9 Best Subscription Services for Downloading Games | Tips and Tricks

Video game fans, in report. In this new study we present the best subscription services to download games.

Consider it a guide dedicated exclusively to downloading video games: we will deal with streaming services or cloud gaming at a later time.

Before reviewing each platform, you will find the complete list below.

List of the best subscription services to download games

Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that allows you to download video games from a catalog updated each month with new new and old titles. One of the main strengths is the ability for anyone to play the new games from Xbox Game Studios e Bethesda Softworks on launch day. This is without doubt the best subscription service for downloading games. Microsoft has huge network infrastructure and financial resources that allow it to be head and shoulders above the competition.

Users who choose to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass per PC have at their disposal a rich catalog of video games for computers with the Windows 10 or Windows 11 operating system on board. The complete list of games is available at this link, while the management of the service is made easier with the use of the Xbox app for Windows PC.

The Xbox Game Pass for PC subscription also includes EA Play, the subscription-based video game service for downloading games distributed by Electronic Arts.

As for Xbox Game Pass instead for Console, if you exclude the addition of EA Play, it is a subscription similar to the PC version. Of course, the games in the catalog are available on Xbox consoles and not on computers.

Prices? Xbox Game Pass for PC and Xbox Game Pass for console cost € 9.99 per month.

The most complete and recommended subscription, which includes online play with Xbox Live Gold and streaming via the Cloud, is called Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and is offered at a price of 12,99€ per month.

In some periods of the year, Microsoft relaunches the subscription at the symbolic price of 1 € for the first month, which then becomes full price from the second month onwards.

To learn more, we invite you to read our complete in-depth study on Xbox Game Pass.

PS More

PS Plus is a subscription service that allows you to download new ones every month games for PS4 and PS5 consoles from a catalog that is updated from month to month. All the news and games available with PlayStation Plus can be found at this address.

In addition, the PS Plus subscription gives you access to additional services such as online multiplayer, exclusive game content, 100GB of cloud storage for saving game progress and exclusive discounts on games, add-ons and pre-orders.

PlayStation Plus is available in three payment plans different:

• Annual (365 days): € 59.99
• 3 months: € 24.99
• 1 month: € 8.99

To save money, it is advisable to wait for the periods of the year of Black Friday or Christmas, where the subscription is offered at a more advantageous price.

Read also: 7 Christmas gift ideas for gamers

Nintendo Switch Online

Nintendo Switch Online is the subscription service for owners of the Nintendo Switch console that allows you to download a rich selection of classic games for NES consoles (Nintendo Entertainment System) e SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). The complete catalog of NES games is available by clicking here, while the downloadable SNES games can be found on this page.

Among other things, the Nintendo Switch Online subscription also allows you to have access to the online mode in compatible games.

Prices: € 19.99 for 12 months, € 7.99 for 3 months and € 3.99 for 1 month.

As of October 26, 2021, Nintendo offers a subscription version called “Nintendo Switch Online + Add-on Package“. This version of the subscription includes the addition of the classic games for Nintendo64 and SEGA Mega Drive (and the expansion of Animal Crossing New Horizon, a very successful game produced by Nintendo). The price of this subscription is 39,99€ for one year.

If you have multiple consoles or want to split the cost of the subscription, plans are also available Family a € 34.99 for 12 months and € 69.99 for Switch Online with add-on package.

Humble Choice

Humble Choice is a monthly subscription that allows you to download PC games to keep forever. The service is managed by Humble Bundle, a popular video game site launched in 2010 by creators Jeff Rosen and John Graham.

Every month subscribed users receive 10 titles to download: once the download is complete, the video games remain in the possession of the subscriber for life. Humble Choice delivers games in Steam or DRM-Free format.

But let’s get to the prices. Humble Choice is available at 10 € per month. Membership also entitles you to a 20% discount on purchases in the Humble Store.

EA Play

EA Play is a subscription service that offers access to a collection of Electronic Arts’ most loved games on PC, Xbox and PlayStation. The list of video games available for computer is here, the one for Xbox at this other address, while the one for PlayStation at this other address.

Additionally EA Play allows you to play for up to 10 hours on new releases of EAs selected by the service team.

EA Play membership has a annual cost of € 29.99. If you want, you can choose the monthly payment at the price of € 3.99, although in the long run it is less convenient than the first.

Ubisoft Plus

Ubisoft Plus is the subscription service of the Ubisoft company to download i games available in the Ubisoft + catalog (game selection available here). Inside the catalog you will find both the new releases and the timeless classics of the French video game company.

The games downloaded from the catalog remain available to each user for the duration of the subscription. Plus, Ubisoft + allows you to get access to expansions, season passes and monthly rewards.

Ubisoft Plus subscription costs € 14.99 per month: Access to over 100 PC games and new releases since launch day is included in the cost.

Prime Gaming

Prime Gaming is the service included in the Amazon Prime subscription which gives access to new downloadable games on Windows PC every month. In addition, with Prime Gaming you have a free subscription to Twitch.tv, the streaming content site that has now become the reference point for eSports and streamers from all over the world.

Unlike other services included in Amazon Prime, such as Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Music, Prime Gaming is among the lesser known, however this does not mean that it is inferior to the others, on the contrary, over time the quality and quantity of games that you can redeem every month, increases dramatically.

The Prime Gaming subscription, as already explained, is included in Amazon Prime, the cost of which is € 36 per year (or € 3.99 per month), with the possibility of obtaining a free trial lasting 30 days.

On the same topic, you may also be interested in our guide on how Amazon Prime works, which also highlights the other advantages you will have with subscribing to Prime.

Apple Arcade

Apple Arcade is an Apple-branded game download service that allows you to download games from a catalog of over 200 titles. The collection includes mobile games, ranging from arcade originals to timeless classics, as well as the best titles in the Apple Store.

One of the main strengths of the Apple Arcade subscription is the ability to play without limits, that is ad-free and without in-app purchases. You also have the opportunity to use the service on all Apple devices: iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV.

How much? At the end of a 1 month free trial, the subscription to download games with the Apple Arcade service costs € 4.99 per month.

Google Play Pass

Google Play Pass is the subscription gaming service for downloading Google games for i android devices. The catalog hundreds of games and apps, including podcasts and programs to improve productivity.

To discover all the contents, open the Play Store app, tap the profile icon at the top right and select “Play Pass”, then under “Find out what the Google Play Pass includes” select the “Discover” button.

The Google Play Pass subscription costs € 4.99 per month or € 29.99 per year by choosing the annual payment option, with which you can save up to 50%.

In this regard, also take a look at the best free Android games (always updated list).

Conclusions

Our in-depth analysis on best subscription services to download games ends here. Do you know other subscriptions that you think deserve to be included in the list above? Have you already experienced one or more of the listed services? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment on our social networks.