Play games on your TV (without a console)
Think you need an expensive console to play games on your telly? Think again. Jonathan Parkyn explains why your phone, laptop or streaming stick could be all you need
Gaming doesn’t often crop up in Computeractive, but maybe it should. Ofcom research last year (www.snipca.com/56742) revealed that gaming is definitely not just for kids – around 52 per cent of adults regularly play games too. Their popularity is partly down to the rise of TV gaming, and there’s a great variety (it’s not just blasting aliens and zombies). Here’s what you need to do to game on your TV.
Cast from your phone, tablet or laptop
Casting from your device shows whatever is on its screen on your TV – and that can include games. You’ll need a TV (or a connected TV stick or set-top box) that supports Miracast, Apple’s AirPlay 2 or Google’s Cast/Chromecast. Your phone, tablet or laptop must support the same casting standard, and be on the same Wi-Fi network as the TV, stick or box.
It’s not always obvious which wireless display standard(s) your devices support. As a rule, Apple devices work with AirPlay 2; most Android devices use Cast/Chromecast; and most Windows 10 and 11 laptops use Miracast. To find out which standards your TV supports, check its instructions or manufacturer’s web page.