(Credit: Ustwo Games)
Some of the best mobile games on Netflix are being removed from the streaming service, with 22 titles set to leave by the middle of next month.
Spotted by What’s On Netflix, the 22 titles are mostly branded tie-in titles to non-Netflix properties. Some are from other platforms, and some are the only way to play the game on mobile currently. What’s On Netflix estimates these games make up around 20% of the total playable titles on the streaming service.
Most games are being removed on July 14, but one of the most popular ports is set to leave even earlier, on July 1. That’s popular roguelike Hades, which first became popular on PC and Nintendo Switch before being released on iPhone and iPad exclusively through Netflix. The game has never been released on Android.
Alongside Hades on iOS, these are the 21 other titles leaving in July:
- Battleship
- Braid, Anniversary Edition
- Carmen Sandiego
- CoComelon: Play with JJ
- Death’s Door
- Diner Out: Merge Cafe
- Dumb Ways to Die
- Ghost Detective
- Katana ZERO
- LEGO Legacy: Heroes Unboxed
- Ludo King
- Monument Valley
- Monument Valley 2
- Monument Valley 3
- Rainbow Six: SMOL
- Raji: An Ancient Epic
- SpongeBob: Bubble Pop F.U.N.
- TED Tumblewords
- The Case of the Golden Idol
- The Rise of the Golden Idol
- Vineyard Valley
Strangely, some of these games only recently debuted on the platform. Both Carmen Sandiego and Monument Valley 3 are still visible in the Recently Released section on the Netflix app. Carmen Sandiego arrived in late January and debuted through Netflix's subscription on both Android and iOS. Gameloft developed the game, which then came to consoles in March.
A spokesperson for Gameloft told PCMag, "Carmen Sandiego remains available on Steam, Epic Game Store, Microsoft Store, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, with regular content updates. We have nothing to share regarding the Android and iOS versions for the moment."
Monument Valley 3 was originally exclusive to Netflix, but the game's publisher, Ustwo Games, recently confirmed it would also come to consoles on July 22. It's unclear if the game will see a mobile release outside of Netflix. PCMag has asked Ustwo Games for clarification.
Netflix continues to rework its gaming division. The company has cancelled multiple projects, including mobile releases for Don’t Starve Together and Tales of the Shire. In an interview with The Verge in March, the president of Netflix's gaming division said it planned to "readjust and focus on fewer areas with more intention.” The titles leaving the service appear to be part of that process.
There are more games coming from Netflix, including a wrestling mobile game called WWE 2K set for release later this year. Other titles include a cozy MMO called Spirit Crossing, coming later this year, and a new puzzle game called Netflix Puzzled. This appears to be a competitor to the New York Times puzzle app with crosswords, Sudoku, and more.