Mobile gaming has nothing on PC—the vast library of games available on desktop is tough to beat. However, at the end of a long day, it’s hard to sit at a desk when the couch (or bed) is so much more inviting. With the right app, you can play PC games on a TV. But what about a mobile device? If you can’t afford a handheld PC-gaming console, apps like Steam Link and Moonlight can help.
With multiple options available, you have a choice to make. Steam Link works well and is platform-agnostic, while Moonlight has a few extra settings, particularly when it comes to controls. (It doesn’t support the rumble feature like Steam Link does, though.) Cloud gaming and remote play solutions can also be of use as a last resort.
Connect a Gamepad to Your Device
These apps let you play with on-screen touch controls, but as any mobile gamer can tell you, touch controls are rarely ideal. You’ll have a much better experience if you play with a dedicated gamepad. Any Bluetooth gamer controller should work fine. Just pair it with your iPhone or Android device through the Bluetooth settings like any other wireless accessory.
Otherwise, you can use an Apple-approved made-for-iPhone controller for iPhone or iPad. Android users can even use a wired controller, like an old Xbox 360 model, by connecting it to a USB OTG cable (either Micro USB or USB-C) and plugging that into your device. You may prefer a split controller, such as the Backbone One, which attaches directly to your device and turns it into a Nintendo Switch-like gaming console.
(Credit: Will Greenwald)
Steam Link: Stream From the Source
The Steam Link app is easy to set up on iOS and Android, so long as your mobile device is on the same network as your PC. When you launch it for the first time, it’ll scan your network for computers running Steam and present a list of them. Choose your computer, and you’ll be given a 4-digit PIN on your phone. Type this PIN into the pop-up that appears in Steam on your PC to initiate the connection. It’ll test the network to make sure it’s fast enough, then drop you at the home page.
(Credit: PCMag / Valve)
If the devices don’t connect, select Other Computer in the app to generate a new code. Now, open Steam > Settings > Remote Play and click Pair Steam Link in Steam on your computer, then enter the code on your phone. Once both devices connect, tap Start Playing and your phone will then mirror whatever appears in Big Picture Mode on your computer. Select a game and start playing; you can even invite friends for multiplayer gameplay via the Remote Play Together feature.
(Credit: PCMag / Valve)
If you want to jump into the settings, open to the Steam Link homepage and tap the gear icon in the corner. I recommend digging into the Streaming section, where you can choose 1080p and 4K video presets. Tap Customize and change the video quality to Fast if your network is a little choppy or Beautiful if you have the bandwidth for better graphics. Use the arrows to tab through other options, such as which screen to show when you launch Steam, what resolution to use, and more.
(Credit: PCMag / Valve)
If you’re using touch controls, Steam offers a default controller overlay that you can then customize as you see fit. You’ll be able to drag and drop button placement, open a mobile keyboard, control vibration, and more. Prefer a physical controller? Pay close attention to the options Steam offers for this. For example, many iOS controllers don’t have clickable thumbsticks, so you’ll need to press Menu + X and Menu + Y. It’s a bit clunky, but it works.
(Credit: PCMag / Valve)
Moonlight: An Nvidia-Powered Alternative
Moonlight is an open-source app for iOS, Android, and Chrome OS that reverse-engineers Nvidia’s GameStream feature, allowing you to stream games from your PC to just about any device. While the feature was developed for the Nvidia Shield, that capability was discontinued. In order to use Moonlight, an Nvidia card is required (sorry, Radeon owners; AMD Link has been shut down).
If you decided to go with Moonlight, ensure the latest version of Nvidia GeForce Experience is installed on your PC. Open the GeForce Experience window, click the Settings cog, and click the Shield tab. Toggle the GameStream switch to on. Next, jump on your phone or tablet and download Moonlight. When you start the app, it should show a list of your GameStream-enabled PCs on the network. Tap on the one you want, or tap Add Host and enter your PC’s IP address if it doesn’t appear.
(Credit: PCMag / Nvidia)
Moonlight will give you a PIN, which you’ll need to enter into the pop-up that appears on your PC. Click Connect to view a list of games on your device that are ready to stream. If you tap one, it should start playing right on your device—with full gamepad support, if you have a compatible one plugged in or paired.
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If you don’t see the game you want, open up GeForce Experience on your PC, go back to Settings > Shield and click Add to manually add a game to GeForce Experience, and it should show up in Moonlight when you relaunch. You can even customize the name and art by clicking Edit in GeForce Experience, if you want it to look all pretty. That’s all it usually takes to get up and running, but you probably want to tweak a few settings for the best possible experience.
(Credit: PCMag / Nvidia)
You’ll have more options on Android than iOS, but most users should at least tweak their resolution and framerate targets: 1080p at 60Hz is ideal for the best graphics and smooth gameplay, but if the stream is choppy, lower it to 720p or 30Hz. I also recommend tweaking the on-screen controls. Not all gamepads have L3 and R3 buttons, so setting on-screen controls to Auto (on iOS) or Only show L3 and R3 (on Android) will give you touch buttons for those functions.
If you experience any other issues while streaming, there might be a solution—like disabling your firewall or tweaking some of Android’s other settings. Check out Moonlight’s setup guide and troubleshooting page for more. The setup page even has instructions for streaming over the internet, though your mileage may vary depending on your internet speed. Network streaming will definitely produce the best results.
(Credit: PCMag / Nvidia / Bethesda)
Streaming Beyond Steam
(PCMag / Sony)
If you don’t need to stream games from Steam—or PC games in general—there are alternatives available. If you subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you also gain access to Xbox Cloud Gaming functionality, which lets you stream Xbox games directly to your mobile device. Amazon Luna also allows you to stream to a phone. Remote Play features, which allow you to connect your mobile device directly to your gaming console, are also available for Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
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