Netflix Phases Out Free Games Offering, Leaving Gaming History Behind
In a move to streamline its gaming offerings, streaming giant Netflix is set to remove over 20 mobile games from its platform by the end of July 2025. Among the games being withdrawn are popular titles such as Monument Valley (all three games), Hades, and Katana Zero.
The decision to remove these games is part of a broader scaling back of Netflix's gaming content, following a challenging year marked by executive changes, project cancellations, and the closure of Netflix’s AAA gaming studio in late 2024.
Netflix stated that, similar to its film and series offerings, games will also "come and go" from the service. This suggests that the removals are part of normal content rotation rather than a sudden exit from gaming. The games being removed are aimed at reducing the overall volume of the Netflix Games library, which had grown to more than 120 ad-free titles available to subscribers across iOS, iPadOS, and Android devices.
Some of the removed games, like Monument Valley 3, are scheduled for release on other platforms outside Netflix, indicating that Netflix is losing the rights to publish certain branded games. Additionally, several planned Netflix game releases and unannounced projects have been canceled, including sequels and new titles like Crashlands 2 and Tales of the Shire.
Despite investing in studios and porting popular games to mobile, Netflix struggled to inform users about the availability of its games. This move reflects Netflix’s evolving strategy in the gaming space, balancing between offering a curated selection of games and managing licensing and development challenges.
Notably, the only version of Hades available on mobile was not playable directly from the Netflix app. Subscribers had to search for the games in the Google Play Store or iPhone App Store to find them. Netflix wants to make some of its games playable directly from the Netflix app in the future.
The gaming titles are currently available on the Netflix phone app, but many customers are unaware of Netflix's gaming division. Netflix has promoted games based on its shows, such as Thronglets, a game based on the show Black Mirror, in April.
Alain Tascan, former Epic Games VP of game development, was brought on by Netflix to help find its gaming voice. However, the company's gaming arm closed down a "AAA" studio and laid off the staff at Night School, one of the studios Netflix had thrown money at to develop games.
In summary, Netflix is consolidating its gaming catalog after a challenging year marked by executive reshuffling and strategic shifts, including studio closures and canceled projects. Some games are being pulled due to licensing and publishing rights issues, as they are set to launch elsewhere. The future of these titles outside Netflix is uncertain, with some titles like Monument Valley 3 set to release on other platforms, while Netflix has canceled or shelved multiple upcoming game projects, indicating a possible reduced focus on original and licensed gaming content for now.
- Despite announcing the closure of its AAA gaming studio in late 2024 and canceling several upcoming game projects, Netflix still plans to grow its tech and gadget offerings, with Alain Tascan, the former Epic Games VP of game development, brought on board to help find its gaming voice.
- The Netflix Games library, which includes over 120 tech, technology, and gadget-related titles such as Monument Valley (all three games), Hades, and Katana Zero, is set for a major overhaul by the end of July 2025, as the streaming giant streamlines its gaming offerings due to licensing and publishing rights issues.
- In the future, Netflix aims to make some of its smartphone games playable directly from the Netflix app, addressing complaints from users who found it challenging to discover the games offered by the streaming giant, like Thronglets, a game based on the show Black Mirror, which was promoted via the Netflix phone app in April.
