What game do you keep installed even when you're not really playing it?

We all have one.

That game sitting in your library. It's been there for years. Through multiple hard drives. Through operating system upgrades. Through new computer builds. You've finished it. You've moved on. But you never uninstall it.

It just sits there. Taking up space. Never being opened. But you can't bring yourself to delete it.

What game do you keep installed even when you're not really playing it?

I'll go first. And I have a feeling I'm not alone.

My permanent resident: Civilization VI

I haven't played Civilization VI seriously in over a year.

I check in occasionally. Maybe a few turns. Maybe a new DLC. But I don't commit. I don't start a game with the intention of finishing it. I just... have it. Always. Through every system wipe and storage upgrade.

Why I keep it

Because one day, I might want to play it. And I don't want to wait for a download. I don't want to install it while my motivation fades. I want it ready. Always.

The "one-more-turn" fear

Civilization has never been about a single session. It's about momentum. You start a game, and suddenly it's 3 AM. Uninstalling it feels like admitting defeat. Like saying "I'm never going to have that experience again."

The comfort factor

There's something comforting about knowing it's there. Even if I don't play it. Even if months pass. Civ VI is a constant. A safety net. A game I know I can return to at any time.

The other permanent residents

I'm not alone in this. I asked around, and everyone has at least one game they refuse to uninstall.

Skyrim – the eternal backup

"I have Skyrim installed on every computer I've ever owned," one player told me. "I don't even play it that much anymore. But I spent so many hours modding it that reinstalling would be a full weekend project. I'm not deleting that. It stays."

Skyrim is the ultimate "keep installed" game. The modding scene is so massive that uninstalling means losing not just the game, but everything you built around it. For some players, Skyrim isn't a game anymore – it's a permanent environment.

Rocket League – the quick-play fix

"I keep Rocket League installed because it's my 'fifteen-minute break' game," another player said. "I don't play it every day. Some weeks I don't play it at all. But sometimes I need a quick fix. Something I can jump into instantly. Rocket League is always there."

The pattern is clear: some games are permanent because they serve a specific purpose. A quick escape. A reliable distraction. A game that's always ready.

Dark Souls – the masochistic safety net

"I've beaten Dark Souls three times," someone told me. "I don't need to play it again. But I keep it installed. Just in case. Just in case I get the urge to test myself again."

Dark Souls is a game about overcoming. Keeping it installed is a reminder of what you achieved. It's a badge of honour on your hard drive.

Minecraft – the nostalgia keeper

"I haven't played Minecraft seriously in five years," one player admitted. "But I keep it installed. I spent so many hours there. Deleting it would feel like deleting a part of my life. So it stays."

Minecraft isn't just a game for some people. It's a collection of memories. A record of time spent building, exploring, surviving. Deleting it feels wrong.

Why do we keep games we don't play?

There's a psychological element to this behaviour.

The fear of missing out

What if I want to play it next week? What if a new update drops? What if my friends suddenly decide to play it again? Uninstalling feels like closing a door. Keeping it installed keeps the door open.

The sunk cost fallacy

I spent so many hours in this game. I spent so much time customizing it. I spent so much money on DLC. Uninstalling feels like throwing that investment away. Even if I'm not using it, it feels wasteful to delete it.

The security blanket

Sometimes a game is just comfort. You know it. You understand it. It's familiar. In a world of new games that require learning new mechanics, an old game is a safe space. Keeping it installed is keeping that safety net accessible.

The "one day" delusion

I'll definitely play it again. One day. When I have the time. When I'm in the mood. When I finish my backlog. One day. It's a promise we make to ourselves. And as long as the game is installed, the promise isn't broken.

The cost of keeping games installed

It's not without cost. Games are big now. Some of them are enormous.

The storage problem

Modern games can be 100 GB or more. Keeping multiple "just in case" games can eat up half your hard drive. It's a trade-off: keep games you might not play, or make room for new ones.

The mental clutter

There's also a psychological cost. A cluttered library can feel overwhelming. All those installed games, waiting for you. It can create a weird sense of obligation. You have all these games, but you're not playing any of them.

The opposite: people who delete everything

Some people are the opposite. They uninstall every game the moment they finish it. Sometimes even before finishing it.

The minimalist approach

"I don't keep games installed," one player said. "If I'm not actively playing it, it's gone. I can always reinstall later. Storage is precious."

The "done" philosophy

"Once I finish a game, I uninstall it. It's done. It's in the past. I don't need the reminder."

The discipline

Some people just have discipline. They don't hoard. They don't accumulate. They keep a clean drive.

I admire these people. I'm not one of them. But I admire them.

The turning point: when to finally let go

There comes a moment when even the most stubborn "keep installed" player finally deletes a game.

When storage runs out

The most common reason is necessity. You need space for a new game. And you realize that the old game hasn't been touched in months. Maybe years. So you delete it. And you survive.

When you admit you're not going back

There's a moment of honesty. A realization that you're never going to play that game again. Not because you don't want to. But because life has moved on. And that's okay.

When the game is replaced

Sometimes a new game does the same thing but better. Rocket League gets replaced by a different quick-play game. Skyrim gets replaced by a newer RPG. The old game becomes obsolete.

The games I finally deleted

I used to keep everything installed. But I've learned to let go.

The MMO I never play

I kept an MMO installed for years. I hadn't logged in for two years. But I couldn't delete it. What if my friends came back? What if I had a sudden desire to grind?

Eventually, I deleted it. The moment I did, I felt relief. Not sadness. Relief.

The racing game I never launched

I kept a racing game installed for a full year. I had never even launched it. I bought it on sale, installed it, and never touched it. It just sat there. Waiting for a day that never came.

I finally deleted it. And I learned a lesson: don't install games you're not going to play.