Most highly compressed games use archiving tools like KGB Archiver or custom settings in 7-Zip. These tools use algorithms that search for repetitive data patterns. By replacing repetitive data with shorter symbols, they can drastically reduce file size. While standard compression (like a standard .zip file) might shrink a game by 10-20%, "Ultra" compression can achieve ratios of 90% or more.
Need for Speed: Undercover , originally released in 2008 by EA Black Box, is a high-octane racing title famous for its "Wheelman" undercover story and intense highway battles. While the original retail game requires roughly of disk space, the demand for "highly compressed" versions has led to claims of the full game being available in files as small as 32 MB . The Truth About the 32 MB Version --- NFS Undercover Highly Compressed 32 MB Only