This format is used for installing games directly to the 3DS home menu (similar to how digital eShop games are packaged). .CIA files do not contain cartridge padding, making them significantly smaller and more storage-efficient than raw .3DS files. 3. The Impact of "Trimming"

A "complete set" often includes European, American, and Japanese versions. While the games are similar, the inclusion of region-specific eShop titles adds up.

A complete set of North American releases, including retail titles, eShop exclusives, updates, and DLC, totals approximately 400GB. Average Game Size (~1GB): While the maximum cartridge size is (rarely used except for massive titles like Bravely Default ), the average 3DS game is roughly 1GB. File Size Breakdown by Title Type

3 TB to over 5 TB (Terabytes).

These are raw cartridge dumps. They retain the original cartridge size (e.g., 1GB, 2GB, or 4GB) regardless of how much actual data the game uses. Empty space is filled with "padding" data.

Use a No-Intro or Redump filtering tool to automatically strip out identical European, Japanese, and American duplicates.

~3.6 GB (One of the largest games on the system) Pokemon Sun / Moon: ~3.2 GB Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS: ~2.1 GB The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D: ~512 MB Animal Crossing: New Leaf: ~1 GB Pushmo (eShop Exclusive): ~150 MB Storage Recommendations for Collectors

The Nintendo 3DS era (2011–2020) gave us a library of incredible games, from The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds to Fire Emblem: Awakening and Pokémon Sun & Moon . For preservationists, data hoarders, and retro enthusiasts, the question often arises:

Approximately 600 to 800 Gigabytes (GB) . This filters out duplicate multi-region titles, demos, and non-game applications.

Before we discuss gigabytes and terabytes, we must define terminology. In the emulation community, there are three common interpretations of "complete."