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 sink your teeth into.

But with so many games to play already, which one is actually 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

1$19.99 at AmazonPlatforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, mobile phones and tablets, select TVs, Meta Quest headsets

Pricing:

Game Pass Ultimate - $19.99/monthPC Game Pass - $11.99/monthGame Pass Core - $9.99/monthGame Pass Standard - $14.99/monthTrial Period: First month for $1 (PC Game Pass only)

Xbox Game Pass, launched in 2017, revolutionized the gaming industry by introducing the modern subscription-based game service. Dubbed the "Netflix of video games," it boasts an ever-expanding catalog and a stellar lineup of titles. Microsoft has since expanded this service across numerous platforms, highlighted in its "This Is an Xbox" campaign.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate stands out as the premier gaming subscription, offering access to hundreds of games, including day-one releases from Xbox Game Studios, now encompassing Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. This means immediate access to blockbuster titles such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and upcoming hits like Doom: The Dark Ages and Fable. Additionally, it includes EA Play, unlocking a vast collection of EA and BioWare classics. Beyond the big names, Game Pass is also home to a diverse selection of quality indie games like Chants of Sennaar, Unpacking, and Planet of Lana.

2. Nintendo Switch Online

Best for Nintendo Games

12 Month Subscription### Nintendo Switch Online (Individual)

0See it at AmazonPlatforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2

Pricing:

Nintendo Switch Online: Individual - $3.99/month, $7.99/3 months, or $19.99/year | Family - $34.99/yearNintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack: Individual - $49.99/year | Family - $79.99/yearTrial Period: 7 days free

Nintendo Switch Online is a comprehensive subscription service for the Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. While its primary feature is enabling online multiplayer for supported games, it offers much more. Subscribers gain access to a growing library of Nintendo classics spanning over four decades, including NES, SNES, and Game Boy titles with the standard subscription, and Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and Sega Genesis games with the Expansion Pack.

For Nintendo Switch 2 owners, the Expansion Pack also includes select GameCube games at launch. Beyond retro gaming, the Expansion Pack offers additional perks such as Sega Genesis titles and select DLC packs for popular games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Additionally, Nintendo Switch 2 subscribers receive the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Upgrade Packs as part of the Expansion Pack benefits.

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

3. PlayStation Plus

Best for PlayStation Games

Essential, Extra, & Premium### PlayStation Plus

0See it at PlayStationPlatforms: PS5, PS4, PlayStation Portal, PC/Mac, mobile devices and tablets

Pricing:

Essential: $9.99/month, $24.99/3 months, or $79.99/yearExtra: $14.99/month, $39.99/3 months, or $134.99/yearPremium: $17.99/month, $49.99/3 months, or $159.99/yearTrial Period: None

Originally a free service when it launched in 2010, PlayStation Plus has evolved into a multi-tiered subscription necessary for online play on PS5 and PS4. The Essential, Extra, and Premium tiers all offer online multiplayer, cloud storage for game saves, and exclusive content and discounts on the PlayStation Store.

The standout feature of PlayStation Plus is its monthly free games, available across all tiers, allowing subscribers to add select titles to their library for as long as their subscription remains active. PlayStation Plus Extra enhances this with a curated catalog of downloadable games, featuring some of PlayStation's best exclusives like The Last of Us Part I, God of War, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Demon's Souls, alongside Ubisoft+ Classics from the Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and The Division franchises.

PlayStation Plus Premium further expands the catalog to include PlayStation Classics from the PS1, PS2, and PSP eras, full game trials, and a curated selection of movies from the Sony Pictures Catalog. One of its most compelling features is PS5 Cloud Streaming, which lets you stream many games from the PS Plus Game Catalog.

4. Apple Arcade

Best for Mobile Gaming

1 Month Free### Apple Arcade

0See it at ApplePlatforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro

Pricing: $6.99/month

Trial Period: 30 days free

Apple Arcade revitalized mobile gaming in 2019, offering a premium experience free from ads and in-app purchases within its library of over 200 games. It brought back the joy of mobile gaming with enhanced versions of classics like Angry Birds, Temple Run, and Jetpack Joyride, alongside popular indie titles such as Balatro, Vampire Survivors, Dead Cells, and Stardew Valley.

Apple Arcade isn't limited to your phone; you can enjoy these games on Apple TV, iPad, or Mac, all of which support popular third-party controllers like the DualSense and Xbox Wireless Controller. Thanks to iCloud, your game progress syncs across devices, and a single subscription can be shared with your family, making it a cost-effective way to enjoy mobile gaming.

5. Netflix

Best for Hybrid Gaming

$7.99 Per Month### Netflix Standard (With Ads)

0See it at NetflixPlatforms: Everywhere (for streaming), mobile phones and tablets (for games)

Pricing:

Standard (with ads): $7.99/monthStandard: $17.99/monthPremium: $24.99/monthTrial Period: None

Netflix, with over 300 million subscribers, offers an often-overlooked benefit: access to over 120 games at no extra cost. Available on iOS and Android devices, this feature remains underutilized, with less than 1% of subscribers playing these games. Netflix's gaming library includes heavy-hitters like Hades, Dead Cells, Death’s Door, GTA: San Andreas, Civilization VI: Platinum Edition, Katana Zero, Sonic Mania Plus, and Monument Valley I-III, alongside titles based on popular IPs like Stranger Things and Squid Game.

6. Humble Bundle

Best for Discounts

$11.99 Per Month### Humble Choice

0See it at Humble BundlePlatforms: 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, from the creators of the "pay what you want" model, offers PC gamers a curated selection of about eight games each month. These games are yours to keep forever, even if you cancel your subscription. The service is flexible, allowing you to skip months and resubscribe when the lineup appeals to you.

Games often come with a Steam key for PC, Mac, or Linux, and many can be played directly through the Humble app on Windows. Subscribers also gain access to the Vault, a collection of over 50 DRM-free indie games available through the app. Additionally, Humble Choice members enjoy up to 20% off purchases in the Humble Store, and 5% of your subscription cost goes to charity.

Gaming Subscriptions FAQ

Which game streaming services have free trials?

As of writing, the only services that offer free trials are Nintendo Switch Online, which features a 7-day free trial, and Apple Arcade with a generous 1-month trial. Xbox no longer has a promotion for Game Pass Ultimate (aside from PC Game Pass), as Microsoft pulled its $1 offer from consoles in late 2024. Likewise, Sony doesn't 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 how you like to play. If you tend to sink hundreds of hours into a single game, a subscription might not offer the best value, and you might be better off buying games à la carte. But if you enjoy bouncing between different genres and trying new things or curating an extensive backlog for yourself, game subscriptions can be well worth it.

It’s also worth thinking about 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.