If you’ve been keeping your eyes peeled on your Netflix Mobile App recently, then you’ll no doubt have noticed that more and more games are becoming available through the service. With new features in existing mobile titles and games only accessible to Netflix customers, it’s becoming a hot spot for mobile gaming on both Android and iOS.
As a company, Netflix undoubtedly wants us to spend as much time thinking about their app and streaming service as possible, and with retro-inspired titles and nostalgic games like these joining the fray, it’s certainly worked on me. The games themselves aren’t played in the app; you will need to log in with your Netflix subscriber details in order to play them, bringing up your user profile details whenever you start a game.
I’ve tested out the retro offerings on the platform, of which at the time of writing there happens to be 10 (which is a satisfying number when you’re writing listicles). The following games are in no specific order, but you can find my pros and cons for each entry from playing each game as well as key information such as the game’s age rating, developer, and whether or not you can use an external controller with it in each segment.
NB: To learn how to Airplay games from Netflix to a bigger screen, follow the steps in this guide on ‘How to play iPhone emulator games on your TV‘ as the process of hooking up to your TV is the same.
Table of Contents
1. TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge
- Smooth port from the console version that plays well
- Touchscreen controls are subtle but work well
- Buttons graphics make picking moves easy
- The game isn’t very long or too challenging
- Release Date: 2022
- Developers: Playdigious
- Original Platforms: All Major Platforms
- Age Rating: 9+
- Category: Action
- External Controller Compatible: Yes
- Retro Dodo Official Review: TMNT Shredders Revenge review
How many of you can remember back to when I reviewed Shredder’s Revenge when it dropped on the Switch back in 2022? I gave it 9 out of 10, a score I still wholeheartedly stand by, and the game transfers well to mobile devices. The onscreen controls are subtle but do the job, not detracting too much from the gameplay. In fact, having specific buttons for moves such as a punch symbol button or a jump attack button gives the whole thing a more arcade feel which I really like!
Shredder has a new plan to cause havoc for the Turtles and their friends, and he’s brought along his usual motley crew to try and stop the heroes in a half-shell. You can play as Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo, as well as Splinter and April. Each character has their own weapon range, power, and speed, so there are plenty of ways to play and a reason to complete the game again five more times once you finish. It’s not the longest game in the world and I do wish the challenges element of ‘completing a level without getting hit’ and so on weren’t included, but all-in-all it’s a solid game!
2. Sonic Mania Plus
- Smooth gameplay with Sonic moving well throughout
- Instant nostalgia for side-scrolling Sega fans
- The touchscreen D-pad is very responsive
- Buttons are slightly too opaque for my liking
- A & B buttons should be a similar size
- Release Date: 2017
- Developers: Lab 42
- Original Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Windows
- Age Rating: 9+
- Category: Action
- External Controller Compatible: Yes
- Read Our Initial News Coverage: Sonic Mania Plus On Netflix
If you’ve listened to the Retro Dodo Retrospect Podcast, then you’ll no doubt know all about the team’s love for Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic Mania Plus is just one of those games that everyone needs on their phone for when on a train or waiting to pick someone up, in line for the grocery store, or just when kicking back at home when, after trawling through Netflix for hours, you can’t decide what to put on.
Most of my comments are going to be about how these games translate from home consoles to your device; how well they play is definitely one of the main questions I had when going into this review. I’m pleased to say that Sonic Mania Plus works a treat on my iPhone 15 Pro. It’s smooth, Sonic moves well, and the graphics aren’t laggy or jumpy in any way.
You can use a controller with this game, but the onscreen D-pad does the job well too. If I had some criticism, I would say that the buttons are a little too opaque. And while the A button might be predominantly the one people use, I would have made the buttons the same size to keep things looking uniform; that A button is super big!
3. Dead Cells: Netflix Edition
- Graphics look great, especially on an iPad
- Gameplay is smooth and solid throughout with responsive controls
- Analogue stick has no fixed position which doesn’t detract from gameplay
- Large file size if you’re running low on space
- Tough difficulty that could put off casual gamers
- Small buttons make you question yourself in battles
- Release Date: 2023
- Developers: Playdigious
- Original Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox, Windows, Linux, macOS
- Age Rating: 12+
- Category: Action
- External Controller Compatible: Yes
At 2.07GB, Dead Cells: Netflix Edition has a pretty hefty file size, especially if you’re packing a lot of photos and apps on your phone already. But with great file size comes great responsibility… or something along those lines, and luckily the game ports across very well. The graphics look perfect on my iPhone and the headless hero himself moves smoothly throughout. I’ve tested while playing for around half an hour and have not noticed anything untoward, so I’m calling that a win. Make the most of a new storyline, new monsters and weapons, and tonnes more features specifically for the Netflix crowd!
