Top Video Game Subscriptions Across All Platforms

It feels like just yesterday that Xbox Game Pass launched and everyone thought it was too good to be true. An all-you-can-eat buffet of games, right at your fingertips? Impossible. Now, just a few years later, it seems like every company is jumping on the game subscription bandwagon. New services are popping up left and right, each boasting massive libraries with hundreds of games to dive into.

But with so many games already available, which service is truly worth your time and money? We’ve rounded up the most popular video game subscription services and narrowed them down to six of the best options.

1. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Best Overall

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – 1 Month Membership

$19.99 at Amazon

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, mobile phones and tablets, select TVs, Meta Quest headsets

Pricing:

• Game Pass Ultimate - $19.99/month
• PC Game Pass - $11.99/month
• Game Pass Core - $9.99/month
• Game Pass Standard - $14.99/month

Trial Period: First month for $1 (PC Game Pass only)

Launched in 2017, Xbox Game Pass pioneered the modern subscription-based game service, quickly earning the nickname "Netflix of video games" thanks to its ever-growing catalog and impressive lineup of titles. Xbox has since expanded the service to numerous platforms, as emphasized in its "This Is an Xbox" campaign.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate remains the best overall gaming subscription due to its access to hundreds of titles, including day-one releases from Xbox Game Studios, now encompassing Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. This means instant access to major titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and upcoming blockbusters like Doom: The Dark Ages and Fable. It also includes EA Play, unlocking a vast back catalog of EA and BioWare classics. Alongside high-profile big games, the Game Pass library is filled with quality indie titles like Chants of Sennaar, Unpacking, and Planet of Lana.

One of the most compelling features of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is its built-in cloud streaming, a key reason why virtually any device can "feel like an Xbox" in 2025. With cloud streaming, you can jump into most of the Game Pass library from anywhere with Wi-Fi, even on a Fire TV Stick. No downloads or patches are required—just pick up and play. When you return to your console or PC, you can seamlessly continue right where you left off.

2. Nintendo Switch Online

Best for Nintendo Games

Nintendo Switch Online (Individual) – 12 Month Subscription

See it at Amazon

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2

Pricing:

• Nintendo Switch Online: Individual - $3.99/month, $7.99/3 months, or $19.99/year | Family - $34.99/year
• Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack: Individual - $49.99/year | Family - $79.99/year

Trial Period: 7 days free

Nintendo Switch Online is a multifaceted subscription service available on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles. Its primary function is to enable online multiplayer for supported games, but it offers much more.

With a subscription, you gain access to a growing catalog of Nintendo Classics spanning over 40 years. The standard subscription includes a curated collection of NES, SNES, and Game Boy games, while the Expansion Pack adds Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and Sega Genesis games. Nintendo Switch 2 owners can also play select GameCube games at launch with the Expansion Pack subscription tier.

Beyond retro Nintendo games, the Expansion Pack includes Sega Genesis titles and select DLC packs for popular games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Nintendo Switch 2 subscribers will receive the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Upgrade Packs as an added benefit of the Expansion Pack.

In late 2024, Nintendo introduced the Nintendo Music app as a new perk for Nintendo Switch Online members, allowing users to stream and download iconic tracks from beloved franchises like Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, Metroid, and many more.

3. PlayStation Plus

Best for PlayStation Games

PlayStation Plus – Essential, Extra, & Premium

See it at PlayStation

Platforms: PS5, PS4, PlayStation Portal, PC/Mac, mobile devices and tablets

Pricing:

• Essential: $9.99/month, $24.99/3 months, or $79.99/year
• Extra: $14.99/month, $39.99/3 months, or $134.99/year
• Premium: $17.99/month, $49.99/3 months, or $159.99/year

Trial Period: None

Initially a free service when it launched in 2010, PlayStation Plus has evolved into a multi-tiered subscription service for PS5 and PS4 users that is required for online play. All three tiers—Essential, Extra, and Premium—include online multiplayer access, cloud storage for automatic game save backups, and exclusive content and discounts on the PlayStation Store.

The standout benefit of PlayStation Plus has always been the free monthly games. Every month, regardless of tier, you can add select titles to your library, playable anytime with an active subscription.

PlayStation Plus Extra adds a curated catalog of downloadable games, including some of PlayStation's best exclusives like The Last of Us Part I, God of War, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Demon's Souls, and more. It also includes a selection of Ubisoft+ Classics from the Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and The Division franchises.

PlayStation Premium offers an even larger catalog of downloadable games, including PlayStation Classics from the PS1, PS2, and PSP era. You'll also gain access to full game trials and a curated selection of movies from the Sony Pictures Catalog. One of the best features of PS Plus Premium is PS5 Cloud Streaming, allowing you to stream many of the games available in the PS Plus Game Catalog.

