Every joke possible has already been made about Netflix Games being — or not being — “the Netflix of games,” so we won’t waste your time trying to come up with another one. In the end, Netflix Games is doing its own thing rather than following the lead of other subscription services, and considering that nearly everyone has access to a Netflix account already, there’s no barrier to entry for its huge audience to check out its library of games. All you need is a smartphone and the Netflix app, and you’re all set.
While Netflix Games continues to build up its content, there already is enough here to induce some choice paralysis, especially if you’ve never heard of many of the games on offer. Just like the lineup of shows and movies on Netflix proper, not every game is of the same quality or will be to your taste. Rather than scrolling through the options and being unable to settle on a choice like you do when trying to pick a movie, try out one of our picks for the best games on Netflix Games.
Moonlighter
E10
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Digital Sun Games
Publisher
11 bit studios
Release
May 29, 2018
We start with the one game that some are likely to recognize: Moonlighter. This indie hit came out much earlier on PC and consoles but has made its way onto your phone via Netflix Games. This is a beautiful pixel art game in which you play as Will, a shopkeeper in a town that needs to explore the dangerous dungeons to acquire the goods that you will then sell during the daytime hours. Half 2D Zelda-style adventure with plenty of rogue-like elements and half management sim, Moonlighter is a very charming game with hours upon hours of content to keep you coming back. However, thanks to the nature of the game being broken up into dungeon diving at night and managing your shop during the day, it is also perfect for more bite-sized play sessions too.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Definitive Edition
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Racing, Adventure
Developer
Grove Street Games
Publisher
Rockstar Games, Netflix
Release
November 11, 2021
While you can play all three of the PS2 GTA games via Netflix now, we have to highlight San Andreas as the best of the bunch if you were only going to play one. Not only is CJ one of the best characters in the series, but the world and story of this entry is still one of the best in a series known for its performances and storytelling. You start off at the bottom but will work your way up as you are forced into a life of crime in an attempt to save your family and the entire neighborhood. This is a more meaty experience, but the mission structure works great on mobile devices. Plus, you can always just load it up to cause some mayhem.
Hades
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Supergiant Games
Publisher
Supergiant Games, Netflix
Release
December 07, 2018
There are officially no reasons left for why you haven’t played Hades. This is one of the best roguelike experiences of the past few years, and having access to it via Netflix just means we’re all about to dump another couple dozen hours into it. Even if you’re not typically a fan of the genre, the art style, performances, and new things you will see and do on each run no matter how far you get are incredibly addicting. Grab yourself a controller and see why everyone is so eagerly anticipating Hades 2.
Spiritfall
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Genre
Fighting, Platform, Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
Developer
Gentle Giant
Publisher
Gentle Giant
Release
April 03, 2023
If you’re looking for a more emotionally resonant game, you might not be ready for just how touching Spiritfarer can get. You play as a ferrymaster named Stella who befriends and helps spirits until they are ready to move on to the afterlife. Part of the game is talking to and learning about these deep, often troubled souls, and the other is managing the boat by fishing, mining, cooking, and crafting upgrades. It is all very low-stakes, calm, and touching. Just make sure you have some tissues nearby.
Game Dev Tycoon
E
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Simulator, Strategy, Indie
Developer
Greenheart Games
Publisher
Greenheart Games, Netflix
Release
December 10, 2012
Who hasn’t dreamed of buckling down to make your very own video game? While it has gotten much more difficult in recent years, it wasn’t so long ago that one person in their garage could eventually create the biggest franchises in the industry. Game Dev Tycoon has you start off from the most humble beginnings to see if you can read the current trends, invest money and time wisely, and get great review scores for each game to make a profit. You don’t have to know a thing about actually making games — you just have to want to see how easy (or hard) it might be to build a successful game company.
