This year could mark the mainstream breakthrough of game streaming, with Google’s Stadia, Microsoft’s xCloud, and Sony’s PlayStation Now making significant advancements. Streaming games might become crucial when deciding between the new Xbox or PlayStation 5.
However, even top-notch streaming platforms have limitations. Despite Stadia or xCloud’s speed, they still have more input lag compared to a console connected to your home. Fast-paced games like first-person shooters might pose challenges, but not all games demand such high performance.
An analogy can be drawn with watching movies on Netflix. Watching a special effects extravaganza like the latest Star Wars movie calls for a 4K HDR Blu-ray played locally on your TV. In contrast, re-watching episodes of The Office places less emphasis on picture quality and the device used.
Game-streaming platforms are gaining popularity, but certain game genres are better suited for smooth streaming experiences. Let’s explore which games work best on platforms like Google Stadia and PlayStation Now.
The Potential of Game Streaming Platforms:
Platforms like Google Stadia, Microsoft’s xCloud, and Sony’s PlayStation Now are making significant game-streaming strides. Streaming capabilities may become a deciding factor when choosing between consoles.
Limitations of Streaming Platforms:
Despite advancements, streaming platforms have limitations, such as input lag compared to playing locally on a console. However, specific game genres require less demanding gameplay, making them ideal for smooth streaming.
Exploration Games: Latency-Friendly Adventures
Slow-paced exploration games like “Gylt“ provide smooth streaming experiences. Streaming hiccups are easily manageable as they focus on exploration rather than fast-paced action.
You may also like other popular, latency-friendly exploration games that offer slow-paced adventures, providing smooth streaming experiences:
- Journey: An artistic and meditative adventure where players explore a vast desert landscape, uncovering its secrets while meeting other players on their journey.
- Firewatch: Set in a stunning wilderness, players take on the role of a fire lookout, unraveling a mysterious plot while enjoying the serene and immersive environment.
- Abzu: Dive into the depths of the ocean in this visually striking game, where players swim alongside a diverse array of marine life and uncover ancient secrets.
- The Witness: A first-person puzzle adventure on a mysterious island filled with intricate puzzles that challenge players’ observation and deduction skills.
- Subnautica: Explore an alien underwater world, gathering resources, building bases, and surviving the dangers of the deep in this open-world survival game.
- Outer Wilds: Embark on a time-looping space exploration adventure, uncovering the mysteries of the universe and unraveling the secrets of a distant solar system.
- Spiritfarer: Take on the role of a spirit guide, sailing through the afterlife, and caring for spirits on their journey to the beyond.
- Eastshade: In this beautiful open-world game, players become traveling artists, painting landscapes and interacting with the inhabitants of a picturesque island.
These exploration games offer captivating stories, stunning visuals, and a leisurely pace that allows for an enjoyable streaming experience without the need for rapid reflexes or high demands on bandwidth.
Simulation Games: Ideal for Universal Platforms Simulation games,
such as “Farming Simulator” and “Subnautica,” are perfect for universal platforms like Stadia, as they emphasize resource management and exploration, demanding less bandwidth.
Simulation games like Farming Simulator or Subnautica prioritize resource management and exploration over intense action, making them addictive and captivating.
When game streaming platforms like Stadia allow you to play these simulation games on various devices, the advantages of a universal platform outweigh occasional frame drops.
The slower pace of most simulation games also means they require less bandwidth compared to other games. While streaming services often advertise high bandwidth requirements, simulation games may not demand the same data transmission.
In simpler terms, playing a simulation game on your phone for a few minutes is more data-friendly than attempting to stream intense games like Destiny 2.
Less Demanding Action Games: A Viable Option
Action games like “Darksiders: Genesis” and “Baldur’s Gate” use isometric camera angles, reducing the graphical load during streaming and making them suitable for streaming on slower networks.
Streaming Borderlands or Destiny can be challenging without a fast internet connection, but not all action games are unsuitable.
Darksiders: Genesis and Baldur’s Gate feature hack-and-slash mechanics with a locked isometric camera angle, reducing the graphical load on the network.
Fewer frame changes
Fewer frame changes mean video-compression algorithms work less, making less graphically demanding games like Darksiders: Genesis less demanding on bandwidth, especially on slower streams.
While these games may not be as smooth as laid-back ones, if you seek an adrenaline-pumping experience, consider how the game’s presentation impacts your stream quality.
Testing Games on Subscription Services:
PlayStation Now and xCloud’s Game Pass subscription allows users to try numerous games without additional costs. Streaming enables users to test games before purchasing or downloading them.
Sony’s PlayStation Now offers access to numerous new and classic games, while Microsoft plans to merge xCloud into its Game Pass subscription. This allows you to test games included in the subscription without buying or downloading them separately.
If you’re curious about a game but unsure if it’s worth purchasing, launch it through your subscription service at no extra cost. This feature could become one of the most beneficial aspects of streaming services.
With games growing larger and subscriptions becoming more popular, streaming saves time and resources by allowing instant access to games. Even if you intend to buy or download a game later, try it out through streaming first.
Games to Approach Cautiously: Shooters and Graphics-Intensive Games
Fast-paced shooters and graphics-intensive games may stress streaming quality. While playable with optimized networks, these games might not provide the best experience compared to local play.
It’s fairly obvious that first-person shooters like Destiny 2 and fighting games like Mortal Kombat 11 will strain your streaming experience the most. Additionally, graphically intensive games like Final Fantasy XV with moderately fast-paced gameplay can also challenge compression algorithms.
However, this doesn’t mean these games are unplayable. If you have optimized your network for better streaming quality and aren’t overly concerned about pixel-perfect detail, you can still enjoy playing these games. Remember that the experience may not match downloading the game to your device, but if you’re willing to make that trade-off to play MK11 on your phone, go ahead. Just be mindful of the current limitations of the technology.
Mortal Kombat 11 is Two Cinematic Stories:
Take control of Earthrealm’s protectors in the game’s TWO critically acclaimed, time-bending Story Campaigns as they race to stop Kronika from rewinding time and rebooting history. Friendships are tested, and new alliances are forged, in the battle to save all of existence.
There are several popular fighting games similar to Mortal Kombat 11 in terms of gameplay and style. Some of them include:
- Street Fighter V: A classic and iconic fighting game franchise known for its diverse roster of characters and deep, strategic gameplay.
- Tekken 7: Another long-standing series with a large roster of unique characters and a focus on fluid and dynamic combat.
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: This crossover fighting game features characters from various gaming franchises, offering a fun and chaotic multiplayer experience.
- Dragon Ball FighterZ: Based on the Dragon Ball anime series, this game features fast-paced, flashy battles and stunning visuals.
- Injustice 2: Developed by the same team as Mortal Kombat, this game features DC Comics superheroes and villains in intense battles.
- Soulcalibur VI: Known for its weapon-based combat and diverse cast of characters, this series has been a favorite among fighting game enthusiasts.
- Guilty Gear Strive is A visually stunning fighting game with unique characters and a heavy-metal aesthetic.
- BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle: This game brings together characters from various fighting game franchises, creating a fun and fast-paced crossover experience.
These fighting games offer a range of styles and gameplay mechanics, catering to different preferences within the fighting game community.
Choose exploration, simulation, and less demanding action games for the smoothest streaming experience. Remember to test games on subscription services and be mindful of the limitations of streaming technology.