Stuck without my gaming rig recently, I decided to go all-in on cloud gaming. Over several days, I used Boosteroid, GeForce Now, and Xbox Cloud Gaming on a Chromebook, Android phone, and an iPad. I rotated between hotel Wi-Fi and a mobile hotspot. This was not a lab test, but a real-world trial with inconsistent internet and basic devices. Here is what happened.
Before diving into how each platform handled itself in the wild, here is a quick look at what makes Boosteroid, GeForce Now, and Xbox Cloud Gaming stand out. These are the top cloud gaming services in 2025, and each takes a different approach to how games are delivered, owned, and played.
GeForce Now
GeForce Now by NVIDIA focuses on gamers who already own their titles on platforms like Steam or Epic. It connects to your existing libraries and streams supported games with high visual fidelity, including RTX graphics and 4K on compatible tiers. The service runs across nearly all devices, including phones, tablets, laptops, and TVs. Session caps exist on free and lower tiers, but it remains a top pick for players prioritizing performance.
Xbox Cloud Gaming
Xbox Cloud Gaming is part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and includes access to hundreds of games. It does not require game ownership. Everything runs from the Game Pass catalog, which includes major titles from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, EA, and more. It works across phones, tablets, browsers, and Smart TVs, and it syncs progress across all your devices. It is the easiest way to jump into a game and start playing with minimal setup.
Boosteroid
Boosteroid is the largest independent cloud gaming platform globally, competing with major tech giants in both scale and performance, without being owned by one. It supports over 1,200 games from platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, and more. You can play directly in your browser or through lightweight apps across Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and Smart TVs. It also uses AV1 video encoding to deliver stable streaming on lower bandwidths. Pricing is straightforward and affordable, and there are no time limits on gaming sessions
Getting Started
Each platform offered access through both browser and app. Logging in was fast, and connecting a controller worked right away. No downloads were required unless I wanted the standalone apps, which I didn’t need to install to start playing. I was able to launch games within minutes on every service.
Game Availability
Xbox Cloud Gaming was the quickest path to gameplay. With the Game Pass library baked in, I did not need to own any titles. I just selected a game and started playing. The trade-off is that it only supports games from the Game Pass catalog. If a title is not in that list, you are out of luck.
Both GeForce Now and Boosteroid rely on games you already own. They support storefronts like Steam and Epic, though with varying levels of title support. Setup involved linking accounts, which only had to be done once.
Streaming and Stability
Performance varied slightly depending on the network. On hotel Wi-Fi, all three platforms were playable, though not flawless. I experienced short freezes and input hiccups during moments of congestion. On mobile data, responsiveness was better overall, with fewer disruptions.
GeForce Now delivered the most polished visuals under stable conditions. Boosteroid was more forgiving when the connection was less than ideal. Its use of the AV1 codec meant that games streamed smoothly without eating up as much bandwidth. Xbox Cloud Gaming offered a solid experience overall, though it was more sensitive to connection fluctuations.
Device Switching
I moved between a Chromebook, Android phone, and iPad throughout the test. Switching devices did not break anything. Game progress was saved across sessions, and none of the services had issues when switching devices. While I tested touch controls on mobile devices, I mostly used a controller whenever possible, which felt far more natural for most games.
Session Limits and Interruptions
Only GeForce Now has session limits, though I never reached them during regular play. I did not hit any of those during standard play. Boosteroid and Xbox Cloud Gaming ran without any imposed time limits or session interruptions.
Conclusion
Cloud gaming has reached a point where it can keep up when your PC cannot.
- Xbox Cloud Gaming is the best option for quick access to a broad game library without needing to own anything.
- GeForce Now works well for players who already have a game collection and want high visual quality.
- Boosteroid stood out for consistent performance on average networks and broad platform support.
None of the services were perfect. But none of them failed, either. Cloud gaming in 2025 is not just functional. It is viable, even when conditions are less than ideal.
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