Netflix’s game section is now an established part of the brand, despite how I’m constantly fielding queries of “Wait, Netflix has games,” or “How do I download the Netflix games?” every time I mention it. Okay, we have covered both of your concerns. Yes, Netflix has games, and—indeed—some of them are pretty damn good. While there are a fair few duds and boring interpretations of Candy Crush on offer, there are a fair few ports that make their Netflix version the best and cheapest way to play, especially if you’re already paying for a Netflix account.
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Currently, all the games are free and are downloadable through both the Apple App Store and Android Play Store. Netflix is testing a beta version of some of these games played through the website or as an app on most smart TVs. That beta service is limited to a select few games. Currently, it only supports players using their computer’s keyboard and mouse or phone as a mobile controller for use on select streaming devices or TVs, not third-party controllers.
So, smartphones are still the best way to play these mobile games. But what about the games themselves? Since the games initiative began over three years ago, Netflix has greatly expanded its catalog. The selection started with a few tie-in games to major hits like Stranger Things and a few simple card or puzzle games you can find in hundreds of iterations elsewhere. In the past few years, however, Netflix has managed to entice some of the most popular games onto its market. You have all three original Grand Theft Auto titles in remastered form, award-winning titles like Kentucky Route Zero on mobile, and most recently, Hades, which was also the first time Supergiant’s modern roguelike classic came to iPhones.
At the same time, a few Netflix-exclusive games provide a breath of fresh air for those who long ago finished their first Hades run. Recent titles like Rainbow Six: Smol or Death’s Door seem to point to Netflix establishing itself as its haven for small-scale or indie mobile titles. The streaming company has bought out multiple studios, such as the Oxenfree developers Night School and indie developers Spry Fox, who are releasing the game Cozy Grove later this year.
There are now close to 100 different titles under Netflix’s domain, and plenty of duds are in the pile. Many games are repackaged existing mobile titles that have stripped all the horrible and abusive monetization structures, such as Sonic Prime Dash and Into the Dead 2: Unleashed. Still, it just reveals how empty the games were, to begin with. The actual list of quality games is much smaller, though not insignificant, that you won’t find at least one honest-to-God good game in multiple genres worth checking out.
We’ve played with all of them to help you decide which ones are worth your time and attention. That’s right, all of them… Well, OK, not all of them. We’ve played close to 50 games that weren’t just another rendition of dominos or solitaire. While anybody who’s played some of these games in other forms knows why they’ve made the list, there are plenty of surprises for those looking for an excuse to keep their Netflix subscription even if they don’t have anything to watch at the moment.
Netflix has routinely told Gizmodo this initiative is still in its early stages, and for now, it remains a ploy to get you to keep your accounts going without canceling. Who knows what’s in store for the next few years, especially if the streamer keeps increasing prices? For now, however, with few exceptions, we can say that these games remain an excellent use of your Netflix account, so long as you keep it around.
Want more of Gizmodo’s consumer electronics picks? Check out our guides to the best phones, best laptops, best TVs, and best headphones. If you want to learn about the next big thing, see our guide to everything we know about the iPhone 16.
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