Netflix is set to remove several popular mobile games from its service, including acclaimed titles like Hades, the Monument Valley series, and Braid: Anniversary Edition. These games have been available free to Netflix subscribers across all tiers but will no longer be playable starting July 1, with some titles phased out later.
Other games departing include Katana ZERO, Rainbow Six: SMOL, and Death’s Door. The full list comprises:
- Battleship
- Braid, Anniversary Edition
- Carmen Sandiego
- CoComelon: Play with JJ
- Death’s Door
- Diner Out: Merge Cafe
- Dumb Ways to Die
- Ghost Detective
- Hades
- Katana ZERO
- LEGO Legacy: Heroes Unboxed
- Ludo King
- Monument Valley 1, 2, and 3
- Rainbow Six: SMOL
- Raji: An Ancient Epic
- SpongeBob: Bubble Pop F.U.N.
- TED Tumblewords
- The Case of the Golden Idol
- The Rise of the Golden Idol
- Vineyard Valley
Some publishers, like Devolver Digital, suggest certain games such as Poinpy, Katana ZERO, and Death’s Door may be released as premium mobile titles independently of Netflix.
Netflix’s gaming initiative has struggled to gain traction partly due to poor marketing and limited user awareness. Games were not easily discoverable within app stores, and despite investments in studios like Night School and ports of high-profile titles, many subscribers remained unaware of the gaming offerings.
Earlier this year, Netflix shifted focus by closing its AAA development studio and reducing staff at Night School. The platform is now emphasizing games tied to its original shows, such as the recently promoted Thronglets, linked to Black Mirror. It remains unclear how this shift will affect new original titles like Spirit Crossing, developed by Spry Fox, which Netflix acquired in 2022.
Former Epic Games executive Alain Tascan, overseeing Netflix gaming, aims to integrate gameplay directly within the Netflix app to improve accessibility. However, previous titles like Hades required separate downloads, limiting seamless play.
Netflix’s gaming strategy favored streamlined, free experiences without aggressive microtransactions, but the lack of awareness among subscribers means these offerings largely went unnoticed. As Netflix phases out many of these games, much of its early mobile gaming effort risks fading from memory.