Cloudmoon is a cloud gaming service that seems to have taken a detour from the well-trodden path. While most cloud gaming services focus on delivering high-end AAA titles to a wider audience, Cloudmoon has opted for a rather unusual direction: mobile games.
A Unique (and Questionable) Focus
The decision to specialize in mobile games is a little bit perplexing. Given the relatively lower processing demands of mobile titles, one wonders why cloud gaming is even necessary. However, there are a lot of older (or other) Android devices out in the wild that are storage constrained. So, CloudMoon is likely targeting the owners of such devices. The games on offer appear to be games that are free to install from the Google Play store. But, it is not clear that CloudMoon has obtained permission to distribute them in this way. That leads to questions about the services legitimacy.
Most of the games are those that would make revenue off in-app purchases. When we attempted to do an in-app purchase in one of the titles, we got a “transaction error” popup that also locked up the game (requiring a restart).
This experience slots right into what we call the “Grey Cloud” service section along with JoySak, JoyArk, and Netboom. We are not at all sure the game developers/publishers are getting any money from Cloudmoon.
Performance and Visuals
Visually, Cloudmoon holds its own, delivering games in decent quality. Titles look sharp and vibrant, comparable to what one would expect from a mid-tier mobile phone. However, the platform’s performance takes a noticeable hit in fast-paced games like CoD Mobile and Fortnite. While the visuals remain impressive, a slight lag creeps into the gameplay, causing noticeable delays in response times. This input lag can be a significant drawback for competitive players and those seeking a truly immersive experience.
Game saves have worked fine for me during my testing. No saves have been lost between sessions which is a positive and isn’t always present in these Grey Cloud services.
Pricing and Packages: Cheap and Cheerful?
Cloudmoon’s pricing structure is undeniably low. At $3.99/£3.79 or $5.99/£5.49 per month, it’s a fraction of what other cloud gaming services charge. The hourly package of $0.99/99p for five hours also appears attractive at first glance. However, the old adage “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is” may be true here.
Missing Pieces: A Website and Trustworthiness
The absence of a dedicated website for the service is a red flag. It suggests a lack of transparency and professionalism. Without a platform to outline the service’s features, terms of service, or customer support, users are left in the dark.
Cloudmoon does have a somewhat active discord channel however – https://discord.gg/AG9HzE8xZ2, where the creators appear to be reachable.
On Google Play, the service has racked up over 1 Million downloads and 20,000 reviews. We can’t be 100% sure these are all from real human users, however. It is certainly possible the service is popular in territories outside of our experience.
Verdict: Proceed with Caution
Cloudmoon is a cloud gaming service that leaves us with more questions than answers. Its focus on mobile games without a clear connection to either Google or game publishers and its lack of a website give us pause.
Until Cloudmoon can address these issues, it’s difficult to recommend this service to gamers looking for a reliable cloud gaming experience.
