Best Cloud Gaming Services for Android TV

Android TV is a version of the Android operating system (OS) that runs on set-top boxes like the NVIDIA Shield TV or Chromecast with Google TV, as well as many smart televisions. While there are tons of cloud gaming services for Android, not all of these apps run on Android TV. If you want to play your games on the big screen with a TV or projector, you’ll want to use an Android TV box. Here are the best cloud gaming apps for Android TV.

What is Cloud Game Streaming?

Whereas with traditional disc-based or digital download gaming you’ll install titles to run locally, cloud gaming instead lets you download an app, then use your internet connection to play games hosted in the cloud. Essentially, the games are running on a server (you can think of this as basically someone else’s computer), then you’re able to fire up an app and play from anywhere.

Cloud gaming has a few benefits. For starters, you won’t need a super powerful gaming PC or phone — game streaming works well even on low-end and older hardware. Additionally, you can access a large library of games virtually anywhere. There’s also virtually no hard drive or local storage space required, because you’re installing an app.

However, for low-lag and high-resolution 1080p or 4K resolution gameplay with stable frame rates, you’ll need a reliable internet connection. Luckily, most modern game streaming platforms work well even over a 5G mobile data signal.

What are the Best Cloud Gaming Services for Android TV?

NVIDIA GeForce Now is the best cloud gaming app for Android TV overall. Shadow is a solid choice for power users. Booisteroid and Blacknut are excellent options for massive game libraries. Steam Link is a solid choice for PC gamers, and PS Remote Play is great for Sony PlayStation 5 (PS5) or PlayStation 4 (PS4) gamers using the Chromecast with Google TV.

Best Cloud Gaming App for Android TV Overall – NVIDIA GeForce Now

NVIDIA GeForce Now is an outstanding game streaming service that works across a bevy of platforms, including Android, Android TV, iOS/iPadOS, Windows, MacOS, smart TVs, and in web browsers. I’ve been using NVIDIA’s GFN for several years now, both on my NVIDIA Shield TV Pro 2019 and Chromecast with Google TV. Aside from my Android TV boxes, I like using GeForce Now on my Chromebook while traveling.

Unlike the now dead Google Stadia (goodnight, sweet prince), NVIDIA GeForce Now doesn’t include any games for free. Instead, you’ll need to own all of the titles on Steam, Epic, Ubisoft, or Xbox. If you’ve got a large library of games you own, GeForce Now could be a great option. You can pick from three tiers:

• Free provides a one-hour session game length and access to standard game servers — expect to wait in a queue for a bit.
• Priority offers RTX graphics, a six-hour long game session, up to 1080p resolutions, and 60 frames per second (FPS).
• Ultimate steps up to RXT 4080-powered servers, 8-hour sessions, and up to 4K 120 FPS quality streaming.

However, not all of your games will work with GeForce Now, and some might be limited to a keyboard and mouse rather than a controller. Thankfully, a gaming lapboard or lapdesk solves this issue, letting you comfortably game on the couch with a keyboard/mouse set up. Out of my embarrassingly large library of games spread across Steam, Epic, and Ubisoft, only 54 were out of over 300 were compatible with GFN. Still, a lot of the games I wanted to play did work.

In the end, NVIDIA GeForce Now is the top game streaming app for Android TV boxes like the Shield TV, CCWGTV, Mecool MK9 Pro, Xiaomi TV Stick 4K, or Onn Android TV box. For more information, check out our full NVIDIA GeForce Now review.

Pros:

• Up to 4K 120 FPS quality
• Works on Android TV, Android, iOS/iPadOS, Windows, MacOS, Smart TVs, browsers
• Compatible with over 1500 games from Steam, Epic, Ubisoft, and Xbox
• Free tier available

Cons:

• Can get expensive for the best quality
• Not all of your owned games will be compatible with GFN
• Must own all games

Best for DIYers and PC Gaming Enthusiasts – Shadow

Shadow PC takes a novel approach to game streaming. Rather than a Netflix-style subscription with a set catalog of games or a GeForce Now model where you have to own all of the titles but only some are compatible, Shadow brings a complete virtual machine to your devices. You’ll have access to a full-fledged Windows desktop. From there, you can install nearly any software you can think of — from Steam, Epic, Origin/EA, and GOG to PS Remote Play and LaunchBox.

