Netflix Lets Users Play Games on Their TV Screens

Starting this week, Netflix subscribers can now enjoy games on their smart TVs — a feature that has been in the works for quite some time. Reports about Netflix's efforts to bring mobile games to televisions began in early 2023. Later in the year, the company introduced a game controller app for iOS devices.

While there hadn't been much news about gaming on the big screen until now, it seems the wait is finally over.

How to Play Games on Your TV with Netflix

To access this new feature, users can navigate to the Games tab on the Netflix TV app, select a game, and then use their phone as the controller. This marks a big step in Netflix's commitment to expanding its gaming offerings beyond mobile devices.

A Shift Towards Serious Gaming

Since Netflix launched its mobile games four years ago, the company's strategy has evolved. This new move into the TV space signals a more serious commitment to gaming, allowing Netflix to directly compete with significant video game companies, not just mobile gaming rivals.

New Party Games for Groups

Alongside this announcement, Netflix revealed a new slate of games designed for group play, which is likely to encourage more users to engage with the service even when they're not watching TV shows or movies. The new games include:

• Boggle Party: Up to eight players race against time to find words in a scrambled letter grid.
• LEGO Party! Four players compete in a series of mini-games and challenges.
• Party Crashers: Fool Your Friends: One player is secretly out of the loop and must be unmasked by others based on their incorrect clues.
• Pictionary: Game Night: Players take turns drawing, and the rest guess what it is before time runs out.
• Tetris Time Warp: Compete with friends for the best Tetris score.

Expanding Netflix's Gaming Portfolio

Launching these group-focused titles is a strategic move for Netflix. It encourages greater customer participation and keeps users engaged with the service beyond just watching movies or series.

This addition of five new titles is part of Netflix's broader gaming strategy, which now focuses on four types of games, including party titles.

Currently, the games are available on select TV screens in specific countries, with plans for future expansion.