The best games on Netflix Games

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 from other subscription services, and considering nearly everyone has access to a Netflix account already, there’s no barrier to entry for a huge audience to check out their library of games. All you need is a smartphone and the Netflix app, and you’re ready to check out their library.

While Netflix Games doesn’t have a ton of content just yet, there is still enough there 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 never settling 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.

Further reading

Moonlighter

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.

Poinpy

Poinpy will draw your eye thanks to an adorable art style, but once you start playing, you’ll be glued to your screen. This gem comes from the developer of Downwell, one of the all-time great phone games, so the team knows what makes an addictive mobile game. Unlike that last game, Poinpy simply asks you to navigate your character upward, aiming your jumps from platform to platform. It’s that simple to start with, but things quickly get more complex as new things to keep in mind and watch out for as you get higher and higher. If you know you’re a sucker for those games that make you say “just one more run” then Poinpy is a must-play.

Wonderputt Forever

Mini-golf games were some of the most popular back when Flash games were big, and while they’re arguably better than ever, for some reason aren’t quite as talked about. That shouldn’t be the case for Wonderputt Forever, which is an almost therapeutic experience. Everything from the perspective to the soundtrack, and even the *clock* sound of hitting the golf ball just evokes a chill vibe. There’s no pressure, only fun courses to putt your way through to see what cool new location you’re taken to next. Wonderputt Forever is as magical as you thought mini-golf courses were as a child, and it’s a joy to play through.

Krispee Street

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 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.

Shatter Remastered

Aside from Snake and Tetris, one of the earliest games most people played on their phones was some sort of brick breaker. It’s no surprise why. All you need to do is move a paddle left or right to bounce a ball up until you’ve hit all the bricks above, kind of like a single-player Pong. Shatter Remastered takes that formula, but amps up the variety for a massive arcade experience. The core is obviously the same, but throw in different brick types, score multipliers, and other bonuses, and abilities you can use to redirect the ball, and suddenly things get a lot more engaging. Levels always add at least a bit of spice each time, and never ask for more than a couple of minutes of your time. This game won’t be one you want to play for hours on end, or likely even a single hour, but is excellent for when you’ve got a few minutes to kill and want something bright and exciting.

Lucky Luna

While Lucky Luna may appear like another attempt to capitalize on nostalgia, once you start playing this platformer, you will see it in a completely different light. This game focuses more on vertical platforming than normal side-scrollers, with levels packed with collectibles, secrets, and challenges to complete. The controls are easy and flow fantastic, even though you’re missing a key move almost every platformer needs: a jump button. Part of the amazing design of the game is how you need to bounce off enemies or use the environment to gain height. This simple change makes you approach levels in a brand new way that begs you to replay them until you make a perfect run.

Before Your Eyes

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.

Relic Hunters: Rebels

Another pixel art game that incorporates rogue-like elements, Relic Hunters: Rebels is much more of a throwback to classic SNES top-down shooters. You pick from one of four heroes, each with different abilities, and jump into levels to blast waves of enemies, level up, and fight bosses. While it may look like a simple shooter you can just turn your brain off for, and if you want to you certainly could and have a blast, the story is actually rather interesting if you decide to pay attention to it. Full of fun and quirky guns, bright enemies, and tons to unlock and craft, Relic Hunters: Rebels is a perfect match for gaming on the go without feeling watered down.

Hextech Mayhem

It’s a little visually confusing at first glance, but Hextech Mayhem is actually a rhythm game. You play as both Yordle and Ziggs as you help set off explosives at the right time, to the beat and as the character moves to the right position, to blast and bounce them over obstacles, defeat enemies, and solve small puzzles. Really, though, you don’t so much have to think about what you’re doing so long as you keep the beat and hit the buttons in time. The graphics are all 3D and animated with tons of character, such as buildings in the background bobbing along to the beat and enemies jiving along before you blow them to smithereens. Technically this is part of the League of Legends universe, but as Arcane proved, you don’t need to be a fan of that game to love what this one offers.

Into the Breach

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. If you utilize all your abilities and actions correctly, you can complete missions without taking a single hit. 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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