Will Clearing Data Delete Your Mobile Game Progress?
No, clearing cached data will not affect your game progress or achievements. However, deleting app data will reset everything and erase all progress. Read on for a deep dive on managing storage for mobile gaming apps.
As a passionate mobile gamer and avid fan of many game franchises like Call of Duty Mobile and Genshin Impact, I‘m always pushing my phone‘s storage limits. With huge AAA titles easily taking up 5+ GB and updates constantly adding more asset downloads, it‘s a constant balancing act trying to keep enough free space while preserving hard-earned progress.
Based on my experience managing mobile games, let‘s explore the data breakdown and best practices for avoiding unintended loss or lag from inflated storage demands…
The Difference Between Cache and App Data
Clearing temporary cached files versus deleting actual app data makes a huge difference in terms of game progress.
Cache Removal Benefits
- Improves sluggish performance
- Frees storage space temporarily used
- No loss of achievements, preferences, etc.
Recommend clearing cache regularly!
Data Clearing Consequences
- Completely resets app to default settings
- Permanently erases ALL game data
- Lose all progress, customization, etc.
Only clear app data if really necessary!
Average Storage Needs Vary Widely By Game Genre
The range of storage space occupied spans from small indie games under 100 MB to sprawling open world titles exceeding 15 GB downloads. Some benchmark numbers by genre:
Click to expand genre storage analysis
| Genre | Avg. Storage Per Game |
|---|---|
| Action / RPGs | 5-10 GB |
| Simulators | 800 MB – 2 GB |
| Strategy / MOBA | 1-3 GB |
| Puzzle / Word | 25 – 150 MB |
Action roleplaying and online multiplayer titles hog the most storage real estate given constant content updates with new maps, characters, weapons, etc. However, no genre is immune from bloating over time, hence the need for ongoing data management.
With built-in storage on most phones maxing out at 512 GB (minus the operating system‘s share), even hardcore gamers need to take measures to balance availability. Next, let‘s examine typical mobile data required for gaming…
Assessing Data Usage Beyond Local Storage
While individual title sizes matter for planning local device capacity, online connectivity brings supplemental bandwith costs to consider with streaming, ads and updates consuming background data.
App Data Usage Breakdown
- Image source: Nokia Phones
As depicted above, actual gameplay data is often minimal compared to ads and new content syncs gobbling data in the background. Given an average of 150 MB/hr gaming [1], most session usage pales versus 1 GB+ title downloads. Just 5 hours of play per week still adds up to only about 625 MB versus the 5 GB+ requirement from installing many leading games today.
Being cognizant of these ranges help shape decisions on using Wi-Fi versus cellular data for installing or updating especially data capped mobile plans. For unlimited data users, steady cleanup helps avoid peak congestion issues…
Top 5 Most Storage-Intensive Games
To highlight which game apps push device capacity hardest, based on SensorTower data below are the most storage hungry mobile game apps currently:
Top 5 Games By Install Size
- Image source: TheGamer.com
With amplified interest in mobile options for traditionally console/PC gaming experiences, install demands clearly scale up accordingly. Even the most spacious 1 TB expandable SD card can find itself filled fast without careful attention.
Recommended Mobile Gaming Storage Management Tips
As a fellow mobile gaming enthusiast, I employ these key strategies for balancing my enjoyment without overloading my phone:
Offload Unused Apps
This frees space while preserving progress yet allows fast reinstall later if wanted.
Backup Saves to Cloud if Possible
For added protection against data loss if needing later reinstalls.
Utilize Expandable SD Card Storage
MicroSD cards up to 1 TB extra capacity available.
Remove Unwanted Downloaded Assets
Music packs, skin bundles, etc. safe to delete to recover GB‘s.
Through a combination of regularly clearing cache, relying on expandable SD card adoption, deleting unneeded downloads and exercising offload/reinstall as needed, maintaining progress in large gaming app portfolio is very achievable.
The PC/console world sets the tone in innovating immersive gaming concepts but mobile platforms make experiences broadly accessible at scale. With some diligence around managing install requirements, enjoying mobile play need not be hampered by storage limitations using above recommendations.
What experiences occupy most space on your phone? Please share any other tips that have worked for you as well!
