Netflix originally branded itself as a platform for streaming TV shows and movies. However, the rise of competitors has forced the company to rethink its strategy. At its core, it is still a streaming service, but it needs to find ways to keep its users entertained, and more importantly, subscribed. This is why the company has announced a new lineup of Netflix TV games.
Netflix introduces new TV games
Netflix is rolling out party games directly on smart TVs starting this holiday season. The initial lineup includes five titles: Lego Party!, Boggle Party, Pictionary: Game Night, Tetris Time Warp, and Party Crashers: Fool Your Friends. These games are accessible through a new “Games” tab on the Netflix TV app, with smartphones serving as controllers via QR code scanning.
Netflix isn’t new to games. However, rather than solo experiences, Netflix TV party games emphasize social interaction and group play. For example, titles like Boggle Party support up to eight players, while Party Crashers encourages players to work together to find out who is the party crasher. It is clear that Netflix wants you and your friends (or family members) to enjoy these games together. Hopefully, it might even encourage users without Netflix accounts to sign up for one too.
Netflix expands its gaming lineup
Netflix’s gaming journey began with mobile games, particularly titles centered around its popular series like Stranger Things. The strategy initially struggled. In 2022, almost no one played Netflix’s games, with less than 1% of subscribers engaging with the service. It almost seemed like Netflix’s experiment with mobile gaming was headed towards failure.
However, things changed dramatically. By 2024, Netflix’s gaming business tripled, showing significant growth in user engagement. The company now offers dozens of games in its portfolio, ranging from narrative-driven experiences to licensed titles. The expansion to TV games represents an evolution of this strategy. It targets a different group of gamers other than mobile gamers. While mobile games are personal and portable, TV games lets users created shared memories in the comfort of their living rooms.
Also, with streaming prices starting to increase on an yearly basis, Netflix definitely needs to give its subscribers more reasons to keep paying for its services. Even if that means it isn’t necessarily video related.