Spider-Man, ~ 45 GB
Spider-Man is one of the best PS4 exclusives, but it's also one of the biggest. It eats up roughly 45 GB of hard drive space. It's not really hard to gauge why it takes up so much space — the map is as massive and dense as it is a picture-perfect digital recreation of New York City.
All that said, players don't seem to mind the massive install size. The game's world received critical acclaim and is widely regarded as the greatest city recreation in video game history. New players with a PS5 can pick up the new Miles Morales version that includes his game and the original Spiderman, but they'll need around 105 GB of space for that.
20 The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, ~ 50 GB
When speaking of great video games, it's hard not to mention The Witcher III. Even years after its release and long after its Netflix series, players still flock to this title. New fans looking to try the game out for themselves should know that it comes with a relatively healthy 50 GB install size.
However, for that price, players receive one of the greatest and most interactive open worlds in gaming history. Fans can use the game to stave off withdrawals until season 2 of the series releases.
19 Wolfenstein: The New Order, ~ 50 GB
FPS franchise reboots seem to be on-trend in the last few years. Wolfenstein: The New Order incorporated the classic games into its fast-paced and beautiful gameplay. But extreme weapon variety, unique characters, crazy plots, and lots of locations make for a big game.
The base game, patches, and updates bring the total game size to about 50 GB of hard drive space. Many fans consider it a fair trade due to the game's long playtime. Plus, they can always delete it when they're done.
18 Doom, ~ 50-70 GB
Gamers who want to play one of the greatest first-person shooters of the modern era can expect to sacrifice anywhere from 50 to 70 GB of space. Doom is a surprising monster of a game, and its base install runs about 50 GB.
However, fans have reported that the game can take up to 70 GB of space once all the patches have been installed. Many fans can't justify the space for a more basic first-person shooter experience. As a result, Doom often gets classified as a "install it, play it, and delete it" sort of game.
17 Battlefield 5, ~ 55-105 GB
Starting at 55 GB, Battlefield 5 didn't reach the same success Battlefield 1 had at the launch, due to the drama surrounding the franchise at the time. Later during the year, Battlefield had a couple of new add-ons with its new massive Battle Royale mode, which made it one of the biggest PS4 games.
Battlefield games are known to have addictive shooting gameplay and massive maps. Even the older games like Battlefield 1 and Battlefield 4 are considerably large compared to others in the genre. The two PS4 game sizes are 30 GB for Battlefield 4 and 55 GB for Battlefield 1.
16 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, ~ 55-64 GB
It's amazing to think that Uncharted 4 takes up more space than a game as extensive as The Witcher III. But large file sizes are the norm with Naughty Dog games, mostly due to their graphical fidelity.
Uncharted 4 isn't a particularly huge game, but its story is relatively long for a single-player game. The environments are also enormous and highly detailed, and as mentioned, the graphics are positively stunning. Such power requires space, and with a base install of 50 GB and a day one 5 GB patch, Uncharted 4 will take up at least 55 GB of hard drive space.
15 Ghost of Tsushima, ~ 60 GB
Sucker Punch surprised everyone with their new IP, Ghost of Tsushima, which tells a story about a Samurai trying to save his land from the Mongol invasion. The game offers gorgeous scenery, great storytelling, and satisfying gameplay. The combat system is complicated, and grows more so every time players unlock a new Stance.
The Playstation's exclusive adventure game also offers players a massive open-world map to explore. PS4 games that offer this kind of experience are always above 50 GB. All in all, Ghost of Tsushima is definitely worth playing, considering how balanced the content is with the PS4 game size.
14 Grand Theft Auto V, ~ 68-76 GB
It's difficult to believe that Grand Theft Auto V doesn't take up more space. But 68 GB is not exactly an insignificant amount of space either. While GTA V is six years old, it's still a whopper of a game thanks to its incredibly large and detailed open world.
Additionally, there have been numerous patches released over the years on top of Grand Theft Auto Online. A testament to the game's action and fun levels, this aspect still manages to make waves and top the charts. In the end, this game clocks in at 70 GB to experience everything it has to offer.
13 Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare, ~ 75-130 GB
One thing is for sure: any new Call of Duty game is definitely going to be enormous. Games in this franchise are known to include massive amounts of content like Story Mode, Multiplayer, and Zombie mode. Additionally, there are a lot of weapons, perks, and maps, not to mention the amazing graphics that Call of Duty is known for.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare was released back in 2016. Yet, it's still one of the biggest PS4 games with all its DLCs. Downloading all of the add-ons can get the PS4 game size to double its original size.
