Netflix’s Unhinged
Netflix
Unhinged, Netflix’s latest endeavor in the gaming world, could be its biggest hit in 2026 outside of its TV and film offerings. The immersive game puts players in the shoes of Ava (Zoë Kravitz), a woman whose bad night stuck in a Category 5 hurricane turns into a nightmare when she realizes she’s trapped in her apartment building with a killer (Troy Baker) dogging her steps and her best friend Claire (Sadie Sink) as her only lifeline.
The premise tips right into the gravitational pull of action-driven thrillers and horror narratives that TV viewers trend toward. But it’s not a time suck. Coming in at 30-40 minutes of gameplay, subscribers will be in and out of the tale. This makes it perfect for casual gamers with time to spare and non-gaming genre fans who are interested in the story but don’t want to have to make a big commitment.
Netflix launched its gaming category back in 2021, but Unhinged feels like its first major swing at having a game be a draw for the platform and not a convenient add-on that subscribers could take or leave. While certainly no one is coming to Netflix for the games, this horror title has the potential to bring the category sustained buzz and more engagement. I know I’m keen to play it when it drops Tuesday, June 30 and I’ve never had an urge to check out the gaming section of the platform.
How To Play ‘Unhinged’ On Netflix
You’ll need a smart TV (or a compatible laptop) and a smart phone to access Unhinged. Set-up is relatively simple, just follow these steps.
- Go to Netflix games.
- Select Unhinged on the Netflix Games row.
- Scan the QR code on the screen to link your smartphone to make it your controller.
The game, designed by Night School Studios, uses your phone to move Ava’s hands. Its first-person gameplay lets you pick up items, engage with her environment, and direct her flashlight as she fights to survive this terrible night.
Play Puzzles & Games on Forbes
Your phone will also act as Ava’s phone, ringing when she receives a call, vibrating when she gets a text, and playing audio through its speakers like hers does. However, the sound effects that create the unsettling atmosphere she’s in will play through your TV or compatible laptop.
Difficulty With ‘Unhinged’ Depends On The Game Mode
Netflix considered two types of players for Unhinged. First, there’s the narrative lovers who’d prefer Story Mode, which allows for total immersion without time constraints. In this mode players can’t die, they just work their way through the story until they reach its conclusion.
Playing for the story takes into account non-gamers who’ve never engaged with an interactive format or basic explorative tasks within a setting that requires the player to make in-game decisions through movement.
Then there’s Standard Mode for players that want the story and a challenge. Immersion comes with a timer in this version of the game, playing into the high stakes of the situation Ava has been forced to navigate.
Like in Story Mode, you’ll need to find the interactive object she needs to get to the next part of the tale, but you’ll have to do so quickly. Once time runs out, she’ll die at the hands of the killer and the game will restart at its last checkpoint.
‘Unhinged’ Is Not For Kids
While Netflix does have kid-friendly games that children and the whole family can enjoy, Unhinged is not one of them. Besides the terrifying premise of being chased by a killer, the game contains strong language and, per Polygon’s review, “gnarly body horror” akin to Resident Evil. Expect blood and violence.
Get a look at Unhinged in the trailer below:
Follow Sabrina Reed on Forbes for more coverage of what’s airing on television, like her weekly recaps/analysis of The Vampire Lestat, and explainers on what’s happening in the entertainment industry that’s impacting consumers.
Leave a comment