How to play Netflix Games on your TV

Netflix just flipped the switch on a feature that lets subscribers play video games directly through their smart TVs. After years of building a respectable mobile games library with titles like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Oxenfree, the company is finally making the leap to the big screen.

The feature turns your television into a casual console without needing any extra hardware. The coolest part is that you don’t need any additional hardware to play. Your smartphone transforms into the controller.

How to play Netflix Games on TV

Prerequisites

Before you dive in, remember this whole experience is currently a beta test. It is only available to some members in countries like the UK, Canada, and the US for now. Indian availability should follow soon.

You will know you are part of the trial if you spot a “Games” row on your Netflix home screen. You will also need a reasonably quick internet connection (Netflix suggests at least 10 Mbps) and a compatible telly or streaming device.

The good news is the list of supported gear is already long, including popular hardware from Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung, and LG.

Pairing your phone controller

Getting your phone hooked up is a quick QR code affair. Just pick a game on your TV, and a code will pop up on the screen. Point your phone’s camera at it and tap the link that appears.

This will either open the app you need or send you to the app store to download it. For Android users, it is the main Netflix app, while iPhone and iPad users will need the dedicated “Netflix Game Controller” app.

After the app is open, you might have to scan the code one more time to seal the deal. You do have to repeat this little QR dance every time you start a game, but a neat plus is that you do not even need to be signed into a Netflix account on the phone you use as a controller.

Getting started

Jumping into a game is straightforward. First, open the Netflix app on a compatible smart TV and navigate over to the brand-new “Games” tab. From there, just select one of the launch titles.

Games that you can play

It’s worth noting that Netflix Games isn’t about porting the entire mobile catalogue over. Instead, the company is launching with a curated slate of five party games designed to get groups playing together in the living room.

This includes LEGO Party!, a four-player minigame-fest that feels like a blocky Mario Party. You can also gather up to eight friends for Boggle Party to find words in a jumbled grid. There is also Pictionary: Game Night for some classic drawing chaos and Tetris Time Warp, a fresh take on the iconic puzzler. The final game is Party Crashers: Fool Your Friends, a social deduction game where you must figure out which player is bluffing.

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Launching with group-focused titles is a clever strategy for Netflix. It helps the company boost engagement and keep people locked into its ecosystem when they finish binging a show.