Top 10 Best Cloud Gaming Services to Play Online Games
Our world is evolving with every passing day. Each day, a new piece of technology is invented which outdates similar technologies invented in the past. Cloud Gaming is one of these technologies which is slowly taking the gaming world by storm. Cloud Gaming aspires to replace PC gaming by providing an easy solution to some major gaming issues. One of the biggest issues with PC gaming is the cost that comes with the purchase of expensive graphics cards that are required for a good gaming system. We also have to add other parts to the gaming system which are equally expensive.
On the other hand, Cloud Gaming is much easier to setup and can be played on any device regardless of its specifications. What Cloud Gaming requires is a good internet connection with the right latency and you can stream and play any game you want on any device.
Now there are plenty of Cloud Gaming services on the web. For your convenience, I have selected the top 10 cloud gaming services that are available for you to play your games on:
1. PlayStation Plus Premium (Cloud Streaming)
With PlayStation Plus Premium, you can cloud stream hundreds of PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4 games from the PlayStation Plus library, which means you have access to play those games without having to download. PlayStation Plus Premium is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC (Windows) devices. This includes access to blockbuster hits and PlayStation exclusives like The Last of Us, Uncharted, and more. You can also stream at resolutions up to 1080p, trophies and cloud saves work as intended. The PlayStation Plus Premium tier also includes Game Trials and access to the full PlayStation Plus library. This tier is for gamers who want to enjoy reliving classic games, play new blockbuster hits, and put that all aside without storage issues or unending game installations.
2. GeForce Now
NVIDIA GeForce NOW is an exceptional cloud gaming service. It can stream PC games from digital libraries: Steam, Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Connect – with 1,800 titles and counting! GeForce NOW delivers ultra-low latency, support for up to 4K resolution via PC game streaming, and real-time RTX ray tracing, as long as the title is RTX compatible. Works with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and smart TVs – just need a stable internet connection. Easily jump into gaming with no lengthy downloads or installs. Free and premium subscriptions are available, and premium will provide priority access with longer play sessions. GeForce NOW is ideal for individuals taking gaming seriously as well as the casual gamer.
3. Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud)
Xbox Cloud Gaming (formerly known as xCloud) is one segment of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate service that enables use of hundreds of console-quality games on mobile devices, PC, and smart TVs through the cloud. You do not need a console, just stream all game titles right from Microsoft’s servers, and your saved progress is offered across whatever platform you use. Games include AAA video game franchises such as Halo, Forza, and Gears of War. Xbox Cloud Gaming provides a smooth gaming experience that can support up to 1080 and 60 frames per second chat based on the quality of connection. Xbox Cloud Gaming has simple controller support, and Xbox continues to grow its library. Overall it is a good service if you are an Xbox fan who loves flexibility and convenience, and you don’t want to lose too much performance.
4. Amazon Luna
Amazon Luna is a subscription-based cloud gaming service that provides high-quality game streaming on Fire TV, PC, Mac, and mobile devices. Users can customize the type of games they’ll want access to via various “channels,” including Luna+, Ubisoft+, and Jackbox Games. Games can perform as much as 1080p/60fps, and Luna has a Luna Controller dedicated to low-latency gameplay, although Luna supports any standard Bluetooth controller. Plus, Amazon Prime members can also play a selection of titles monthly for free from a rotating library. Amazon Luna blends flexibility and affordability to offer an attractive option for casual gamers or families seeking to easily play a large assortment of genres and games.
5. Parsec Cloud Gaming
Parsec is a piece of low-latency remote desktop and cloud gaming software developed for gamers that want to play or stream games online with other users over the internet. Unlike full-service game libraries, users can stream their own PC to multiple devices, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and Raspberry Pi. Many gamers use Parsec for co-op gameplay or a multiplayer experiences on LAN or, because of the ultra-low input lag and high-quality video streaming, simply for collaborating on a game development project with a spare PC. Parsec supports streaming up to 4k resolution and can also integrate with external services such as AWS for providing cloud-hosted virtual machines. Parsec is aimed at technically-inclined gamers aiming to gain back precision control/and or multiplayer capabilities in a remote use case and remote environments.
6. Playkey.net
Playkey offers multiplayer support and can run different 20 game sessions (or users), simultaneously on the same server. PlayKey supports over 150 games that include Grand Theft Auto: V, The Witcher 3, Mafia III, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Bioshock: Infinite, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. More games are being added each month.
Playkey offers monthly subscription plans of $10 and $20, with the former offering 30fps while the latter offers 60fps to its users.
7. Shadow
Shadow is an elite cloud computing service. It allows users to access a full Windows PC in the cloud. It can run any software or game on a PC (Windows environment). Unlike typical cloud gaming platforms, Shadow allows you complete access to the entire desktop as well as any productivity tasks. Shadow supports 4K, raytracing, and runs demanding AAA games. Shadow can be utilized on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. Users can install their own games and apps, which is an advantage to an end user. Shadow is perfect for those who are power users. It allows users to access a powerful PC remotely for gaming, video editing, programming development, etc. without actually having any physical hardware.
8. Boosteroid
Boosteroid is a cloud gaming service that let’s users play games from their own libraries from stores like Steam, Epic Games Store, and Battle.net on virtually any device. Powerful hardware is not necessary, this platform simply requires a good internet connection. Boosteroid enables browser gaming on Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, and smart TVs. The service supports up to 1080p at 60fps, and offers a clean interface with extremely little latency. Users can choose between monthly and yearly subscription services, with unlimited play time. With servers based in Europe and growing their global scope, as a whole, Boosteroid is a very good offer for gamers who want to be able to stream PC games on the go.
9. Blacknut
The Blacknut service is cloud gaming service that provides family-friendly gaming with unlimited access to a curated library with over 500 games, all for a single monthly subscription. Blacknut is focused on casual, indie, and retro games that are perfect for kids and casual/non-hardcore gamers. Blacknut allows multiple user profiles along with parental controls and is available to stream from Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and smart TVs. Blacknut games are streamed at 1080p and do not require downloads or installations. There are no ads, and considering there are various genres represented in the library that continues to grow, Blacknut is a great low-cost, family-friendly gaming alternative for households looking for a safe way to access and play family-friendly gaming.
10. Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure is another platform which is more focused on cloud tools for building, managing and supporting applications and services. The service has also entered cloud gaming market, and though it isn’t very popular yet, we’re sure that it will grow to become one of the top players very soon.
How to Improve Your Cloud Gaming Experience?
Cloud gaming is gaining immense popularity with each passing day. While the service is easy to setup and use, there are some disadvantages with this new way of gaming. The biggest of these is latency.
Because cloud gaming depends on your internet connection to work, any problems with your connection can ruin your cloud gaming experience. Your ping rate must be optimum for you to enjoy your cloud gaming experience.
Of times, ISPs slow down your internet speed when they find that you are consuming lots of bandwidth. You often consume gigabytes of bandwidth when you are cloud gaming. In such scenarios, you’ll often find your internet speed slower than usual.
Another major problem with cloud gaming are geo-restrictions. There are many cloud gaming services that are geo-blocked in many countries for several reasons. Some provide limited libraries to people in some countries. Such geo-restrictions can ruin your cloud gaming experience.
In scenarios like these, we recommend that you use a VPN, or more specifically PureVPN. PureVPN has 2,000+ servers in 141 countries, which removes the geo-restriction issue while you are cloud gaming.
VPN also improves your latency by hiding your online traffic from your ISP. Because of this, your ISP won’t be able to detect how much data you’re consuming, improving your latency as a result.
Tags: cloud computing, game, online game