The 5 Best Cloud Gaming Services in 2022

What to look for in a cloud gaming service in 2022

While streaming games doesn’t require as much data as you might think, with faster internet connections and the widespread availability of 5G cellular networks, cloud gaming has quickly become a popular way to access today’s hottest titles.

Streaming Netflix is ​​one thing, but having to stream a game and transmit gamepad input requires speeds that simply weren’t available a few years ago. Today, however, most households can easily (and successfully) play through the cloud.

Cloud gaming may be the future, but there are a lot of factors to consider before signing up for one or more of these services. First, you’ll need to ensure a reliable connection wherever you plan to play. Whether it’s a high-speed internet connection at home or an unlimited 5G plan for your phone, you’ll need a robust network to succeed with any of the services below.

Once you’ve established that your network is up to the task, you’ll need to figure out what games you’re interested in. Want to access a growing catalog every month for a set price? Or would you rather have remote access to your entire computer that lets you play whatever you currently own? Cloud gaming is more diverse than ever – whether you’re looking to replace your gaming PC or play Xbox games on your smartphone, there’s an option with your name on it.

Pricing is always a factor with monthly services, and cloud gaming runs the gamut from completely free to ridiculously expensive. Determining whether a service is worth the price depends on how much content it provides and how often you use it. Some of our favorite platforms are a bit pricey, but they bring a lot of features for the right user.

With cloud streaming finally coming into its own, there is a lot of competition in the market. Google Stadia, for example, has seen a release slowdown in the summer of 2022, and while there are still several larger releases on the horizon, it’s unclear what the future holds for the platform. Other services can easily follow the same path, so it’s important to be flexible about which services to sign up for.

It also serves as a reminder to check how often new titles are released for whatever service you’re interested in. A platform with few updates in the last few months is a clear red flag.

If you’re having trouble narrowing down your options, below are five of the best cloud gaming services. These are supported by a wide range of devices and come with different monthly price tags. Regardless of your budget or needs, one of these five should suit you.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has long been hailed as one of the best deals in gaming. For just $15 a month, you get access to a catalog of downloadable games for consoles and PC, along with cloud streaming support for PC, consoles, and mobile through a feature known as Xbox Cloud Gaming.

If you’re playing on PC or mobile, you’ll be able to use your standard controller or mouse and keyboard to control the action. If you’re on mobile, you’ll also have access to touch controls for select titles. Mouse and keyboard controls are scheduled to be added to Xbox Cloud Gaming in the future

Microsoft is fully on board with mobile cloud gaming, going so far as to create a line of official Otterbox gear to help gamers hit the road.

The best part is that the Game Pass catalog is growing every month. With titles such as Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 play over the cloud, you’ll have instant access to some of the most popular games as part of your subscription.

The biggest downside is that you can only stream select games from the Game Pass Ultimate catalog. There’s also no option to just buy Xbox Cloud Gaming — it’s only offered as part of the $15-a-month Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

That’s a minor complaint, though, as almost everyone has to find value packs on the popular platform.

NVIDIA’s version of cloud gaming is quite different from the competition. Instead of getting a file catalog of games, you can play (many) of the games you already own through GeForce NOW.

This makes it a great choice for established gamers with an overcrowded hard drive. Steam, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect and others are supported, although not every game in their catalogs is compatible with GeForce NOW. The company is committed to expanding its library of supported software with new content announced weekly. It also offers a convenient way to search for specific games in the list.

One of the best parts of GeForce NOW is the availability of a free membership tier. You’re limited to hourly sessions, but it’s a great way to test the waters before committing to a paid membership.

The most expensive tier is called the RTX 3080, which costs $20 a month and gives you remote access to the RTX 3080, along with eight hours of sessions, 4K resolution, and up to 120 frames per second. The mid-tier tier (called Priority) costs $10 per month and offers RTX support, six-hour sessions, and up to 1080p and 60fps.

Price is the GeForce NOW’s biggest drawback, with the highest clocking above others on this list. Like many other services available, you also don’t get any free games. But with the ability to buy games from your preferred store, GeForce NOW is a great choice for those looking for a real alternative to a gaming PC.

The best cloud gaming service for classic titles: PlayStation Plus

PlayStation Plus has undergone a massive overhaul in spring 2022. The platform merged with PS Now, allowing subscribers to play online multiplayer games and access a huge list of titles via the cloud.

Unfortunately, the only way to access cloud streaming is to opt for the premium tier, which costs $18 per month. But come spring, you’ll be able to stream a variety of classic games from throughout PlayStation history.

Sony’s cloud streaming service is currently only available on PS4, PS5 and PC, although Sony may bring the service to mobile devices in the future. A massive redesign has been launched recently and the company may want to work out all the bugs before bringing it to a new audience. But for now, if you’re looking to cloud gaming for its mobile capabilities, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Despite a few limitations, there’s a lot to love about the cloud gaming platform. Availability varies by region, but players have access to iconic titles such as Devil May Cry 4, Fallout: New Vegas, God of War HD, infamous 2, Ninja Gaiden 3, and more. So if you don’t mind working with a few restrictions, PlayStation Plus Premium can be a great choice for your streaming needs.

The best cloud gaming service for advanced users: Shadow

Shadow has gone through several iterations over the years, but it’s still one of the most unique cloud gaming services on the market. In fact, it is not limited to just playing games. A Shadow subscription gives you remote access to your entire computer, allowing you to play games, surf the web, or browse an Excel spreadsheet as you see fit.

This versatility comes at a price. A basic subscription starts at $30 per month, and the Power package (adding 4K support and hardware-accelerated ray tracing) adds another $15 per month. However, it gives you access to a real computer no matter where you are or what screen you’re looking at.

Although expensive, Shadow is a great choice for some players. Anyone who doesn’t want to worry about maintaining a gaming rig or spend $1000+ on a pre-built system will love the performance the Shadow has to offer.

Being able to use it as a bonafide PC means you can basically hook up a cheap laptop to a big monitor and play as if you were using the latest hardware. It also means you can multitask – use it as a powerful tool for work during the day and gaming at night. And the option to check in on your smartphone is even more attractive.

Best Cloud Gaming Service for Prime Members: Amazon Luna

Although Amazon Luna didn’t go public until 2021, it already has a lot to offer. Not only can Amazon Prime members switch games for free (such as Far Cry 4, Lumines: Remasteredand Eviction), but there’s an affordable Luna+ package that costs just $10 a month and gives you access to some of today’s biggest games – including Saints Row: The Third Remastered, Devil May Cry 5, Dirt 5and Yakuza 0.

If none of these games grab your fancy, there are other bundles available. Whether you’re looking for family games, retro classics, or some of the latest games from Ubisoft, there’s likely a package to suit your needs. Luna has a robust roster, but its games are spread across different packages. That means you’ll have to find a few packages to see everything it has to offer.

Despite the bundling limitations, Amazon Luna is still a surprisingly good service. You can access the platform on PC, Mac, Fire TV, Fire tablets, Chromebook, iOS and Android. There’s also a specific Luna controller to help reduce input lag, though it works well with Xbox and PlayStation controllers, as well as a mouse and keyboard.

Luna’s biggest problem is longevity. As a relatively new service, no one is sure what to make of it. But Amazon Prime members should at least give it a try. If it ticks all the right boxes, picking up the premium package might be a good move.