Do you have a Netflix subscription, a smartphone, and a taste for video games? Netflix offers more than 100 games as part of its regular subscription. Many of these games are proper PC titles ported for mobile devices, most of which should play great on the majority of iPhones and Android smartphones.
I’ve spent about 40 hours inDead Cells, a rarerogueliteI’ve beaten multiple times. While I usually stop after a successful run, I persevered and had a lot of fun playing this one. It’s mostly because of the insane number of weapons to unlock (some of which are so overpowered you’ll be praying that you score one during each run), addictive fast-paced combat,Metroidvaniaelements that lock some areas behind obtainable skills, and a ton of stuff to discover.
Add fantastic pixel-art graphics, piles of content, brilliant art design that makes every level unique, and cool collaborations with other games, like the brilliantCastlevaniacollab, and you’ve got yourself one of the best roguelites ever.
14Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition
Now,GTA: San Andreasis pretty demanding on mobile platforms, so if you don’t have a high-end phone that eats demanding 3D mobile games for breakfast, you should skip this one. But if you’ve got the power to run the game on your phone, you’re in for a treat.
This is arguably the bestGrand Theft Autogame ever, and for good reason. Fantastic story, some of the best humor in the series, a massive map made of three cities, one of the best soundtracks ever, and voice acting on the level of Hollywood blockbusters. The mobile port is 1:1 compared to the PC version, so I strongly recommend getting amobile-friendly controllerto enjoy the game to its fullest.
13Hades
Hadesis yet another roguelite I’ve beaten more than once (five times, in fact), and wouldn’t you know it, bothHadesandDead Cellsare available onNetflix. UnlikeDead Cells, Hadesis played from an isometric perspective. And instead of Metroidvania elements and tons of weapons to unlock, it hooks players with a fantastic story, cool power-ups bestowed upon you by the Greek gods, and probably the best combat in a roguelite ever.
The game offers just a handful of weapons, which is fine because once you find your favorites, you’ll spend dozens of hours mastering them. The bosses are brilliantly designed and challenging, but with relatively easy-to-learn mechanics, and the game’s generous upgrade system allows even casual gamers to become powerful enough to push through the underworld and escape their destiny. Oh, and the soundtrack slaps.
12Katana Zero
Katana Zerois an ultra-stylish, side-scrolling take onHotline Miami. you’re able to kill every enemy with a single hit, but they’re powerful, too, and can end your journey with a single blow. UnlikeHotline Miami, Katana Zeroincludes lots of different ways to avoid being hit, ultimately creating a fast-paced action platforming experience like no other game did.
The story is another strong part ofKatana Zero, along with brilliant pixel-art visuals and clever level design that lets players find creative ways to beat levels by thinking outside the box. The game’s quite challenging and fast-paced, so I recommend playing it with a controller.
11Sonic Mania Plus
Sonic Mania Plusis the bestSonicgame since the series' glory days that took place during the ’90s. This retro-themed 2D platformer combines the best parts of classicSonicgames into a cocktail that tastes like the past but has a tinge of modernity. The perfect combination of the two makesSonic Mania Plusone of the best platformers you may play at the moment and one of the gems of theNetflixgame library.
10Bloons TD 6
IsBloons TD 6the best tower defense game ever? I can’t answer that question, but I can confirm that the game is one of the best titles of its kind available onNetflix Games. It’s perfect for phones due to its control scheme and relatively short missions. Don’t worry, though; while you can finish a good chunk of missions during lunch break, there are so many of them you’ll be hooked for weeks.
Not only that, but you may also unlock tons of abilities and power-ups, use mighty heroes to give you the edge during critical moments, finish quests that reward you with bonus prizes, team up with other players to invade and defend territories, and so much more. So, yeah,Bloons TD 6might actually be the best tower defense game ever.
9Kentucky Route Zero
There are some games you can’t get out of your head years after finishing them, andKentucky Route Zerois one of them. A surreal amalgamation of Americana, folk tales,Twin Peaks, and magical realism,Kentucky Route Zerois an interactive movie that will take you to strange places located at the fringe of our world that will make you question reality itself. A definite recommendation.
8OXENFREEandOXENFREE II: Lost Signals
OXENFREEand its sequel are lightweight adventures with great stories and brilliant art styles. The first game follows a band of teenagers who attempt to solve an old mystery after being part of an incident that unlocks otherworldly dimensions and sets the stage for an adventure taking place across Edwards Island.
The sequel takes place on the same island but with a different set of characters. The story is as good as the first game, and while the second game doesn’t feature as good “choices matter” mechanics as the first,OXENFREE II: Lost Signalsis a worthy sequel that includes a number of subtle nods for the fans of the original.
7Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Shredder’s Revengeis a perfect game to play on your phone. The beat-em-up gameplay featured brief missions teeming with action, the game isn’t too long, and while it’s meant to be played in co-op, I finished it on my own and liked it very much.
The gameplay is great; each character plays differently and has a unique set of moves. The story’s good enough to keep you going, and the game can be finished in around three to four hours, making it a perfect game for a lazy weekend afternoon.
6World of Goo Remastered
I remember playingWorld of Goowhen it originally came out in 2008. I loved the game, but my engineering skills weren’t that good, as I often created monstrosities that would collapse under their own weight. But, sometimes, I’d manage to combine living, breathing globs of goo, which emit cute sounds and react to your moves, into something that would stand the test of time and be stable enough to accomplish the objective and advance to the next level.
This is the beauty ofWorld of Goo. You most likely won’t know what you’re doing at the beginning. But through experimentation and testing different combinations, you can build a Goo tower that’s stable enough to solve various puzzles waiting for you in the game. Once you start unlocking new types of globs the challenge will increase, but never that much to transform the game from a fun physics sandbox into a frustrating puzzle with unrewarding challenges.
