Starting this week, Netflix subscribers can play games directly on their smart TV screens, a feature that has been anticipated since reports about bringing mobile games to televisions first surfaced in early 2023. The company previously launched a game controller app for iOS devices, and now, the big-screen gaming experience is finally here.
To access the new feature, users simply navigate to the “Games” tab within the Netflix TV app, select a game, and then use their smartphone as the controller.
This move signals a more serious commitment to expanding Netflix’s gaming offerings beyond just mobile. Since launching its mobile games four years ago, the streaming giant’s strategy has evolved, and this expansion helps it compete more directly with major video game companies.
Focus on Party Games
Alongside the announcement, Netflix unveiled a new selection of games specifically designed to be party titles, encouraging group play. Launching group-focused games is a smart strategy for Netflix, as it promotes wider customer engagement and keeps users interacting with the service even when they aren’t streaming a movie or series.
The new slate of games includes:
- Boggle Party: Up to eight players race against the clock to find words in a scrambled letter grid.
- LEGO Party!: Four players compete in minigames and challenges to earn gold.
- Party Crashers: Fool Your Friends: Players must uncover who at the “party” is secretly unaware of the topic being discussed by identifying suspicious clues.
- Pictionary: Game Night: Based on the classic game, friends try to guess what you’re drawing before time runs out.
- Tetris Time Warp: Compete against friends for the best score.
These five titles align with Netflix’s recently clarified gaming strategy, which now prioritizes party games as one of its core categories. The games are currently available on select TV screens in specific countries, with Netflix planning to roll out wider availability over time.
