That’s right, Netflix has video games. It has quite a few of them under its publishing label, actually, and some of them are pretty darned good. But you might be wondering, “How do I get these games?” or “Which ones are the best?” or “Why? Why did Netflix get into the games industry?”
Fortunately, you have an obsessive gamer on your side to help you out with all of these questions. Read on and learn everything you need to know about Netflix Games.
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What Are Netflix Games?
Netflix Games is literally just a bunch of games published by Netflix. They’re included with everyone’s Netflix subscription, on any plan. To be a little more specific, they’re mobile games, though Netflix is experimenting with ways to deliver these games via the browser, smartphone apps, and certain smart TVs.
These games range across genres, from fighting games, to flying games, to interactive novels and dating sims, strategy games, one really popular Chess game, and even more. Some of these games are tied to Netflix’s own shows and movies. Some are releases of existing games from other publishers.
And you can access them all for… not exactly free, but a really good price.
How Much Does Netflix Games Cost?
Thanks to regional pricing models, that mostly just depends on where you are… because whatever you’re paying for your Netflix subscription is how much the games cost. If you are subscribed because you’re desperately hoping for the next season of Stranger Things or what-have-you, then you have access to the games.
And not only can you access the games, but Netflix very specifically doesn’t include ads or microtransactions. The games are a “value add,” meant to attract and retain more customers. If that intrigues you, here’s more information on why Netflix got into games.
How to Play Netflix Games
There are two main ways to do this, and both of them rather simple:
Through Your App Store
Each Netflix game is available in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store as a separate app. Just use the usual process, with two little additions:
- Search for the game you want.
- Download it.
- Open it up.
- Input your Netflix Account credentials.
- Choose your Netflix profile.
- Start playing.
Through the Netflix App
In the Netflix app, you’ll see a Mobile Games row on the home screen and a Games tab at the bottom. From there, the process is simple:
- Find the game you want and tap on it.
- Tap on the button that says Get Game or Play Game.
- Either the Play Store or Apple App Store will open to the appropriate page
- Download the game
- Input your Netflix credentials if asked
- Play the game
Downloading the game through the Netflix app should make it available to launch from the Netflix app itself, as well as via your phone’s home screen.
The 12 Best Netflix Games to Play Right Now
Mobile app ratings can be very fickle things. Spiritfarer Netflix Edition, for example, is only rated 2.9 out of 5 on Android, but 4.3 on iOS… and the Steam version is rated Overwhelmingly Positive.The ratings don’t necessarily correlate with overall popularity. So, I went ahead and chose the ones I think are best.
Note: I have only chosen games that are available on both smartphone platforms, so no Hades… even though Hades is amazing.
1. The Queen’s Gambit Chess
Despite a somewhat rough launch on Android in particular, The Queen’s Gambit Chess is more than just “a chess game.” It has modes to help you learn chess and get better at it. You can also play against your favorite characters from the show, or play against other people online, all on beautiful 2D or 3D chess boards (your choice).
2. Grand Theft Auto Trilogy
The GTA franchise really needs no introduction, and a Netflix subscription is all you need to get your hands on three of them for mobile. That’s right: GTA III, GTA: Vice City, and GTA: San Andreas are all available on mobile through Netflix. Drive, shoot, and crime your way through some of Rockstar’s best classic titles.
Download GTA: Vice City on Android
Download GTA: San Andreas on Android
Download GTA: Vice City on iOS
Download GTA: San Andreas on iOS
3. Spiritfarer
In Spiritfarer, you run a ferry. Specifically, you run THAT ferry, the one that takes spirits from this life to the next. In this award-winning adventure, you’ll need to manage your journey while taking care of the spirits that are entrusted to you. Help them resolve their lingering business, and release them on the other side. Yes, it’s a super emotional game.
4. Ghost Detective
If you enjoy a good mystery and you like hidden object games, Ghost Detective is for you. This highly-rated title follows a detective who’s been killed on the job, and would really like to know whodunnit. Explore New Orleans while tracking down your own murderer, and solving puzzles along the way.
5. SpongeBob: Get Cooking
Yes, it’s the SpongeBob Krabby Patty cooking simulator that you’ve all been waiting for! Or at least, someone’s been waiting for it, as this is another fairly popular, fast paced, and addictive title.
6. Rainbow Six: SMOL
Based on Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, Rainbow Six: SMOL sees you guiding some very adorable operators through dangerous situations to rescue hostages, and get rid of any bad guys you see.
