Google’s flagship streaming device, the Chromecast with Google TV, only just received support for Stadia a couple of weeks ago. I decided to pick one up last weekend to see how the Stadia experience compares to PC, Android, and Chromecast Ultra – the three devices I routinely use to play Stadia – and quickly discovered that not only does the newest Chromecast offer the best Stadia experience, it also has a wide variety of options for streaming, emulation, and Android gaming as well. For $50, the Chromecast with Google TV might actually be the best-valued gaming console on the market.
If you haven’t kept up with Google’s growing menu of streaming devices, you probably aren’t alone. The unfortunately named Chromecast with Google TV is the latest 4K streaming device released late last year, and features a similar experience to what you’ll find in the Google TV Android app. This device is different from previous Chromecast dongles because it’s completely stand alone and doesn’t require a phone to operate. It comes with its own remote that can easily be programmed to replace your TV remote, making the Chromecast with Google TV the best streaming solution for non-smart televisions and traveling. It also has Bluetooth, so you can pair your headphones, speakers, and gamepads, including PlayStation and Xbox controllers.
Additionally, the new Chromecast has a pretty robust app store. Outside of all the streaming apps you would expect like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max, you’ll also find tons of emulators, game streaming services, and native Android games. The non-exhaustive list of games and services I was able to play flawlessly on the Chromecast includes Super Nintendo, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation, PSP, Dreamcast, Stadia, PS4/PS5 remote play, Geforce Now, Steam Link, and a handful of Android games.
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The streaming options were the most exciting for me, and I’m happy to report that the Stadia experience on the new Chromecast is practically flawless if you use the wifi Stadia controller. The Chromecast is a wifi only device, but even so, I found that Stadia played wonderfully in 4K with very few hiccups and virtually no input delay. It’s the best Stadia experience you can get, in my opinion, unless you’re willing to do a bunch of desktop finagling with special browsers and plugins to get the most out of it.
I’m less enthusiastic about the Bluetooth options. As much as I love using my Xbox controller, the input delay I experienced with Stadia, Steam Link, and Geforce Now made most games practically unplayable. I had a much better experience with emulators and native Android games, but I can’t recommend streaming any kind of FPS or racing game with a Bluetooth controller. Your mileage may vary of course, and there’s been some suggestion online that limiting the number of nearby Bluetooth devices can help, but I had a hard time enjoying fast-paced games with anything other than the Stadia controller. On the plus side, any controller you have connected can also be used to control the Google TV menus.
Still, there’s a lot to be said about the amount of access you have to games on here. I was able to stream my entire Steam library to the Chromecast via Steam Link, as well as my PS5 and PS4 with the PSPlay app. My computer is in my office while my PlayStations are downstairs in the living room, so I put the Chromecast on the TV in my bedroom. It now functions as a hub for all my gaming libraries around the house, and I love the options it gives me for game streaming.
Emulation and Android gaming are just as robust, though getting started is a bit more complicated. The Chromecast only comes with 8GB of storage, which is about 5GB out of the box, and less than 1GB once you’ve downloaded all your streaming apps. While there are plenty of great games available to download in the app store, like Grand Theft Auto, Knights of the Old Republic, and Tell Tale’s Walking Dead, you simply won’t have the space to download any of them without some extra storage. There’s no SD slot on the Chromecast, so you’ll need to connect it to a USB hub that also has USB-C power, then plug in a flash drive. It’s an unfortunate workaround that’s necessary for downloading games and running ROMs, but it does work.
Despite the spaghetti wires you’ll inevitably create for this storage solution, it’s probably the best way to run Emulators on your TV without connecting a PC directly. I personally tested both Game Boy Advance and SNES emulation and both were flawless, but you can also find plenty of YouTube videos showing off PSP, PlayStation 1, and Dreamcast emulation as well.
The Chromecast with Google TV is far from perfect. I wish the Bluetooth had lower latency for gamepads and the lack of external storage is pretty unforgivable, but you have to give it to the Chromecast for the sheer amount of variety it offers for only $50. It’s a pretty remarkable gaming console if you have the right conditions for streaming, and if you’re big into emulation I don’t think there’s a better option out there for gaming on a TV. If you’re a Stadia player, the Chromecast with Google TV performs even better than the Chromecast Ultra with a Stadia Controller. The only major app it’s missing is Game Pass, but I can’t imagine we’ll have to wait too long for it, considering Game Pass seems to be coming to every other device this year.
Next: Stadia Offers More Value Than Ever, But It Still Has A Long Way To Go