With Shadow, you can install nearly any software for you can think of — so long as it’s compatible with Windows. Therefore, you have access to almost your whole library of PC games. But Shadow does get expensive. Its base Boost tier sets you back $30 monthly for a GTX 1080, while the RXT 3070 Ti package runs a whopping $50 per month.

Moreover, Shadow gets a little cumbersome on Android TV boxes as well as mobile devices like iPhones or Androids since it requires a keyboard. The on-screen keyboard is a little awkward, although that’s universal for on-screen keyboards. Luckily, you can use a Bluetooth or USB keyboard to get around this limitation.

Ultimately, if you want nearly unbridled access to your PC games and more, Shadow puts a PC on your Android TV box.

Pros:

• Fantastic compatibility with almost any PC gaming platform including Steam, GOG, Epic, Ubisoft, EA Origin, and more
• Gives you access to a Windows PC from anywhere you’ve got a reliable internet connection
• Extremely powerful — up to an RTX 3070 Ti
• Runs on Android TV, Android, iOS, tvOS, Meta Quest, Windows, macOS, Linux, in browsers, and on Raspberry Pi boards

Cons:

• Expensive — up to $50 per month
• Awkward to use with on-screen keyboard
• Not as user-friendly as other options

Best GeForce Now Alternative – Boosteroid

Boosteroid is a great Nvidia GeForce Now alternative. Like GFN, Boosteroid lets you run PC games on nearly any device with no downloads. It works with Steam, Epic, and other platforms, allowing you to run games you already own. There are a bunch of apps — aside from Android TV, you can run Boosteroid on LG’s webOS, Android, iOS/iPad OS, ChromeOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. In their testing, Fossbytes even managed to install Boosteroid on a Steam Deck.

Quality is limited to 1080p 60 FPS; And while its catalog isn’t as massive as NVIDIA GeForce Now, Boosteroid does boast some popular titles not available with GFN, like Spider-Man Remastered and Miles Morales. Your experience will vary based on your location, because connecting to a server far away might result in high ping or lag. But you can always use a VPN or virtual private network to try and lower your ping when connected to a far from your physical location Boosteroid server.

If you have a lot of games — and ones that work with Boosteroid — this is a great NVIDIA GeForce Now rival.

Pros:

• Up to 1080p 60 FPS
• Works with Steam, Epic, and other platforms
• Lets you play your own PC game collection from anywhere with no downloads and on almost any device
• Runs on Android TV, Android, iOS/iPadOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, LG webOS, Chrome OS

Cons:

• Smaller library of titles available than on GFN
• Limited servers available
• Must own all games

Best Android TV Cloud Gaming App for Casual Users – Blacknut

Game streaming apps like Amazon Luna let you pay a set monthly fee for a buffet of titles, and likewise Blacknut offers a comprehensive platform. While GeForce Now and Boosteroid let you stream select titles from your existing PC game collection, Blacknut offers a catalog to play with new games added monthly.

There’s a solid smattering with good variety, from Hot Wheels Unleashed to Rugby 20 and Saints Row IV or Metro Exodus. Boasting over 500 games for $16 per month, Blacknut is a pretty good value. Although you won’t find many recent AAA titles like FIFA, Cyberpunk 2077, or Hogwarts Legacy, there are lots of indies, arcade games, and older AAA games available. As such, I recommend Blacknut for casual gamers who don’t already have sizable library of owned games, and want to pick up and play without needing the latest and greatest games.

