It’s been almost a year since Netflix announced their aggressive foray into the world of mobile game subscriptions. Today, they boast over 90 titles from a number of indie studios and known IPs, with what seems to be an endless number more on the way.
As someone who has been keeping a close pulse on everything their team has been working on, it is safe to say that Netflix Games has proven it is here to stay.
So whether you’re a long time Netflix subscriber or a new subscriber trying to figure out how you can get in on the gameplay – here’s how you too can join in on the mobile game fun.
1. Get an Active Netflix Subscription
Unlike your typical EA Pass or console game subscription, Netflix does not offer a solo subscription for mobile games. In fact, you won’t find mentions of their game offerings anywhere on the homepage or listed in their pricing plans.
Instead, they automatically include games as part of their regular TV and movie entertainment subscription, which is noted in the Netflix Help Center. No matter which membership you choose, you’ll gain instant access to every game in Netflix’s mobile game library.
One of the cool things is that these games have no additional monetization features. That means there are no advertising or in-game purchases – even if you’re on the ad-supported plan.
2. Set Up Your Netflix profile.
If you are a new Netflix subscriber, choosing the right settings for your personal profile and those of others in your household can impact access to certain games in much the same way as your show and movie settings.
In my case, I opted to set up two kid accounts and an age restricted guest account, in addition to my own.
Once you have your profile created (and if you happen to already have an account as an existing subscriber!), you can now set up your own unique Game Handle from within the “manage account” settings.
This handle will be used for any Netflix game that supports it, and you can only choose one handle per non-kid profile.
You can create and manage your game handle through both the online web browser or inside the Netflix app.
3a. Play Games Through Your Mobile Devices
One of the primary ways people are playing games is through the Netflix Mobile App, which is supported on Android phones and tablets & iPhone, iPad, and even iPod touch.
From a mobile version of the Exploding Kittens tabletop game, to popular IP-related mobile games like GTA: San Andreas, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and even a pixelated Stranger Things 3 adventure game, you can select from a wide variety of featured games right from the “Mobile Games” Carousel.
Once you see a game you like, tap on the game tile, select “Get Game”. You also have the option to save to “My List” to make a game you like easier to mind the next time you open the app.
Once you tap “Get Game”, your device will prompt you download and install the game directly to your mobile device from your respective app store – That would be the App Store for Apple phones and tablets, and Google Play for Android devices.
Once it’s done and so long as you have the right profile settings, simply select who’s playing and you’re ready to start gaming on your mobile device!
3b. Play Mobile Games Through Your TV
To enjoy the experience on your television, start by launching the Netflix app on your mobile device and sign in to your account.
Navigate to the mobile games row on the home screen. Look for the “Games” tab in the bottom menu of the Netflix app. Tap on it to access the available games.
Browse through the list of available games and select the particular game you want to play. Then tap on it to open the game details page.
Once you find a game you want to want to play, select the “Play on TV” option. This will cast the game to your television screen.
Keep in mind you’ll still need to use a mobile device to use as a game controller, using the N-Controller app on iPhone or iPad or the Netflix App on Android
Note: Is it important to make sure that your television is compatible with Netflix games and is using one of the supported devices such as Amazon Fire, Chromecast, Roku, and other partners. Good news is that most current smart TVs and streaming devices will already support this feature. Also, make sure that your TV’s Netflix app is up to date and you have a stable internet connection.
3c. Playing Netflix Games on Multiple Devices
If you prefer to play the game on your computer, open a web browser and go to the Netflix.com homepage. Then sign in to your account and navigate to the “Games” section.
Depending on the Netflix membership type you’ve selected, this can free up the ability for other family members in your household to play their favorite games on their own personal devices or the TV!
Now, if you have multiple household members and expect games to be played across more than one device, keep that in mind when choosing a membership plan as the download/watch device rules apply to both games and shows.
Can My Kids Play Netflix Games on Their Profiles?
If you’re a parent like me, you may be wondering if there’s a way to limit the ability for your kid to access certain games (or games in general) on their own. If you’ve set them up using a kid profile, the answer is a hard no. That is because games can only be viewed and downloaded using a non-kids account.
That means for those parents who want to ensure kids don’t have free access to the entire games library, setting them up with their own kid profiles and password protecting your “grown-folk” profile is the way to go.
Have a pre-teen or teenager with a non-kid Netflix account? The maturity settings you set to block specific TV shows or movies from individual profiles will also hide games in the app that have a higher maturity rating.
Can I Download Games from Other Franchise Titles and Genres Not Featured in the Netflix App?
Netflix Games continues adding indie titles, however as you start to look through their many genres and listings – it’s worth noting that availability will vary between the mobile app, Netflix.com, as well as on TV.
Some of this is in part due to device compatibility – as some games cannot be played on every iOS and Android phone or tablet. The other may be in part due to locale restrictions (as some games are unavailable within certain regions).
Another reason could very well be that there are just too many games to fit into a single line, in-app carousel without the ability for us players to search, categorize, or sort.
In that case, where can you go to discover every game title that has been launched so far and is currently available from the Netflix Games library?
Hidden unassumingly in their Help Center – which continues to serve as the main hub for any and every question Netflix Games-related.
On your mobile device, visit the Netflix Games Help Center home page and look for the “Available Games” drop down section.
From here, you can scroll through a wide variety of ad-free games, whether you’re looking for a narrative game to play while waiting for the next season of Money Heist, quick puzzles to play with friends or even fellow Netflix subscribers.
Once you see a game you’d like to try, you can search for the title by name on the Apple store or Google Play store.
Once you find it, tap install and you should now be able to open it from the Mobile Games row or the Games tab in-app! This is in addition to being able to open it up on your device’s home screen.
When logging in, simply sign in using the same email address and password you use for your Netflix account, choose you Netflix Games profile, and play to your hearts content!
What’s Next for Games on Netflix
Netflix is still in high gear as they look to further expand their gaming offerings, with several new titles and content expansions in the pipeline. They continue to partner with game developers and studios to bring exclusive and popular titles to its platform catering to gamers of all ages. Support for the indie game scene is also at the top of Netlix Games’s list, as they look to add more cozy and adventure games alike.
Some of the anticipated Netflix game titles expected to be added to their gaming library include:
- Hades (Supergiant Games) – iOS Release March 20th, 2024
- Paper Trail (Newfangled Games) – iOS and Android Release May 21st, 2024
- Chicken Run: Eggstraction (Aardman Animations) – 2024 Release
- The Dragon Prince: Xadia (Wonderstorm) – 2024 Release
- The Rise of the Golden Idol (Color Gray Games) – 2024 Release
- Harmonium: The Musical (The Odd Gentlemen) – 2024 Release
Not to mention games from their own internal studio Spry Fox, with their cozy sim game sequel, Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit, which is suspected to release sometime soon!
It’s never been a better time to be a paying member of the streaming service giant.
Already playing Netflix Games? Share what titles you are most excited for below and talk games with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
Featured Image: Netflix
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