Hunting for the best game subscriptions in 2025? We compared price, platform support, day-one releases, offline play, family sharing, and cloud streaming across seven top services. Whether you’re on console, PC, or mobile, this guide shows what you get for your money—without the fluff.

7 Best Game Subscription Services Compared (2025)

If you’re overwhelmed by today’s game subscriptions, you’re not alone. Every platform now offers a monthly library with perks, trials, and sometimes cloud streaming. But which membership actually fits how you play? Below, we compare seven of the best game subscriptions for value, platforms, and features—so you subscribe once, play more, and spend less.

How we compared these game subscriptions

We rated each service on the same things players care about:

• Price & tiers: monthly/annual costs, and what each tier really includes
• Platforms: console, PC, mobile, and TV support
• Library quality: fresh releases, indies, classics, and exclusives
• Day-one access: whether new first-party titles hit at launch
• Cloud streaming & offline play: flexibility for travel and shared devices
• Family sharing: savings for households
• Perks & trials: discounts, DLC, or timed demos

Prices and features can change. We’ve verified figures against official pages where available and note those sources.

1) Xbox Game Pass (Core, Standard, PC, Ultimate)

If you want the broadest “all-you-can-play” across game subscriptions, Xbox Game Pass remains a powerhouse—especially Ultimate for its day-one releases and cloud play.

Best for: Players who want day-one first-party games, console + PC flexibility, and cloud streaming.

Tiers & pricing (US):

• Core: $9.99/mo (online multiplayer + small rotating console catalog). Xbox.com
• Standard: $14.99/mo (bigger console catalog; no day-one). Xbox.com
• PC Game Pass: $11.99/mo (Windows library; EA Play not always included in all regions). Xbox.com
• Ultimate: $19.99/mo (console + PC + cloud + day-one where offered). Xbox.com

Highlights:

• Day-one first-party drops on Ultimate remain the reason many pick this over other game subscriptions. Xbox.com
• Cloud gaming lets you stream on phones, browsers, and supported TVs—great for trying big downloads. Xbox.com
• Flexible tiers: Core for online play, Standard for a wider console catalog, PC for Windows users. Xbox.com+1

Watchouts: Standard excludes day-one releases; regional catalogs vary. The Verge

2) PlayStation Plus (Essential, Extra, Premium)

Sony’s PlayStation Plus packs online play, a large game catalog, and—at the top tier—PS5 cloud streaming. It’s one of the most complete game subscriptions if you live in the PlayStation ecosystem.

Best for: PS4/PS5 owners who want a deep catalog, superb exclusives, and optional cloud streaming.

Tiers & pricing (US, annual):

• Essential: $79.99/yr (online play, monthly games). PlayStation Store
• Extra: $134.99/yr (adds PS4/PS5 Game Catalog). PlayStation Store
• Premium: $159.99/yr (adds Classics Catalog, Game Trials, and cloud streaming). PlayStation Store

Highlights:

• Hundreds of games in the catalog, including third-party hits and PlayStation Studios classics. PlayStation
• Cloud streaming (Premium) now includes PS5 streaming in supported regions, so you can play without installing. PlayStation+1
• Ubisoft+ Classics selection is bundled, adding extra value to the library. PlayStation

Watchouts: No guaranteed day-one for first-party; cloud features depend on country/region. PlayStation

3) Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) + Expansion Pack

For Nintendo fans, this is the “must-have” among game subscriptions—mainly for online play and a vault of retro classics.

Best for: Families, retro lovers, and players deep into Mario, Zelda, and co-op titles.

Pricing (US):

• NSO Individual: $19.99/yr; Family: $34.99/yr (up to eight accounts). Nintendo Support
• NSO + Expansion Pack (Individual): $49.99/yr; Family: $79.99/yr. Nintendo Support

Highlights:

• Access to NES/SNES/N64/Genesis/GBA classics (Expansion Pack) plus select DLC like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass. Nintendo of Europe SE
• Online play for first-party hits and party games—great for households.
• Family plan saves big (especially Expansion Pack split eight ways). Nintendo of Europe SE

Watchouts: No day-one new releases; cloud saves and classic catalogs can vary by region. Nintendo of Europe SE

4) EA Play (and EA Play Pro)

EA’s game subscriptions are ideal if you love sports, racing, and blockbuster action from one publisher.

