Netflix’s Next Big Thing Is A Horror Video Game You Have To See To Believe

By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated 38 seconds ago

Raise your hand if you forgot that your Netflix subscription includes access to a gaming library. A lot of hands went up. It’s easy to overlook the game library that includes such mobile gaming standouts as Blood Line: A Rebel Moon Game, Sex Education, and Stranger Things 3. That’s why it’s a big deal that the streamer is finally getting serious about gaming with their latest release, Unhinged, a first-person horror game starring Zoe Kravitz, Sadie Sink, and of course, video game voice actor extraordinaire, Troy Baker. What makes it unique is that you don’t play the game on your phone, you play the game with your phone as the controller.

Unhinged Is A New Level Of Netflix Gaming

Unhinged puts you in the shoes of Ava (Kravitz) during a massive hurricane that’s trapped her inside the building. Claire (Sink) is across the street, but your only contact with her is through the phone as you explore the apartment and try to find a way out. It takes on a new sense of urgency once Ava realizes that she’s not alone. It’s a large step up for the company’s gaming division from offering Exploding Kittens (a very fun card game actually, but world’s apart.)

The first thing you’ll notice watching the trailer for Unhinged is it looks like a modern game, or well, a PlayStation 4 game, but considering it runs out of the Netflix app itself, that’s an impressive achievement. Syncing your phone to the game itself, if it works as advertised, will also be incredibly impressive. When Claire calls, your phone will ring and you’ll talk to her through your own phone. Moving your phone moves Ava, guiding her flashlight with your hand movement, which yes, is the same as using a Wii remote, but credit Netflix for trying something to make the game as accessible as possible. 

Unhinged was developed by Night School Studios, the same team behind the adventure game Oxenfree. This is the first original game they’ve developed since being acquired by Netflix. Adding gaming to their streaming library has been a goal of the company for years now, and while there’s some outstanding selections, including streamlined versions of Dead Cells and Red Dead Redemption, it also includes the award-winning strategy game Into the Breach.

Netflix Has Been Getting Into Gaming For Years

Unfortunately, Netflix’s largest foray into gaming, the interactive Black Mirror film, Bandersnatch has been wiped from existence. In 2025, Netflix removed everything they developed using the Branch Manager System to focus more on gaming, and while we see the fruits of that labor today, it’s frustrating that digital entertainment has a lifespan. With no DVD release, and no option to download a copy, Bandersnatch has ceased to exist. 

That could, in fact, likely will happen, to Unhinged at some point. Until then though, you’ll be able to experience the Zoe Kravitz horror game starting on June 30th with nothing more than a Netflix subscription and a phone with lots, and lots, of battery.