Netflix has finally brought its video games to TV screens, marking a big step forward in the streaming giant’s push into interactive content. This is a big step forward for the company’s entertainment empire. At the Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles on October 8, 2025, co-CEO Greg Peters announced that subscribers can now play a selection of party-style games directly on their TVs, using their smartphones as easy-to-use controllers. This change makes binge-watching less of a solitary activity and more of a social one. Families and friends can now play games like Boggle Party and Pictionary: Game Night while watching episodes of Stranger Things or The Crown.
Netflix’s gaming options have only been available on mobile devices for the past four years. They started in 2021 as a free perk for subscribers, but they had a hard time attracting a dedicated audience because of strong competition from established platforms. At first, the company tried to attract users with free mobile games, but as Alain Tascan, Netflix’s head of gaming who joined from Epic Games in July 2024, said, they quickly realized that it wasn’t yet a “destination” for hardcore gamers. “They took a short-term approach,” Tascan said of Hollywood’s past attempts to get into gaming, which often failed because their strategies didn’t match up. Netflix wants to use its living room stronghold to its advantage by moving to TV-centric social experiences. 78% of American gamers already spend time on mobile but want to be more immersed on bigger screens. What happened? A smooth mix of streaming and playing, with no extra fees on top of the regular subscription, which costs between $7.99 and $24.99 a month.
When it first comes out, Netflix will have a curated selection of multiplayer games that are fun for groups. These games will be available through a new “Games” tab in the app on compatible smart TVs and streaming devices like Roku. Some of the best games are Boggle Party, where players race against the clock to make words; Pictionary: Game Night, which is like a quick-sketch comedy show; Tetris Time Warp, which is a nostalgic take on the classic puzzle; Lego Party, which is usually a $40 standalone game but is now free for Netflix users; and even a mafia-style whodunit for extra fun. To start, viewers just need to scan a QR code with their phone to link it to the controller. This makes sure that the action on the big screen happens quickly. Peters, who has pushed for gaming to be a key area of growth, gave Netflix’s previous efforts a “B-minus” but was hopeful about this new focus on social gaming: “One of the big gaming areas we’re going after now is social gaming experiences that will show up on your TVs.”
The first rollout will only be in certain markets, such as the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Germany, and Australia. More markets will be added soon.
The $59 billion U.S. video game industry is ready for this TV debut. Spending has more than doubled since 2014, and people are increasingly looking for easy-to-use, ad-free games. Netflix’s strategy avoids the mistakes that caused Disney’s short-lived businesses to fail by putting IP tie-ins and casual play ahead of AAA blockbusters, at least for now. Future plans suggest more in-depth connections, like games based on popular shows like Squid Game or Wednesday, which could bring back subscribers who have stopped using the service by offering them exclusive, story-driven adventures. Tascan says that Netflix is breaking the “Hollywood curse” on gaming by not just trying to make money quickly, but by building a long-term ecosystem. The streamer is changing what it means to “Netflix and chill”—or maybe “Netflix and play”—with ads, live events, and now interactive games.
As the rollout continues, people who got it early are already talking about how easy couch co-op is without all the extra hardware. Netflix isn’t happy with just telling stories anymore; it’s inviting viewers to star in them. Whether this leads to a lot more subscriptions or just keeps people watching, one thing is clear: This could be the level-up that keeps the service ahead of competitors like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ in a time when the lines between entertainment are getting blurrier than a Tetris line. It’s really game on.