Best for: FIFA/EA Sports FC, Madden, NHL, Battlefield, Star Wars, and racing fans.

Pricing (US):

• EA Play: $5.99/mo or $39.99/yr (Play List library, 10-hour trials, 10% store discount). Electronic Arts Inc.
• EA Play Pro (PC): $16.99/mo or $119.99/yr (new releases at launch + premium editions on PC). Electronic Arts Inc.

Highlights:

• Game trials up to 10 hours for select new titles; keep progress if you buy later. Electronic Arts Inc.
• PC “Pro” tier includes deluxe/premium editions and day-one access (PC only). Electronic Arts Inc.

Watchouts: Pro is not on consoles; Play List timing varies by title.

5) Ubisoft+ (Premium)

Ubisoft’s catalog is a great single-publisher alternative within game subscriptions, especially if you live in Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, or The Crew.

Best for: Players who binge big Ubisoft sandboxes and want day-one access without buying.

Pricing (US):

• Ubisoft+ Premium: $17.99/mo, includes new releases and premium editions; available on PC and Xbox (link accounts). Xbox.com+1

Highlights:

• Day-one access to new Ubisoft titles and editions with DLC included (where indicated). Xbox.com
• Cross-progression across supported platforms, handy for cloud/console swaps.

Watchouts: It’s publisher-specific; value hinges on how many Ubisoft games you actually play.

6) Apple Arcade

On mobile, Apple Arcade is one of the cleanest game subscriptions: no ads, no in-app purchases, and surprisingly premium exclusives.

Best for: iPhone/iPad/Mac/Apple TV families who want ad-free gaming and controller support.

Pricing (US):

• $6.99/mo with a one-month free trial; also part of Apple One bundles (Individual/Family/Premium). Apple+1

Highlights:

• One sub covers a family of up to six via Family Sharing—huge value for parents. Apple
• Works across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV—with many titles supporting controllers. Apple
• Curated library (200+ games) that avoids predatory monetization. Apple

Watchouts: Mobile-first; if you’re after high-end console experiences, pair this with another sub.

7) Amazon Luna+

Among game subscriptions focused on cloud play, Luna+ is the simplest way to stream a rotating library on devices you already own—no installs, no updates.

Best for: Lightweight, living-room cloud gaming on Fire TV, browser, and more—especially for Prime members who sample the Prime Gaming channel.

Pricing (US):

• Luna+: $9.99/mo; some games/channels included with Prime on rotation. Amazon+1

Highlights:

• Play instantly on Fire TV, PC/Mac browsers, and more; optional Luna Controller pairs seamlessly. luna.amazon.com
• Prime members get a small rotating selection at no extra cost, making cloud gaming even cheaper to try. Amazon

Watchouts: Library size and selection change; performance depends on your internet.

Side-by-side comparison

Quick-scan this table to see how the top game subscriptions line up.

Which game subscription is right for you?

• Want maximum variety + day-one drops? Go Xbox Game Pass Ultimate—the most versatile of all game subscriptions if you play across console, PC, and cloud. Xbox.com
• Locked into PS5 and love exclusives? PlayStation Plus Extra is the sweet spot; Premium if you want cloud streaming and classic catalogs. PlayStation Store+1
• Family on Nintendo? NSO + Expansion Pack pays off via retro libraries and bundled DLC—especially on a Family plan. Nintendo of Europe SE
• Sports and EA blockbusters? EA Play is cheap; EA Play Pro (PC) gets you new releases day one. Electronic Arts Inc.
• All-in on Ubisoft worlds? Ubisoft+ Premium lets you binge new releases without buying every game. Xbox.com
• Ad-free mobile for the household? Apple Arcade shines for families with shared devices. Apple
• Just want quick cloud gaming on the TV? Amazon Luna+ is a low-friction pick—especially if you already have Prime. Amazon

Deep-dive: Pros, cons, and who it’s best for

Xbox Game Pass

Pros: Day-one first-party (Ultimate), console + PC + cloud, frequent new additions, great for discovery.
Cons: Standard excludes day-one; catalogs vary by region; rotating library means some removals. Xbox.com+1
Best for: Players who want one sub to cover multiple screens and big new releases among game subscriptions.

PlayStation Plus

Pros: Huge high-quality catalog, PS Studios gems, Premium cloud streaming and classics, frequent new drops. PlayStation+1
Cons: First-party day-one is rare; annual pricing is chunky up front. PlayStation Store
Best for: Story-driven players who want prestige single-player and a deep back catalog.

