There are a lot of gaming subscription services available nowadays, and it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. It really depends on what kind of games you like to play and how much you’re willing to spend.
We’ve created this short guide to help you decided which platform works best for your needs. In this article we’ll cover:
- Xbox Game Pass
- PlayStation Now
- Nintendo Switch Online
- Apple Arcade
- EA Play
- Nvidia GeForce Now
Xbox Game Pass
If you’re a fan of Xbox, then Xbox Game Pass is definitely the way to go. Get an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S console, plus 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, starting at £20.99 a month for 24 months with no upfront cost. If you have an Xbox One, you can even download some of the games to play offline. Join now to get your first month for £1. Subscription continues automatically at the monthly price unless cancelled through your ScribePay virtual card or Microsoft account.
Playstation Now
PlayStation Now is a great gaming subscription service for PlayStation fans. The essential package starts at £6.99 per month and the premium starts at £13.99 per month. You get access to over 700 games, including some of the most popular titles. You can also rent individual games for a shorter period of time if you’re not interested in subscribing to the service. Check out our subscription guide on PlaystationPlus for more details
Nintendo Switch Online
Nintendo Switch Online is the required gaming subscription service if you want to play most Nintendo Switch games online. It’s only £3.49 per month or £17.99 per year, and it comes with a few other perks like discounts on digital games and access to a growing library of classic NES and SNES titles. Join now to get a 7-day free trial. Subscription continues automatically at the monthly price unless cancelled through your ScribePay virtual card or Nintendo online account.
Apple Arcade
According to Apple’s own website, Apple Arcade is a gaming subscription service that:
- Is the Best collection of mobile games — Arcade Originals, Timeless Classics, and App Store Greats.
- Has 200+ games with more added all the time.
- Is the only one subscription. No ads. No in‑app purchases.
- You can share Apple Arcade with your family.
At only £4.99 a month with a one-month free trial, it’s a no-brainer for mobile gamers—especially those that love lesser-known, indie developers with unique and highly creative take on adventures and cult classics.
EA Play
Previously known as EA Access on consoles and Origin Access on PC, EA Play is a new gaming subscription service from Electronic Arts that allows you to play over 90 games for free. While the majority of the titles available are sports simulations from previous eras, you can also find newer games from popular IPs such as Star Wars, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Need for Speed, Battlefield, Plants vs. Zombies, and more.
This makes it a great choice for anybody who has missed out on any of the previous series or wants to go back and experience them for less than their combined retail cost. The EA Play subscription costs £3.99 per month, but you can get six months for free if you sign up for the whole year for £19.99.
There’s also a “Pro” tier gaming subscription service for PC that costs £14.99 per month or £89.99 (44% savings) for an entire year, and which includes several added benefits. In the digital store (formerly known as Origin), EA Play Pro members get a 10% discount (previously called Origin), early access to certain games (up to 5 days before they release), and access to a rotating selection of first and third-party games through The Vault.
Manage your subscriptions from one app.
Say goodbye to forgotten missed trials, missed payments and unwanted charges.
Manage your subscriptions from one app.
Say goodbye to forgotten missed trials, missed payments and unwanted charges.
Nvidia GeForce Now
GeForce Now is a gaming subscription service that allows you to play games on low-spec PCs, Macs, Android devices, and Nvidia Shield TVs if you don’t have high-end gaming hardware. Because of the amount of internet bandwidth and speed necessary, the outcomes you get will be influenced by your connection quality.
In contrast to similar services like Google Stadia, the GeForce Now gaming subscription service does not offer a game library but instead offers a selection of free-to-play games such as Destiny 2 and Fortnite. It might not be worth it for you unless you intend on bringing your own digital games, therefore
The reason we like it over Stadia or even Shadow is that it has a low-cost barrier to entry. GeForce Now’s ‘Founders’ plan costs £8.99 per month and includes a 90-day free trial. Founders have first dibs on Nvidia’s servers and may stream games with RTX ray-tracing for up to six hours at a time. If you don’t want to use the ray-tracing, Nvidia offers a ‘Free’ tier for one-hour sessions.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive gaming experience, then you might want to consider Xbox Game Pass. For £20.99 per month, you get access to over 100 games on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. You also get perks like discounts on digital games and in-game content.
PlayStation Now is another great option for PlayStation fans. For £6.99 per month, you get access to over 700 games, including many PlayStation exclusives. You can also download some games to your PS4 to play offline.
Overall, gaming subscription services can definitely be worth it if the library of games and price is good. So take a look at what each service has to offer and see which one is right for you.
