Netflix is getting serious about games

Netflix Games presented 'Hades', among other games, exclusively as part of its Geeked Week 2023. (Image via Supergiant Games/X)

It’s the two-year anniversary of Netflix launching its gaming offering to subscribers internationally. Back in November 2021, the feature debuted with five games, two of which were based on the popular Stranger Things series, as well as a few hyper-casual games. Over time, the streaming service has added several titles based on its original series and movies, as well as hits across genres, with over eighty games now available to discover and play via the Netflix mobile app.

At Geeked Week '23 (Netflix’s week-long virtual event showcasing upcoming content), in addition to a three-minute trailer for Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon, Netflix dropped teasers for its big, new additions to its expanded entertainment offering: critically acclaimed games such as action-roguelike Hades, game designer Jonathan Blow’s puzzle-platforming masterpiece Braid, Justin Strander’s uber-violent 2D hack-and-slasher Katana Zero, isometric Avian action-adventure Death’s Door from Acid Nerve, and OXENFREE II: Lost Signals, a mystery/graphic adventure sequel from developer Night School Studio, now published by Netflix Games.

Blending IP with smash hits

The addition of games like Hades and Braid is not a pivot in strategy, necessarily. It’s more a case of sneak peek into Netflix games’ final shape—one where subscribers get free access to a carefully curated library of Triple-A, critically acclaimed titles, and Netflix original games. These additions, alongside roguelike-Metroidvania Dead Cells (available on the service since October) is a clear signal that Netflix is targeting core gamers.

There is a healthy volume of games based on original IP as well. You need not look further than the weird blend of strategy and tower defence in Narcos: Cartel Wars Unlimited or the meme worthy reincarnation of chess in the form of The Queen’s Gambit Chess, a game, which is based on a show, which is based on a board game. Even Netflix’s reality shows like Love is Blind and Too Hot to Handle have got the game treatment—it’s a pretty wide net, and the reality show games have multiple sequels/versions (we can assume from this that they’re popular among players).

There hasn’t been a smash-hit game based on a Netflix IP yet, but this couldn’t be far off since the streamer has a lot in the oven — including games based on Squid Game, Wednesday, Extraction, Black Mirror, and Money Heist (which will release alongside the show’s Berlin spinoff).

The big play

Netflix has acquired more than a few game studios since its big push into the gaming space. In September 2021, it acquired Night School Studio, developer of critically acclaimed supernatural adventurer, Oxenfree. In 2022, This was followed by the acquisitions of Next Games (the Finnish mobile studio responsible for Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales), Boss Fight Entertainment (a Texas-based mobile strategy game developer, including Dungeon Boss), Shatterstar Games, a Chilean mobile game studio and Spry Fox, an award-winning independent studio focused on original games.

There’s clear intent to build a library that goes beyond casual and hyper-casual, and when these developers start churning out content, the game library should look strong when bolstered via partnerships with other publishers.

The selling point

As with its core offering, curation and discovery is the main selling point of Netflix games, with the added benefit of no ads and in-app purchases — not a bad deal given that all of this is bundled within your (admittedly expensive in relative terms) monthly subscription fee.

Direct downsides to this are the fact that there’s only a limited library now, and while you can find games on Netflix, you’re still expected to download them from the App or Play Stores (on iOS this can now be done within the Netflix app, but the experience isn’t perfect). The service is reportedly testing a way to make the games available to stream directly to save on storage space on your mobile device while creating a more seamless experience.

Glimpse into the future

YouTube is reportedly conducting internal tests with adding games as well — this would make logical sense since gaming videos are the third most-watched type of content on the platform (only music videos and “how-to” tutorials are more watched). A video sharing/social media platform and major streaming service jumping on the gaming bandwagon does not magically create a competitive environment — this is still early days, but promising early days, nonetheless.

So, when can you play the new Netflix games? Katana Zero arrives next year, Supergiant Games’ Hades is exclusive to iOS and will be available early 2024 as well, while Braid, Anniversary Edition on Netflix, and other gaming platforms on April 30, 2024.