Pros:

• $16 per month for over 500 games
• Tons of indie, arcade, and older AAA titles
• New games added monthly
• Works on Android TV, Windows, macOS, browsers, Linux, Android, iOS/iPadOS, Samsung Tizen OS, LG webOS, Amazon Fire TV

Cons:

• Lacks many modern AAA titles
• Experience varies based on location — servers may be far away and result in lag (but a VPN may help)

Best Android TV Game Streaming App for PC Enthusiasts – Steam Link

Steam Link is a little different than most other game streaming apps. You’ll effectively set up your own game streaming server using your gaming desktop or laptop. Valve’s Steam lets you install games on your main rig, then stream those to other devices that have Steam Link installed. I regularly use my NVIDIA Shield TV’s Steam Link app to play Spider-Man Remastered from Steam on my LG C2 OLED in the living room.

Thanks to the Add a Non-Steam Game feature of Valve’s PC game client, you can even beam titles from GOG, Epic, Ubisoft, and EA Origin to your Android TV devices. Aside from Android TV, Steam Link runs great on the Raspberry Pi, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS/iPadOS, Android, Meta Quest, and Apple TV.

You will need to own all of your games, and the gameplay quality depends on your PC hardware as well as your internet connection. For the best possible quality, I suggest using an Ethernet cable with at least your gaming PC if not also your Android TV box. For more information, learn how to run Steam Link on the Raspberry Pi, Android/Android TV, iOS/iPadOS, and macOS.

Pros:

• Compatible with all of your Steam games
• Works with non-Steam games
• Runs on Android TV, Android, iOS/iPadOS, Linux, Windows, macOS, Raspberry Pi, Apple TV, Meta Quest

Cons:

• Requires a strong internet connection — Ethernet cable recommended
• Uses your PC — older GPU/CPU might not work well

Best Cloud Game Streaming App for PlayStation Users – PS Remote Play

PlayStation Remote Play, or PS Remote Play, allows you to cast your PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 games from your Sony PlayStation console to other devices. It works on Android, iOS/iPadOS, Windows, and macOS. You can run PS Remote Play on the Chromecast with Google TV Android TV box, but it’s not available on the NVIDIA Shield TV or other Android TV boxes. However, there’s always a chance the PS Remote Play Android TV app gets released for a wider selection of hardware.

With PS Remote Play, you can stream your PS5 and PS4 games on another device. I’ve found it useful for playing PS5 on the TV in my home office while my partner is watching HGTV shows, or squeezing in a quick lunchtime gaming session at my co-working space.

Pros:

• Android TV app available on the Chromecast with Google TV
• Works on Android, iOS/iPadOS, Windows, and macOS
• Lets you stream your PS4 and PS5 games from anywhere

Cons:

• Android TV app only available for Chromecast with Google TV
• Requires a strong internet connection

What are the Benefits of Using Cloud Gaming?

Cloud gaming offers several benefits including:

• The ability to play games from virtually anywhere you’ve got a reliable internet connection
• You can play on low-end hardware
• Cross-device play

What are the Best Android TV Boxes for Cloud Gaming?

The best Android TV box for cloud gaming overall is the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro 2019. It features powerful hardware, including support for 64-bit apps which is helpful for emulation. There’s also Dolby Vision output and artificial intelligence (AI) upscaling for non-4K videos. On a budget, the Chromecast with Google TV 4K is a great choice. The Xiaomi Mi TV is a neat Chromecast rival, while Onn’s 4K Android TV box is an good cheap choice.

Best Cloud Gaming Services for Android TV: Final Thoughts

On the whole, you’ll find no shortage of cloud gaming services for Android TV. Unfortunately, some popular cloud gaming apps including Xbox GamePass and Amazon Luna don’t run on Android TV — although you can sideload GamePass on some Android TV boxes. NVIDIA GeForce Now is the best and most user-friendly option. For hardcore PC gamers, Steam Link is a great solution for living room gaming. PS Remote Play is superb for Sony PlayStation fans. Boosteroid is a nice GeForce Now rival, while Blacknut is a terrific option for casual gamers.

For more glorious gaming, check out the best cloud gaming apps for macOS, and our Amazon Luna review.

Best Cloud Gaming Apps for Android TV: FAQs