Krispee Street
Platforms
Android, iOS
Genre
Puzzle
Release
January 18, 2022
Based on the webcomic of the same name, Krispee Street takes the same concept that made adult coloring books a reality, only for those old Where’s Waldo? books. The art is the most important factor here since looking at stuff is the whole idea of this game, and thankfully, it is amazing. Every inch of each spread is littered with personality, from the strange yet joyful creatures to a pair of eyes on a fire hydrant. No inch of space feels like you’ve wasted your time looking there, even if you don’t find the object you’re hunting. You can play each level, earning coins as you go, play the daily challenges, or just load up zen mode and chill out playing for as long as you like. If Krispee Street can’t rekindle your childhood spirit, nothing will.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
E10
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Tribute Games
Publisher
DotEmu
Release
June 16, 2022
Console ports to mobile are always tricky, but this beat ’em up manages to not only translate well, but it arguably performs best on mobile devices. The high-speed, hectic brawling action translates surprisingly well to touch controls, and the graphics and animations look right at home on the smaller screen. Best of all, and perhaps most importantly, the game runs as smoothly as Turtle Wax. If you somehow missed this throwback to the classic turtle arcade games, this game pays clear homage to those games of old, but with plenty of modern conveniences.
Katana Zero
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Strategy, Adventure, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Askiisoft
Publisher
Devolver Digital
Release
April 18, 2019
Plenty of games can let you feel what it’s like to be a samurai, but only Katana Zero lets you feel what it’s like to be a movie samurai who can slice bullets and move so fast the world appears to be in slow-motion. At the same time, you are also incredibly vulnerable and will die from a single hit in most cases. Think Hotline Miami, but from a side-scrolling perspective and with swords instead of guns. It is a frenetic and challenging game that gives you that extreme rush when you finally master a stage and flow through it like a real samurai.
Before Your Eyes
E
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation VR2
Genre
Adventure, Indie
Developer
GoodbyeWorld Games
Publisher
Skybound Games
Release
April 08, 2021
Perhaps one of the most unique games of all time, Before Your Eyes can be played by almost anyone. We don’t say that lightly, either, but this narrative adventure is controlled exclusively via blinking. The story is about a person’s entire life flashing before their eyes, which is perfectly mirrored in the mechanics where, out of your control, blinking can end one memory and flash you forward to the next. Despite your best efforts, you will blink past key emotional moments, leading to a game that will stick with you long after you’ve finished.
Immortality
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Point-and-click, Simulator, Indie
Developer
Half Mermaid, Sam Barlow
Publisher
Half Mermaid
Release
August 30, 2022
We won’t say much, or really anything, about the plot of Immortality since piecing together the story is essentially what the entire game is about. This full-motion video game has you watching clips from three different fictional movies to try to solve a mystery by selecting different objects or people in a clip, which can lead you into another clip that person or object also appears in. It sounds strange, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg, but this is a gripping game that translates perfectly to your phone.
Kentucky Route Zero
T
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS
Genre
Point-and-click, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Cardboard Computer
Publisher
Cardboard Computer
Release
January 07, 2013
This point-and-click adventure game is odd, but beautiful. This game took years to finally release in full, but is now complete and a perfect fit for your phone. Gameplay is all about simple moving and choices, so no need for twitch reactions or extreme precision. It’s more focused on exploring some difficult themes, such as alcoholism, loss, debt, and more. There’s no way to “lose” Kentucky Route Zero — only alter its path based on your choices. It may sound simple, but this game will stick with you for a long time.
Into the Breach
E10
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia
Genre
Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Indie
Developer
Subset Games
Publisher
Subset Games
Release
February 27, 2018
It’s somewhat surprising that Into the Breach took this long to come to any form of a mobile platform given how perfect the gameplay feels on a phone. This is a tactical, turn-based rogue-lite that plays more like a puzzle game than anything else. You control a team of mechs you deploy into different missions on grid-based maps to fight off alien bugs. Each mech and bug has its own movement and attack options, but what makes this game so addictive is that you see exactly what the enemy team is going to do and then need to plan your turn to counter it. You can complete missions without taking a single hit if you utilize all your abilities and actions correctly. That’s easier said than done but oh-so-satisfying when you pull it off. This version also includes DLC, giving you even more to experiment with.
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