Netflix's streaming platform might be the service it's known for, but included in a Netflix subscription is access to a library of fantastic mobile games. These are included at no additional cost with your subscription, and best of all have no ads or in-game purchases.
Due to the enormous library, these games are a great way to put a brand-new device like one of our favorite budget tablets through its paces. If you're unsure about Netflix Games' library, try some of the best games available on Google Play Pass instead.
1 Dust & Neon
Dust & Neon's controls might be unnecessarily complicated, but this is still one of the best top-down shooters on the Play Store. You'll control a cyborg in a Wild West setting, mowing down hordes of robotic enemies as you make your way through each level.
Dust & Neon is best paired with an Android-compatible controller due to the aforementioned awkward controls, but the result is incredibly rewarding. Give it a go if you want a satisfying shooter that doesn't compromise on style.
2 Laya's Horizon
From the developers that brought you Alto's Odyssey and Alto's Adventure comes Laya's Horizon, a 3D wingsuiting game where you'll soar over landscapes collecting rewards and performing tricks. The studio's experience is on show here; while the switch to a 3D environment might suggest radically different gameplay, Laya's Horizon retains the satisfying gameplay that made the Alto games hits.
Laya's Horizon is relaxing enough to be a casual game, but you can push your skills to the limit by performing death-defying tricks. This should be one of the first Netflix Games you play.
3 Asphalt Xtreme
Asphalt Xtreme is a Netflix-exclusive entry in the popular Asphalt racing series. It resembles a mishmash of takedowns from Burnout and hectic off-road racing of Sony's Motorstorm games. Asphalt Xtreme offers a plethora of licensed vehicles to choose from.
Nimble rally cars like the Ford Focus and Mitsubishi RS will easily drift around corners. On the contrary, monster trucks from Chevrolet and Hummer will make short work of anyone who gets in the way.
On top of that, the game offers several control options from the get-go. Steer by tilting the phone or using on-screen controls, and choose between automatic or manual acceleration.
4 Bowling Ballers
Niko, it's Roman. Let's go bowling. Whoops, wrong game. Bowling Ballers is probably not what Roman had in mind, but it's possibly one of the most unique bowling experiences you can have on a mobile device.
In this game, you take control of a bowling ball. Each level sees you guide it past obstacles and over ramps. You collect coins and smash down pins to accumulate points along the way. Reach the finish line, and you move toward the next level. The ball rolls automatically, so you only need to guide it left or right. But later levels test your reflexes more than anything.
5 Desta: The Memories Between
Do you ever wish you could go back in time and fix things? Mend relationships? Or create ones you missed? Desta is a story about that. Take Desta, a young heroine perturbed by past mistakes, through surreal dream-like worlds in which you'll help her come to grips with her past, and maybe create a better present.
Desta is an isometric narrative-driven roguelite with elements of an unusual ball game. To move from one dream instance to another, you must come out victorious from these ball games, and help Desta learn new abilities in order to make the next showdown more doable.
Though light-hearted in terms of gameplay, Desta touches upon themes of mental health, something not many games dare to do.
6 Into the Breach
Into the Breach is a challenging tactical RPG that requires you to ponder your every move carefully. It puts you in control of mechs to protect humanity from the attack of giant alien insects. Levels follow a grid-based layout populated by foliage, friendly structures, enemies, and your units.
Involved parties take turns strategically moving their units and trying to outsmart each other. Each mech comes with its unique abilities and weaknesses. A combat mech punches like a tank and pushes enemies onto adjacent tiles. Meanwhile, a cannon mech shoots a powerful laser beam at distant enemies. A misplaced attack could endanger the integrity of a friendly structure or even lead to the death of one of your comrades.
7 Into the Dead 2
Who said zombies were dead? Well, technically, they are. But Into the Dead 2 makes fighting the undead exhilarating fun. It's a hectic on-rails shooter that follows a man trying to get home to his family. All you need to do is guide his run through seemingly endless hordes of the undead.
Do you have enough bullets to take out the next horde? Can you manage to reload before your character reaches the next group of zombies? More importantly, do you risk running through a horde to get a supply box conveniently wedged between them?
Each level presents you with similar decisions between risk and reward.
8 Lucky Luna
Enter the world of 2D platforming inspired by Japanese folklore. In Lucky Luna, you take control of, well, Luna, a female figure wearing a cute Kitsune Mask. Lucky Luna takes you through perilous dungeons filled with equal amounts of treasure, hidden pathways, and danger.
That said, unlike other platformers of its kind, such as Celeste, Lucky Luna bears one major difference: there's no jump button. Instead, you must employ the laws of physics to your advantage and guide Luna through deep chasms to her ultimate goal.
Can you complete a 2D platformer without ever jumping? Persevere, and Lucky Luna will reward you with copious daily and monthly challenges, as well as hundreds of achievements for you to unlock.
