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Gaming subscriptions like PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass offer great games for a reasonable price. However, I find myself more often wanting to play some of my favorite games from the time management and hidden object genres. This is why I signed up for a subscription to Shockwave Unlimited.
What Is Shockwave Unlimited?
Screenshot by Marissa Zupancic — no attribution
Shockwave Unlimitedis a game subscription service that provides access to more than 1,300 games across a variety of genres for download on PC. With the subscription, you can access all games with no time limit and no ads.
Shockwave constantly adds new games to its catalog, as well, so I have plenty of games to check out or revisit. There are also online games, like daily puzzles and Sudoku. I can play right in my web browser.
What Kinds of Games Does Shockwave Unlimited Offer?
A Shockwave Unlimited subscription offers online and downloadable games across a variety of genres spanning time management, hidden object, puzzle, matching, action, adventure, strategy, and card. Shockwave includes a host of nostalgic games like Diner Dash, Nancy Drew PC games, and hidden object games like Mystery Case Files, as well as new games added each week.
For example, Shockwave Unlimited offers nearly every Nancy Drew computer game with a subscription. For reference, these Nancy Drew games range from $5 to $15 each on Steam.
Shockwave Unlimited also provides access to strategy games like the original Plants vs. Zombies. If you like playing match-3 games on mobile but hate paying to remove ads and get power-ups, Shockwave Unlimited has lots of matching games like traditional match-3, Zuma, and Mahjong.
If you only have a Mac but want to play games similar to what Shockwave Unlimited offers, here are thetop free adventure games on the Mac App Store.
How Does the Price Compare to Other Gaming Subscriptions?
Shockwave Unlimited costs $59.40 for a yearly subscription or $9.95 per month for a monthly subscription. I signed up for the yearly subscription because it works out to be about $5 per month for access to tons of games that I would regularly have to purchase for $3 to $20 each.
In comparison, the entry-levelPlayStation Plus subscriptioncosts $80 per year and gets you a handful of free monthly games plus exclusive in-game add-ons and online multiplayer. The next tier of PS Plus, Extra, includes access to lots of PlayStation games for $135 per year.
Xbox Game Passfor PC costs $1 for your first month, then $11.99 per month, with access to tons of PC games including new games the day they come out. Comparatively, Shockwave Unlimited costs less than other gaming subscriptions with plenty of games to play.
Why I Use Shockwave Unlimited Exclusively
While I used to have a PlayStation Plus Extra subscription, I canceled it because I found myself not playing on my PlayStation as much. Instead, I often found myself wanting to play hidden object or time management games. While PlayStation has a host of Artifex Mundi hidden object games, they’re a bit pricey at $15 per game and don’t provide many hours of gameplay.
Instead, I canceled my PS Plus membership and now exclusively use Shockwave Unlimited. I love to download a bunch of games and have a bunch of different genres to choose from. Nostalgia is a huge factor, too, because I loved playing these types of games as a kid. The Diner Dash, Cake Mania, Zuma, and Mystery Case Files series were a huge part of my childhood. I’m so glad I’m able to still enjoy these iconic game franchises today.
If you’re looking to replay nostalgic games but don’t want to get a subscription, here aresites that you may download old PC games for free.
While it may just be nostalgia talking, I love my Shockwave Unlimited subscription. With more than a thousand games to choose from across a variety of genres, I’m always able to find the perfect game to play.