Dead Cells instantly made our list of Indie games on the Nintendo Switch that you need to play, scoring second right under Hollow Knight. It’s a RogueVania game (elements of Castlevania and Metroid in a side-scrolling RPG) with fantasy elements all the way through. You play as a reanimated headless corpse who can’t technically die, but the body you inhabit can get desecrated. And with no checkpoints, failure means having to restart all over again, though the game will change every time you respawn.
The control system on the iPhone puts the left analogue stick wherever your left thumb sits. This is good for keeping the screen free and allowing you to play comfortably wherever your thumb feels most natural, but it takes a bit of getting used to. And as there isn’t the choice of using multiple buttons, all of the actions are on screen in small touchscreen boxes. I’m going to say it, it’s a little cumbersome at times when you’re battling and doesn’t feel as natural as using a controller. Still, you can hook up a controller to combat this which is undoubtedly my preferred way of playing.
4. Sonic Prime Dash
- Continous running action leaves no need for an on-screen D-pad
- Graphics reminiscent of Sonic Adventure 2 Battle
- New features for Sonic Prime fans
- Doesn’t keep you gripped for too long
- Release Date: 2023
- Developers: SEGA HARDlight
- Original Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Windows, Arcade
- Age Rating: 9+
- Category: Arcade
- External Controller Compatible: No
If you’ve spent a lot of time watching Sonic Prime on Netflix, then this updated version of Sonic Dash is going to be right up your street. While it doesn’t boast the same retro feels as Sonic Mania Plus, it does still feature everyone’s favourite blue blur in action that feels a lot more like Sonic Adventure 2 Battle crossed with the Shadow the Hedgehog game.
Of course, as this is a ‘Runner’ title where the character (in this case the fastest runner of all time) continually moves forward, there isn’t the need for a D-pad on the screen. All moves are pulled off by carrying out gestures on the screen, and added to the fact that the game Is played vertically as opposed to horizontally, there’s no need to use an external controller.
Like Mario Kart Tour, this is a game that you can play when you’re at a loose end. Still, while it’s fun for the first few minutes, I tend to get bored quite quickly with it. Die-hard Sonic fans will love every second of it, but for me, there’s not enough depth or change in tactics to keep me fully engaged for hours.
5. World Of Goo Remastered
- Perfect puzzler for keeping your brain active
- Easy to pick up and put down
- Remastered graphics look amazing
- Slightly repetitive, but not if you love puzzles
- Release Date: 2008
- Developers: 2D Boy
- Original Platforms: Wii, Windows, macOS
- Age Rating: 4+
- Category: Puzzle
- External Controller Compatible: No
Ah, World of Goo; one of my favorite puzzlers on the Wii becoming available through Netflix was a dream come true. When I’m writing, I sometimes have periods where I need to do something completely different to reset my brain, and World of Goo stimulates my little grey cells enough to give me the inspiration I need, and the remastered graphics look perfect on the iPhone.
I love the ingenuity of this game; using blobs to build structures to overcome gaps and reach new heights takes a bit of thinking, but that’s all part of the fun. You can play a few rounds while having your breakfast and then comfortably put it away without worrying about finding a save point or getting stressed about a boss that you can’t beat.
Played in landscape mode, there’s no D-pad or buttons with users relying on their fingers to drag and drop pieces of goo to create structures. All the goo you’ll need to complete the task is on the screen, so the less you use, the better you are at goo-based architectural brilliance.
6. GTA: Vice City – The Definitive Edition
- Smooth gameplay with well-thought-out controls
- Driving felt easy
- Graphics look great on iPhone and on TV via Airplay
- Large app size which also needs space for additional content
- Release Date: 2021
- Developers: Rockstar Games
- Original Platforms: PS2, Windows, Xbox
- Age Rating: 17+
- Category: Action
- External Controller Compatible: Yes
I know the idea of getting GTA on your phone through your Netflix subscription might seem crazy, but the three GTA games on there (all billed as ‘The Definitive Editions’) do work really well (for the most part, more on that soon).
The app sizes for these three games are pretty hefty; Vice City is 2.8GB on its own and requires another 1.2GB of additional content to download before you play. Still, it’s not as much as San Andreas as you’re about to find out. The additional content downloaded pretty quick and the game was incredibly smooth while playing. The controls for all three GTA games are the same; a joystick that appears when your left thumb touches the screen, camera angles that move with a swipe of your right thumb, and action buttons for shooting, punching, running, and getting into cars once you approach them.
Driving was a doddle too; I could choose from a slider technique, digital, or analogue controls, as well as action buttons for gas and braking. I chose the slider as it felt the easiest option, though it still only took me 2 minutes to get wasted by blowing myself up. Ah, how I’ve missed GTA!
