Cloud gaming is fascinating on paper. By streaming games from remote servers, cloud gaming services allow you to play high-end games even if you don’t have a high-end PC or console. All you have to do is connect a controller to your laptop, PC, phone, or TV. That’s it!
So, if cloud gaming was meant to simplify modern gaming, then why is it so confusing? Between Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and others, finding the right cloud gaming service for you can feel like an ordeal unto itself.
Some cloud gaming services offer a big catalog of games for one subscription fee, while others let you bring your own games from Steam and other storefronts. Every cloud gaming service has its own unique catalog of compatible games, along with varying levels of video quality and device support. It’s a lot to consider.
But when it works, it’s glorious. Last year I swapped my $1,000 desktop tower PC for a $300 mini PC, and cloud gaming gives me the flexibility to play games on my office ultrawide monitor instead of just relying on my Steam Deck or hiding out in the basement.
Before you jump in and sign up, here’s everything you need to know about the various cloud gaming services available, the pros and cons of each, and which one might be best for you.
Below is a handy chart I made comparing the prices and features for Nvidia GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna, PS5 Cloud Streaming, Boosteroid, and Utomik. You can either click to expand the image or view the chart directly via Google Sheets:
Jared Newman / Foundry
Note that I’ve only included gaming-specific providers. There are some other services—such as Shadow—that provide access to a full-blown PC in the cloud, but they tend to be pricier than cloud gaming services and are really only worth it if you’re using them for more than just gaming.
That said, let’s dive a bit deeper into some specific comparisons between these different cloud gaming services.
Many cloud gaming services have adopted the Netflix model: a subscription plan with a rotating catalog of games. This approach makes sense if you aren’t an enthusiast with high-end gaming devices and just want a quick way to play lots of titles on low-power devices.
Here are your subscription cloud gaming options:
If you already own a gaming PC or handheld (such as the Steam Deck), you might prefer a streaming service that lets you play the games you’ve already paid for on stores like Steam and GOG.
Unfortunately, only a subset of games from each storefront is compatible with streaming, and each cloud gaming service supports a different roster of digital storefronts, so you’ll need to choose wisely.
Here are your stream-your-own-games options:
As of this writing, only two cloud gaming services support video quality in excess of 1080p at 60 FPS. Both of these options are pricey, but they’re potentially more economical than spending thousands of dollars to build your own capable high-end gaming rig:
Cloud gaming services can be susceptible to input lag—that is, the delay between pressing a button and seeing a response in the game on the screen—so in an ideal world you’d be able to try the service for free and see how it fares for you.
There are, after all, a variety of factors that contribute to the cloud gaming experience: the speed and stability of your internet connection, the use of wired Ethernet, your proximity to the gaming service’s servers, etc.
Sadly, most game streaming services don’t offer free tiers or trial options without commitment. Here are the ones that do:
Even the best cloud gaming service is useless if it doesn’t work with the devices you have. Here’s how each service compares on device support:
Cloud gaming services are only as good as the list of games they support. That’s why I’m thankful for Cloud Gaming Catalogue, a useful database of games supported by each major cloud gaming service.
You can filter by service, browse by genre, or search for a specific title—usually with more efficiency than by browsing the lists published by each provider. It was helpful in creating this story and seemed worth sharing.
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