Last year, Netflix announced it would be expanding its business model and entering the gaming market. However, the company has since then quickly progressed and launched its very own gaming platform, titled Netflix Games. While initially, the platform featured a very restricted number of games, Netflix bought and established partnerships with several game-developing companies with the intention to launch games inspired by some of their biggest hits.
The first of those games was Stranger Things 3: The Game, however, the company has just announced more original titles, including games inspired by The Queen’s Gambit and Money Heist, among others.
Netflix Taking on Gaming
Online multiplayer games, immersive experiences, and real-time gambling are some of the most attractive and innovative novelties in the home entertainment industry. As a result, the video game industry has heavily invested in the development of complex and hyper-realist titles that can offer players unparallel gaming experiences. Similarly, the gambling industry has focused on pushing the boundaries of conventional gaming, by creating new game adaptations, live gambling, and providing a broad range of game variations.
In addition, game developers have also focused on designing attractive titles that can appeal to different demographics of players. Nowadays players can access a seemingly infinite variety of online casino games that are inspired by all sorts of themes, TV shows, and films. By constantly introducing new titles to the market, especially those that are relevant to popular culture trends, developers are able to appease a diverse mass market. For example, an online casino may have titles for old-school gamers who like the traditional format of game-show-inspired slot reels. Naturally, Deal or No Deal and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire will be perfect for those users.
However, other contemporary players may want vivid imagery and may not want an ‘officially franchised’ experience. They’re therefore more likely to try slot games like the cute Fluffy Favourites, which are less intense (no playing against the clock or feeling the pressure) and more suitable for casual gamers. Ultimately, these games feature unique visual elements that are both appealing and innovative, while adhering to specific tropes, catering to client demands, and taking online gambling to a new level.
Following this logic, it comes with no surprise that one of the biggest players in the home entertainment industry wants to have some in on the action. In fact, this decision wasn’t exclusive to Netflix, as Facebook, YouTube, and even TikTok have decided to enter the gaming industry and have also developed sections on their platforms dedicated to gaming. In this sense, Netflix’s new upcoming titles strategically bring together fiction, different gaming formats, reality TV, and anime.
The Queen’s Gambit Chess
One of Netflix’s most popular miniseries, The Queen’s Gambit, is now back as an online game, which unsurprisingly will have users test their chess skills. The game will feature chess lessons, and different settings inspired by the series and will bring back some of the show’s most iconic characters to help players perfect their gaming skills. It should be noted that the development of this title is particularly interesting considering that online chess has been on the rise for the past two years.
Money Heist
The Spanish hit show was one of the titles responsible for establishing Netflix’s brand and reputation around the world so it would only be right to develop a game inspired by the show. While currently not many details have been released regarding this game an early teaser trailer seems to indicate that this will be an action first shooter game featuring comic-inspired visuals.
Netflix has also announced the release of two other games inspired by popular tv shows, namely Shadow and Bone: Destinies, inspired by the series Shadow and Bone, which is expected to feature an RPG narrative, and Too Hot to Handle, which will take inspiration from the dating series with the same name. In addition, other exclusive titles have also been announced, including Lucky Luna, a game inspired by Japanese folklore, and Desta: The Memories Between, a strategy game that mixes drama and magic.
Lastly, the platform will also incorporate games from publisher Devolver Digital, such as Reigns: Three Kingdoms, Terra Nil and Poinpy.
