How to Play Games on Netflix (and What You Need to Do So)

Netflix offers more than just movies and shows; it also hosts a handful of mobile games. Here's how you can access Netflix's mobile games.

We all know that Netflix has movies and TV shows, but did you know it also has mobile games? As long as you have an active Netflix subscription, you can play these games for free. They have no adverts or in-app purchases.

Here's everything you need to know about Netflix's games: what's available, how to play them, and what the limitations are.

What Are Netflix Games?

Netflix has made its move into the world of video games. For now, the following mobile games are available on Netflix, with more to follow:

• Stranger Things: 1984
• Stranger Things 3: The Game
• Shooting Hoops
• Card Blast
• Teeter (Up)

If you have an active Netflix membership, on any tier, you can play these games free. They have no adverts, in-app purchases, or any additional cost. All of them are available in English, with wide support for other languages.

Everyone who has a Netflix profile on your account can play the games, across multiple devices. When you launch a game, you must select a profile to tie your progress to. If you reach your device limit, Netflix will warn you and let you remove a device. You can also manage the active devices from your Netflix account at any time.

These games aren't available on Netflix's child profiles. If you protect your adult Netflix profile with a PIN, that same number will be required to launch any of the games from outside the Netflix app.

Some of the games require a constant internet connection, while others can be played offline—perfect when traveling or in an area with spotty internet connection. The connectivity requirements are displayed on each game page, so you know what to expect before downloading.

How to Play Netflix Games

At the time of writing, Netflix games are only available on Android. However, iOS support is coming in the unspecified future. You can expect the way you access games on Android and iOS to be the same, so feel free to use the instructions below if you're an Apple user.

Before you try to play Netflix games, first visit your device's app store and ensure the Netflix app is up-to-date. If it is and these instructions don't work for you, wait a few days; sometimes Netflix's new features don't launch simultaneously across all accounts.

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1. Launch the Netflix app.
2. From the bottom menu, select Games. Alternatively, on an Android phone, scroll down the homepage and find the Games row, or select the Games category on an Android tablet.
3. This brings you to a screen that lists all the available Netflix games and their trailers. If a game takes your fancy, tap on it to find out more.
4. On the game's page you can see a trailer, screenshots, details about the game, and loosely related shows and movies you might like.
5. If you want to play the game, tap Get game. This redirects you to the Play Store.
6. Tap Install. The game will install like any other app from the Play Store does.
7. You can launch the game from your device's app library. Alternatively, navigate back to the game's page on Netflix and tap Play game.
8. When you launch the game, you'll need to select your Netflix profile. Any save data from the session will be stored to that profile.

Netflix Games: Will You Play Them?

Right now, these Netflix games are only available on Android. They also leave a lot to be desired. Only two are based on an existing Netflix property, while the rest are generic and shallow mobile games. Hopefully we'll see more interesting attempts from Netflix in the future—especially as it bought Night School, the developers behind the hit game Oxenfree.

About The Author

Joe Keeley (708 Articles Published)

Joe was born with a keyboard in his hands and immediately started writing about technology. He has a BA (Hons) in Business and is now a full-time freelance writer who enjoys making tech simple for everyone.

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