Season 7 of “Black Mirror” launched on Thursday, marking the introduction of a new mobile game tied to one of its episodes. The game, “Thronglets,” is developed by Netflix’s Night School Studio and serves as a companion to the episode titled “Plaything.”
In “Thronglets,” players engage with virtual yellow pets, with the objective of nurturing them to ensure their survival. Successful care leads to replication of the creatures, gradually increasing the challenge of managing their needs. The creatures in the game have capabilities such as gathering resources, developing technologies, exploring new territories, and unlocking tools and buildings to facilitate quicker progress.
Contrary to the initial impression of similarity to simple games like Tamagotchi, the creatures in “Thronglets” possess a more sinister nature. They are sentient and communicate directly with players. For instance, when a player uses an axe to chop down trees, a creature might realize that bones are more efficient tools than an axe. This situation requires the player to decide whether to sacrifice some creatures to obtain bones, thereby accelerating the process.
Netflix has been refining its gaming strategy, which was previously unfocused. The company recently announced plans to concentrate on four types of games: narrative games tied to Netflix shows, games for kids, party games, and potential mainstream hits, which include licensed tie-ins to its shows and original content.
The Black Mirror-themed game is now available to Netflix subscribers on iOS and Android devices.
While Netflix has previously launched games based on its intellectual property, “Thronglets” marks the first game directly tied to the narrative of a specific episode. This release coincides with Netflix’s ongoing efforts to revamp its gaming approach, which has previously included a mix of indie games, popular titles, and games based on its own intellectual property.
Not all game releases have been successful, resulting in the recent cancellation of “Netflix Stories,” a narrative-driven game featuring shows like “Love is Blind.” At the Game Developers Conference (GDC), Netflix’s vice president of games technology and portfolio development, Jeet Shroff, stated that the company will now focus on four main areas: narrative games, multiplayer party games, games for kids, and mainstream titles.
“Thronglets” fits into the mainstream category, highlighting a strategic move by Netflix to create a game based on one of its most popular shows. Another example of a successful mainstream release is “Squid Game: Unleashed,” which has reportedly achieved 20 million downloads according to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower.