7. GTA: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition
- Great graphics and smooth cutscenes
- 2.85GB file size with a further 6GB of additional files to download
- Laggy gameplay
- Crashed a couple of times while playing
- Release Date: 2023
- Developers: Rockstar Games, Video Games Deluxe
- Original Platforms: PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360
- Age Rating: 17+
- Category: Action
- External Controller Compatible: Yes
San Andreas is a massive game and one that, in my opinion, is too big to be on your phone. For starters, it’s 2.85GB to just download the app to your phone, and then there’s an additional 6GB of files to download before you even get into the gameplay. It took me two attempts to download because it crashed the first time, and then when I finally got the game going, it crashed during the first cutscene and I had to load it all up again.
It took 12 minutes for that additional content to download which, while not a long time to wait, is annoying if you want to just download and get gaming instantly. The gameplay was laggy at times too, jumping occasionally as I was running down the street. I’m using an iPhone 15 Pro with the latest operating software too, so it’s not like I’m on an old device with waning power.
Despite these problems, the graphics are wild. When screen sharing it via Airplay (putting the lag aside) it looks incredible, and when the game isn’t crashing, the cutscenes look amazing. If you’re determined to play San Andreas on your phone rather than using an emulator on your laptop, then give it a go – just bear in mind you will need some patience.
8. GTA III – The Definitive Edition
- My favourite of the three GTA games to play on mobile
- Smaller file size than the other two and additional content downloaded quickly
- Great graphics with smooth gameplay
- Battery will drain faster on your phone as it’s a big game (same for the other GTA games too).
- Release Date: 2023
- Developers: Rockstar Games, Video Games Deluxe
- Original Platforms: PS2, Windows, Xbox
- Age Rating: 17+
- Category: Action
- External Controller Compatible: Yes
Compared to San Andreas, GTA III loaded very quickly. Sure, the file size is quite big already at 1.73GB, but compared to the 6GB of extra content I had to wait 12 minutes to download on San Andreas, this additional content loading bar moved so quickly that it had already finished by the time I had put my cup of tea down.
The graphics are super smooth just like Vice City and the analogue stick moves with your left thumb as with the previous games. The action buttons mentioned in the other two games are still in effect here too and work very well. This was my favourite of the three GTA games on Netflix, especially while using Airplay on my TV too because it just seemed to flow the best. That’s not just because I loved this game on the PS2 either; it was easy to get into cars and follow the map on my phone and just felt like it ran like a well-oiled machine. Plus it’s an absolute classic and doesn’t take up as much room as the other two titles – a no-brainer if you ask me!
9. TRANSFORMERS Forged To Fight
- Fast-paced gameplay with great characters
- Great range of attacks
- Graphics take you right into the Transformers universe
- Navigating the upgrade system can be quite tricky
- Release Date: 2017
- Developers: Kabam
- Original Platforms: iOS, Android
- Age Rating: 12+
- Category: Action
- External Controller Compatible: No
For someone like me who likes games like Killer Instinct so much, TRANSFORMERS Forged To Fight is such an incredible title to get lost in. It’s a terrific fighting game where players use both Autobots and Decepticons turned allies to fight against enemies as they progress through a map. Use light and heavy attacks, fire guns from far away, transform for special attacks, and strafe just like in Tekken as you beat your opponent into submission.
Unlocking Transformers as you move through the game is awesome, and the arcade nature of the game is something that really sits well with me. Still, there are a lot of pop up instructions and upgrade sequences like in Disney Speedstorm, requirements that, once the in-game prompts disappear and leave you to fend for yourself, can get a little confusing to navigate. Still, if you press enough buttons you eventually get back to the fighting, and that bit is utter perfection!
10. Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon
- Gameplay corrects itself for both vertical and horizontal phone orientation
- Choice of slide controls or D-pad
- Gameplay is incredibly samey
- Release Date: 2021
- Developers: Yacht Club Games
- Original Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS4, macOS, Windows
- Age Rating: 9+
- Category: Puzzle
- External Controller Compatible: Yes
I quite like Shovel Knight’s console games, but this puzzler wasn’t really for me. I can see its merits, however, especially if you’re a fan of games like Tetris, Candy Crush, or the older puzzle games that used to appear on Sky TV like Beehive Bedlam.
Every time Shovel Knight moves, blocks and enemies move one step closer toward him. You have to rack up combos with your shovel as you progress through the game, either by sliding your finger or choosing the onscreen D-pad which looks very nice and takes up the right amount of screen space.
One thing I did like about this game is that it corrects itself for both vertical and horizontal gameplay, allowing you to play in your preferred orientation. For me, however, the gameplay was all a little samey and I got bored pretty quickly. Then again, I’m not a massive fan of Sodoku for that same reason, so if you love getting stuck into puzzles that require all of your brain power, then you may well enjoy it more than I did!