9 Krispee Street
Krispee Street is a vibrant hidden object game where you search for people and objects based on clues. Each clue gives you a small snippet of the target image. It's then up to you to examine the entire scene and match the snippet with the correct person or object.
Successfully finding images gives you points for unlocking power-ups to help you find scenes easier. For example, a handy thermometer gets warmer the closer you get to the target scene. Finding a man with a flower for a head and a boombox in his hands is easy.
But good luck finding a croissant in a crowded park.
10 Moonlighter
Do you love The Legend of Zelda? Good, because Moonlighter plays exactly like an isometric Zelda game. It revolves around descending into perilous dungeons, but there's more to it. As the name suggests, you work as a shopkeeper in a quaint little town during the day.
It's up to you to arrange merchandise, determine its cost, and welcome customers. How much is that odd-looking rock worth? Whatever you say it is. Those gullible folk wouldn't know any better.
When the night falls, prepare to embark on a hunt for more valuable trinkets. Equip weapons and armor, fight monsters lurking deep underground, and evade deadly traps. Collect loot and make enough cash to fund your next expedition, and the cycle repeats.
11 Oxenfree
It's not often that a console-level adventure game makes it to mobile, but here we are. Oxenfree follows a group of teenagers who decide to camp out on an old military island. Before long, they discover that the island houses supernatural beings, and the fate of the group could be sealed.
Thankfully, Alex, the game's protagonist, has a nifty radio that allows her to communicate with the spirits. With interactive dialogue options, you could alter the relationships with your companions, or who knows, maybe even improve your chances of escaping the forsaken island. Oxenfree features multiple endings in what is ultimitely a gripping horror adventure narrative.
12 Spiritfarer
What happens after we die? Do the spirits of our loved ones move on to a better place? Spiritfarer puts you in control of Stella, a jolly ferryman who takes wandering spirits on their last voyage into the afterlife. You'll meet new friends, learn their stories, and hopefully make their trip less daunting.
In addition to being a narrative-driven adventure game, Spiritfarer lets you partake in a variety of pastimes. Fishing, cooking, and harvesting are sure to make your journey eventful. Harvested materials let you customize your boat with additional amenities to turn it into an aquatic marvel to behold.
13 Stranger Things 3: The Game
Based on the Netflix Originals series, Stranger Things 3: The Game is an interactive accompaniment to the show's 3rd season. This isometric adventure features the series' signature synthwave soundtrack and horror coupled with dark humor.
Of course, Stranger Things 3 lets you play as pivotal characters from the show, including Mike, Lucas, Steve, and many others. Use conventional everyday objects to battle enemies and seamlessly switch between characters to solve environmental puzzles.
Exploration rewards you with money for purchasing power-ups, and costumes, among other things. Costumes not only provide characters with a stat boost, but change their appearance.
14 Stranger Things: 1984
Another one? Well, yeah, things can get stranger. Much like Stranger Things 3, this one's an isometric adventure game, albeit with more cartoony visuals. Also, Stranger Things: 1984 focuses more on puzzle-solving as opposed to combat in Stranger Things 3.
Once again, you take control of the characters from the show. Play as Hopper, Lucas, Nancy, and Eleven; each has unique attributes and abilities. For example, Hopper punches like a tank, but can't access hard-to-reach areas like Lucas with his slingshot. To progress, you must utilize the unique characteristics of each character.
15 TMNT: Shredder's Revenge
With Streets of Rage 4 and now Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles under its metaphorical belt, it seems like Dotemu can do no wrong. Shredder's Revenge is a colorful homage to beat 'em ups of the 80s. The games brings together pivotal characters from the series.
Spearheaded by the seminal turtles, you can play as April, Master Splinter, and even Casey Jones. Shredder's Revenge features satisfying combat akin to classic arcade games, along with a dedicated pixel mode that more accurately captures the magic of the era. This game is a must-play for anyone who grew up with arcade beat 'em ups.
16 Valiant Hearts: Coming Home
Between another Assassin's Creed and Far Cry release, Ubisoft has a habit of surprising its fanbase every once in a while. A Child of Light here, a Scott Pilgrim re-release there, and an emotional war tale over there. The last one is actually Coming Home, a sequel to Valiant Hearts.
Coming Home transports you to one of the harshest times in modern history: World War I. Its story, however, revolves around ordinary people thrust into extraordinary events. It recounts historical events from the perspective of four characters. Coming Home masterfully merges impactful narrative with puzzle adventure gameplay.
Buckle up for more titles coming to Netflix Games
Netflix Games is fast becoming one of the best game subscription services on mobile; it's certainly got better games than Google Play Pass. Of course, you'll want to make the most of your Netflix subscription, so download your favorite movies and shows for some offline relaxation.