12 The Last of Us 2, ~ 78-100 GB
Naughty Dog's long-awaited sequel to The Last of Us is bigger than even the remaster's size by at least 25 GB. The base game takes up about 78 GB on a PS4 hard drive. But the game needs a total of 100 GB of free space to simply download.
This means that PS4 owners might have to delete multiple games just play a single title. Not all fans can rationalize sacrificing that much space for a single game. However, like Doom and a few other titles on this list, The Last of Us 2 may simply be a "play it once and delete it forever" kind of experience.
11 Horizon Forbidden West, ~ 80-90 GB
Horizon Forbidden West follows the story of Aloy as she’s exploring a post-apocalyptic area known as the Forbidden West. The map is by far larger than the one in Horizon: Zero Dawn, with a newly added mechanism of exploration along with mysterious biomes waiting to be explored.
As far as PS4 game sizes go, Horizon Forbidden West is roughly a 90 GB masterpiece in the EU region. As for the US server, the game is smaller by 10 GB, using only 80 GB of available space. Considering the DLC Burning Shores is PS5-exclusive, players shouldn’t expect the game size to change drastically.
10 Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, ~ 85 GB
A titan of a franchise by now, Call of Duty resonates with people who don't even play those games. But as big as the franchise's notoriety is, the game file sizes seem to match. The unfortunate fad of FPS titles being bloated with other content continues in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. With save files and the DLCs installed, the game can take up to 80 GB on a PS4.
If new players ever want to try the game, veterans recommend trying out an external hard drive instead of making room on their PS4.
9 Final Fantasy XV, ~ 100 GB
Final Fantasy XV generated ample amounts of hype when promotional materials began surfacing. As anticipated, the game delivered plenty of surprises and fans dubbed it "road trip simulator."
The game featured a real-time-fighting system with plenty of action and incredible graphics. However, in combination with patches and expansions, the game ballooned in size to a whopping 100 GB of hard drive space. But hard-core fans of the series can always justify making room for it.
8 Call Of Duty: Black Ops III, ~ 80-100 GB
As mentioned, Call of Duty games have shown a trend of ever-expanding file sizes. This, of course, includes the enormous Black Ops III which was already pretty large on release.
The base game alone needed 55 GB of hard drive space, and the needed space has only grown. Updates, patches, DLC have all contributed to the game's total need of anywhere between 80 and 100 GB. The exact size varies from player to player, but it's a colossus regardless.
7 Red Dead Redemption 2, ~ 105 GB
Red Dead Redemption 2 took on a new life (much like Death Stranding) when it got ported to PC and during the pandemic. The loneliness of the game resonated so much with people in isolation. Moreover, the enormous open-world is rich in detail with stellar graphics and impressive NPC AI mechanics.
However, this awesome experience comes at a significant cost to hard drive space. A cost of about 105 GB to be specific for just the base game.
6 The Elder Scrolls Online, ~ 85-120 GB
The Elder Scrolls Online is another game that is difficult to gauge. The base game is relatively meager, but no one really plays just the base game. The magic of this game lies in all of the DLC, and each update seems to be larger than the last.
Since every player customizes their experience, the file sizes vary wildly. Some players report a file size around the 85 GB area, while others claim that it can reach 120 GB.
5 GT Sport, ~ 100 GB
The famous Playstation exclusive, Gran Turismo is an online racing fan's favorite. The game has a great number of cars and tracks. With its good graphics and enjoyable gameplay, the PS4 game size grew from 35 GB to 100 GB over the years.
GT Sport allows players to customize their cars and race in many types of fields. The game treats the Single Player mode as a mode to train players and their ability to drive.
4 NBA 2k22, ~ 100 GB
Lately, NBA games by 2K have been massive. While there aren't many changes from year to year, NBA 2k22 still changed a lot and improved the quality of the gameplay, especially the stamina system. All those changes created a better flow inside the court.
NBA 2k22 also has a ridiculous amount of mods players can enjoy while playing the game. Taking into consideration all the graphics, courts, expressions, and content, the PS4 game size is understandably huge. It's at 100 GB, and a new DLC will certainly raise that number to new heights.