4. Apple Arcade

Best for Mobile Gaming

Apple Arcade – 1 Month Free

See it at Apple

Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro

Pricing: $6.99/month

Trial Period: 30 days free

Apple Arcade burst onto the mobile scene in late 2019 to great critical reception, marking a significant moment for mobile gaming after years of shovelware and relentless in-app microtransactions. Apple Arcade's big selling point is that there are no ads or in-app purchases for any of the titles in its 200+ game library.

The other major draw is the quality of the games. Many classic mobile titles, like Angry Birds, Temple Run, and Jetpack Joyride, are available in enhanced versions. Plus, popular indie hits such as Balatro, Vampire Survivors, Dead Cells, and Stardew Valley are all part of your monthly subscription.

If you’re not a fan of playing games on your phone, you can enjoy Apple Arcade titles on the big screen with an Apple TV or take them on the go with your iPad or Mac. These platforms support popular third-party controllers like the DualSense and Xbox Wireless Controller over Bluetooth, which you may already own.

Since Apple Arcade is exclusive to Apple devices, your save data is automatically synced via iCloud, allowing you to pick up where you left off on any device. A single subscription can also be shared with the entire family, offering great value for everyone.

5. Netflix

Best for Hybrid Gaming

Netflix Standard (With Ads) – $7.99 Per Month

See it at Netflix

Platforms: Everywhere (for streaming), mobile phones and tablets (for games)

Pricing:

• Standard (with ads): $7.99/month
• Standard: $17.99/month
• Premium: $24.99/month

Trial Period: None

Let’s be honest: Most of us either have Netflix or know someone who does. But did you know that your subscription includes access to over 120 games? Despite Netflix having over 300 million subscribers, less than 1% actually play the included games. If you’ve got an Apple or Android phone or tablet, you’re missing out on some serious value.

I’ve been following Netflix’s gaming efforts since it launched in 2021 with just five games, and I’m impressed by the current lineup. Alongside original IP-based games like Stranger Things and Squid Game, there’s an impressive selection of heavy-hitters available at no extra cost, including Hades, Dead Cells, Death’s Door, GTA: San Andreas, Civilization VI: Platinum Edition, Katana Zero, Sonic Mania Plus, Monument Valley I-III, and more.

While the games are currently only available on iOS and Android devices, Netflix is testing game streaming for certain members on select smart TVs and directly through netflix.com. And if access to all those games wasn’t enough, you also get the entire Netflix streaming library, so you can stay caught up on all the biggest shows and movies.

6. Humble Bundle

Best for Discounts

Humble Choice – $11.99 Per Month

See it at Humble Bundle

Platforms: PC (via Steam/Windows), Mac/Linux (via Steam – certain titles)

Pricing: $11.99/month, $129/year

Trial Period: None

Disclosure: Humble Bundle is owned by Ziff Davis, the parent company of IGN. Humble Bundle and IGN operate completely independently, and no special consideration was given to Humble Bundle with regards to this list.

Humble Choice is a subscription service for PC gamers from Humble Bundle, the site that popularized the “pay what you want” model for game bundles, often with a portion of proceeds going to charity.

Unlike Humble’s themed bundles, Humble Choice offers a curated selection of about eight games each month as part of the subscription. The best part is that they're yours to keep forever, even if you cancel your subscription. Since it’s a month-to-month service, you can easily skip a month if the lineup doesn’t appeal to you, then resubscribe when something catches your eye.

Games often come with a Steam key for redemption on PC (and Mac or Linux, when supported), but many can also be played directly through the Humble app on Windows. Your subscription also includes access to the Vault, a collection of over 50 DRM-free indie games available through the app.

Humble Choice members also get up to 20% off purchases in the Humble Store, where you can grab even more titles for PC, Mac, and Linux. And to top it all off, 5% of your subscription cost goes to charity!

Gaming Subscriptions FAQ

Which game streaming services have free trials?

As of now, the only services offering free trials are Nintendo Switch Online, with a 7-day free trial, and Apple Arcade, with a generous 1-month trial. Xbox no longer promotes a $1 offer for Game Pass Ultimate (except for PC Game Pass), as Microsoft discontinued its console offer in late 2024. Similarly, Sony does not offer free trials for PlayStation Plus, aside from limited-time regional offers.

How much should you spend on a gaming subscription?

This largely depends on your gaming habits. If you tend to spend hundreds of hours on a single game, a subscription might not offer the best value, and you might be better off buying games à la carte. However, if you enjoy exploring different genres and trying new things or building an extensive backlog, game subscriptions can be well worth it.

It’s also worth considering how much you typically spend on games each month. If you're budget-conscious, subscriptions offer strong value, giving you access to hundreds of games for a relatively low price. On the other hand, if you regularly buy new releases at launch, you might not get much out of a subscription, aside from the occasional older title you missed. One exception is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: Since it includes day-one access to Xbox first-party titles, the cost of a single new game could cover several months of Game Pass.

How much are you willing to pay for a streaming service per month?

• $5
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• $50+

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