Which cloud gaming service is the best?

GeForce Now

NVIDIA's GeForce Now is another versatile service that works similarly to Xbox game streaming, but it doesn't offer any game catalog - you can only play games you already own.

GeForce allows you to rent a high-end PC and stream your games from it. That's the reason it is cheaper than Microsoft's offer - $5/€5 or $25/€27 for six months.

There is a free tier, too, but it doesn't include ray tracing settings, and each game session is limited to 1 hour - quite generous for something that's free.

GeForce Now works on a variety of platforms, just like Microsoft's service. It can stream to an Android device, a Windows or Mac computer, an NVIDIA Shield, and even iPhone and iPad via the Safari browser.

TV app: GeForce Now Android TV app is available and works on many smart TVs. Selected LG smart TVs are getting a compatible app later this year, too.

Games

GeForce Now includes no games - you can play only what you already own. The service supports Steam, Epic, UPLAY and GOG platforms. Not all games are supported, though, so you need to check this list and see if your games are allowed to run on GeForce Now. Or just try the free tier.

The service is advertised as the one with most games, and rightfully so - it supports over 900 games. The catch is that you need to buy them. It is great if you already own a large number of games thanks to the Steam sales. And it is especially valuable when you (or your significant other) get tired of spending $2000+ for a PC upgrade every couple of years.

Note that the EA games are not available for streaming on GeForce Now (they are available on Xbox Game Pass, though).

Controller

The GeForce Now works great with lots of controllers - Xbox One, DualShock 4, SHIELD, Steelseries and Razer; it also ran nicely with the ROG Kunai 3. You can even use an Xbox 360 controller, but it needs a wire to work.

Just like the Xbox Cloud, GeForce Now is quite liberal when it comes to controllers, so feel free to pick your favorite one.

GeForce Now app for Android even offers virtual controls if you don't own a controller, though it's a nightmare to play anything more complex than a platformer.

Availability

Currently, GeForce Now is available in North America and Europe. It is also available via Alliance Partners in the many post-Soviet states, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. This is the complete list.

It seems that GeForce Now, in addition to supporting the most games, also supports the most markets.

Quality

Currently, GeForce Now maxes out at 1080p at 60fps. HDR gaming is not available yet. If you have an NVIDIA SHIELD, then you can play games in 4K resolution there via Game Stream.

You can use the maximum quality settings for each game, though - things like Ray Tracing and DLSS are available, and you can tick them on every game.

A good Wi-Fi connection is required, of course, with 10Mbps being the minimum for smooth streaming. We tried different speeds, and once again - 22-25Mbps is the minimum for smooth 1080p streaming.

Our impressions

We were impressed with how well GeForce Now ran on both Android phones (S20 Ultra) and Android tablets (Tab S7+), as well as on PC (a tiny Gigabyte Brix with i3). You just install the app, add your Steam, Epic, Uplay, and GOG accounts, and you can start playing.

GeForce NOW app • Your Library • Game Page • Cyberpunk 2077 • Death Stranding • Virtual controls

We tried Death Stranding from Steam and Cyberpunk 2077 from GOG, and they ran nearly perfect. We used maximum quality on both games, yes, even with Ray Tracing On, and we enjoyed what we saw and played. The titles look good on phones and even better on a PC, provided you have the needed internet connection speed.

We had no issues with any of the controllers we tried - Xbox One, DualShock 4 and the ROG Kunai 3. No remapping was needed, but you can do that if needed. We experienced no noticeable controller lag when we played said games.

We tried Assassin's Creed titles, too, once again without hiccups. You can see you are playing the games on a high-end PC, they ran well and felt good, and that's what matters the most, isn't it?

The free tier is also quite nice, but there are server queues, and you may happen to wait a lot to get to a server. And those from the paid tiers always jump the queues, so the remaining time isn't a certain thing.

The verdict

GeForce Now is excellent if you'd like to get into PC gaming due to a limited hardware budget - especially if you already own a few games. Gaming on the go via GeForce Now is an excellent alternative if you prefer to spend money on games rather than getting up-to-date gaming hardware, which will inevitably age quickly.

The best part is that you own the games in the respective digital stores, so if you opt-out of GeForce Now - you get to keep them.

Pros

• Cheap
• Supports over 900 games
• Many compatible controllers
• You can play on mobile or PC
• Maximum quality with Ray Tracing and DLSS
• The widest market availability
• You keep each game you buy, they are independent from the service

Cons

• Don't expect 4K, HDR and HRR gaming for now
• You need to buy or own every single game you want to play
• EA Games are not available