Nintendo Switch Online

Pros: Cheapest of the major game subscriptions, family plan value, iconic retro libraries, bundled DLC (Expansion Pack). Nintendo of Europe SE
Cons: No day-one for new releases; online features vary per title.
Best for: Households and nostalgia hunters.

EA Play / EA Play Pro

Pros: Timed trials, discounts, and a solid vault; Pro gets premium editions day one on PC. Electronic Arts Inc.
Cons: Pro isn’t on console; annual EA sports cycles may push you to buy outright.
Best for: Sports fans and anyone who regularly plays EA franchises.

Ubisoft+ Premium

Pros: Day-one access to Ubisoft titles, DLC-rich editions, cross-progression. Xbox.com
Cons: Single-publisher scope; value drops if you only play one or two franchises.
Best for: Assassin’s Creed/Far Cry/crewheads who marathon one publisher at a time.

Apple Arcade

Pros: Zero ads or IAPs, family sharing for up to six, cross-device cloud saves, controller support. Apple
Cons: Mobile-centric library; fewer “hardcore” console experiences.
Best for: Parents and commuters who want premium mobile without microtransactions.

Amazon Luna+

Pros: No installs; pick up and play on TV or browser; Prime channel offers a free taste. Amazon
Cons: Internet quality dictates experience; catalog rotates; no offline play.
Best for: Casual couch sessions, travel, and second-screen gaming.

Tips to save money on game subscriptions

• Stack annual plans where cheaper (PS Plus, NSO, EA Play). PlayStation Store+2Nintendo Support+2
• Share with family: Apple Arcade’s family sharing and NSO Family plans stretch value. Apple+1
• Use trials and promo months to sample catalogs before committing long-term. Xbox.com+1
• Rotate subs: binge a publisher (Ubisoft+ or EA Play Pro) for a month, finish the games, cancel. Xbox.com+1
• Cloud for discovery: stream first to test performance and fit before downloading huge installs (Game Pass Ultimate). Xbox.com

FAQ: game subscriptions in 2025

Are day-one releases common outside Game Pass?
They’re a core perk of Game Pass Ultimate and EA Play Pro/Ubisoft+ Premium for their own titles. Sony typically adds first-party hits later to PlayStation Plus. PlayStation+3Xbox.com+3Electronic Arts Inc.+3

Can I play without downloading?
Yes—via cloud streaming on Game Pass Ultimate and PlayStation Plus Premium (in supported regions), and on cloud-first services like Amazon Luna+. Xbox.com+2PlayStation+2

What’s the best value single sub?
If you want a bit of everything, Game Pass Ultimate usually wins among game subscriptions. If you play mostly PS exclusives, PS Plus Extra/Premium is excellent; families should look at NSO and Apple Arcade bundles. Apple+4Xbox.com+4PlayStation Store+4

Editor’s picks (quick recommendations)

• All-around champ: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
• Best for PS5 owners: PlayStation Plus Extra (or Premium for cloud/classics)
• Family value: Nintendo Switch Online Family or Apple Arcade Family Sharing
• Sports & Star Wars: EA Play / EA Play Pro (PC)
• Ubisoft marathons: Ubisoft+ Premium
• Cloud on TV: Amazon Luna+

These picks keep game subscriptions simple: choose the one that matches your hardware and habits, not the one with the loudest marketing.

Final word

The best game subscriptions aren’t one-size-fits-all. If you split time across PC and console and want day-one drops, Game Pass Ultimate leads. If you’re all-in on PS5’s single-player greats, PS Plus Extra/Premium is hard to beat. Families and casual players will love NSO and Apple Arcade, while franchise fans can rotate EA Play or Ubisoft+ for new releases without paying $70+. Pick your lane, set a calendar reminder to reassess, and you’ll save a bundle while staying spoiled for choice.

Internal Links (Dozario Categories)

• Business — https://dozario.com/category/business/
• Cryptocurrency — https://dozario.com/category/cryptocurrency/
• Cybersecurity — https://dozario.com/category/cybersecurity/
• Gaming — https://dozario.com/category/gaming/
• Hacking — https://dozario.com/category/hacking/
• Health — https://dozario.com/category/health/
• Media & Entertainment — https://dozario.com/category/media-entertainment/
• Sports — https://dozario.com/category/sports/