7. Bloons TD 6
Yes, it’s THAT Bloons Tower Defense. Man, I remember playing this game’s predecessors on Kongregate, back when Flash was still a thing. Well, in this sixth installment, your job is the same: defend your towers from those terrible balloons, and lead your monkeys to victory!
8. The Too Hot to Handle Games
Interactive novels / dating sims aren’t my personal cup of tea. However, these two games are very highly reviewed, not only on the Play/App Stores, but even on notoriously critical places like Reddit. If you’re a fan of Too Hot to Handle or you just like this sort of game, THTH: Love Is a Game and Too Hot to Handle 2 are worth a look.
Download THTH: Love Is a Game on Android
Download Too Hot to Handle 2 on Android
Download THTH: Love Is a Game on iOS
Download Too Hot to Handle 2 on iOS
9. TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge
This retro-style beat’em up game got a wildly positive reception from TMNT fans and game critics alike. And now, here’s your chance to go all Kowabunga on Shredder’s forces on your phone.
10. Dead Cells
Dead Cells is the critically acclaimed, hardcore side-scrolling action platformer that has inspired a dozen copycats. You take on the role of a reanimated corpse who just wants to get off the island where they were reborn. Fight, die, learn, repeat, until you’re free!
11. Laya’s Horizon
Get ready to fly through large 3D environments at high speeds, hang out with Laya’s friends, unlock new capes, and generally revel in this game’s compelling atmosphere. Even as a mobile 3D game, it’s beautiful.
12. Terra Nil
This is a strategy game that’s sort of an anti-city builder. Instead of industrializing all you see, the goal is to bring life back to a desolated Earth. It’s a very zen sort of game, and it’s generally fantastic.
Why CyberGhost is the Best VPN for Gaming
CyberGhost has a network of speedy VPN servers all over the world, which means that no matter where you are, you can download your mobile games on a stable and fast connection. If you happen to be playing an online title, CyberGhost VPN gives you an extra layer of security thanks to its strong encryption. It also hides your IP address.
That encryption lets you get in a few rounds of gaming on any network, even if gaming is blocked (at school or at the office, for example). With zero VPN data caps, you can play as much as you want.
CyberGhost is a fantastically simple VPN for Netflix Games, or any mobile game. Just download the VPN app for your device and go.
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FAQ
Netflix already has tons of games; around 75 on both major smartphone platforms. All games are separate apps, though they are technically available and installable through the Netflix app. However you install them, they can still be managed like anything else you’d download from either store. See your store’s Netflix page for a full list of the games.
If you’re lucky, yes. Netflix is definitely experimenting with allowing people to play games through the Netflix site and smart TV apps, but this is experimental, and not available to all. Even when it releases, access will depend on whether your hardware supports it. For those in the beta, the game selection is limited.
So long as you have a Netflix subscription, you certainly don’t have to pay extra to play, but you do still need to have the subscription going. On the upside, these free games are great value for the money, with titles ranging from Queen’s Gambit Chess to GTA: Vice City. There’s just so much to play.
Not officially, but there are technically three ways that you can play Netflix Games on your PC:
1. If you’re in the beta program that lets you play Netflix games via your browser, you can play on PC.
2. You can use an Android emulator to run any Android game, really.
3. You can install an operating system based on Android for your PC, but I don’t recommend it.
Yes. Netflix has released around 75 games on both Android and iOS. Some are re-releases of existing titles, others are released in concert with other publishers, and many are based on Netflix’s own shows and movies, so the Netflix team has clearly put a lot of effort and money into this. Given how quickly they cancel shows, the games are certainly successful.
It’s easy. First, you can go to the Google Play Store or the iOS App Store, and download the games directly from there. Open the app like any other, input your Netflix account credentials, and start playing. Alternatively, go into the Netflix app on your mobile device, and find the games there (if there aren’t any games listed, update the Netflix app).
Netflix Games cost whatever you pay for Netflix in your region. That’s the whole selling point of Netflix Games: if you have Netflix, you can play the games too. What’s even cooler is the fact that, at least for now, none of these games have ads or microtransactions. No more waiting 24 hours or paying up before you can play some more.
At present, there isn’t one specific Netflix game app. Each and every game is available separately, whether you’re playing on iOS or Android, so you can install and uninstall them at your leisure. Ultimately, this is the most practical approach, in that it allows users to manage their phone storage more easily, and all games can be maintained separately.
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