Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Netflix viewers control the story with interactive ‘Minecraft: Story Mode’

By
'Minecraft: Story Mode' Episode 1 - 'The Order of the Stone' Trailer

We’ve seen services marketed as “Netflix for games” in the past, but it appears Netflix will fulfill that function itself in the future — kind of. The company will soon offer an adaptation of Telltale’s Minecraft: Story Mode, and it will include interactive elements.

Recommended Videos

A report from TechRadar initially said that a version of Minecraft: Story Mode would be coming to Netflix, but it will not be the exact same experience currently offered on consoles, phones, and PC. It will function as an “interactive narrative story,” rather than a full choose-your-own-adventure game we typically see from Telltale, but it should still give less-experienced players the chance to see what Minecraft: Story Mode is all about.

Related

As CNET pointed out in its own report, this sort of interactivity has actually been on Netflix before with Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale, and as Minecraft: Story Mode is already aimed at a younger audience than most of Telltale’s other games, it makes sense for it to be offered this way. A collaboration between Netflix’s Stranger Things and Telltale is also in the works, but it will be offered through Telltale’s traditional channels instead of on Netflix.

Netflix might not be ready to offer full-fledged game streaming on its platform, but several other companies are preparing for it. Electronic Arts is planning to offer the ability to stream its games on nearly any device you own, and Microsoft has begun working on a similar service. PlayStation Now lets you play a variety of games from either a PlayStation 4 or PC without having to purchase them individually, and GeForce Now offers more unique options — though you do still buy copies of the games through Steam, Uplay, or Battle.net, Nvidia handles everything hardware-related on its end, so you’re free to play games your own computer wouldn’t otherwise be able to run.

We would love to see Netflix offer similar interactive experiences in the future, possibly with Telltale’s more mature series like The Wolf Among Us or Tales from the Borderlands. Which games would you like to see adapted for interactive Netflix shows? Let us know in the comments!

Updated with correction on nature of Stranger Things adaptation.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Gabe Gurwin
Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Like Netflix’s hit series Dead Boy Detectives? Then watch these 3 shows right now
Two boys sit in an office in Dead Boy Detectives.

The task of finding another show to watch based on a show you just enjoyed watching can be more difficult than you might think. Streaming algorithms can be effective for some things, but definitely not for everything, and there's no guarantee that whatever you liked about one show will actually make an appearance in another.

If, for example, you were really into Netflix's Dead Boy Detectives, which follows two young ghosts as they solve crimes along with a clairvoyant, you may like it for any number of reasons, from its sense of humor to its flirtations with the afterlife. If you're looking for another show that offers something similar, then we've carefully curated three that should fit the bill and may have flown under your radar.
The Umbrella Academy (2019-2024)
The Umbrella Academy: Season 4 | Final Season | Netflix

Read more
Stop! And watch these 3 great movies leaving Netflix by May 1
Elvis Presley stands at the mic and performs with his band.

May 1 is less than a week away, meaning Netflix will be removing numerous movies from its library. Notable titles leaving at the end of April include Joker, Todd Phillips' Oscar-winning origin story for DC's most notorious villain; Apollo 13, Ron Howard's terrific drama about the failed moon mission; and Whiplash, Damien Chazelle's sensational thriller about a jazz drummer's pursuit of excellence.

And there are even more great movies leaving Netflix in April. Our selections include a revolutionary sci-fi action film from the 1990s, a hilarious comedy featuring a terrific duo, and a musical biopic about an icon. Carve out some time to watch these three movies by May 1.
Jurassic Park (1993)

Read more
Everything coming to Netflix in May 2024
Two men look at each other in Bodkin.

It's sad to see April end. Not only was the weather nice, but Netflix was killing it with a lot of its original programming like the thriller series Ripley with Andrew Scott, the true-life story Scoop, and the cathartic drama Baby Reindeer, which became a surprise hit late in the month.

It was a typically great month for the streamer, and May promises to continue Netflix's winning streak. The big release of the month is the first part of Bridgerton season 3. If costume romance isn't your thing, there's always the modern drama A Man in Full, an adaptation of Tom Wolfe's 1998 bestseller. If you're seeking laughs, there's Jerry Seinfeld's Unfrosted, which is about the creation of the Pop-Tart (yes, you read that right), and John Mulaney's latest stand-up special, Everybody's in L.A., which will be streamed live. Check the list below for everything coming to Netflix in May 2024.
May 1
Deaw Special: Super Soft Power

Read more