I tried Netflix’s secret new free app & there’s list of perks for members too

NETFLIX is handing out a massive upgrade to subscribers (and non-subscribers) that’ll keep the entire family entertained.

And there are extra treats if you’re a fan of top franchises like Squid Game, Stranger Things, and smash-hit animation K-Pop Demon Hunters.

Firstly, the TV giant is issuing brand new free video games as part of its standard subscription.

That includes multiplayer party games for your TV (using your phone as a controller), and new mobile games including Rockstar hit Red Dead Redemption.

And secondly, there’s a new app packed with Netflix games that isn’t paywalled, so you won’t need a subscription to enjoy it. (Read on for The Sun tech editor Sean Keach’s secret early look at the app).

It brings the company’s total game releases to about 100 over the last four years.

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Netflix made the big reveal at a special event attended by The Sun at the streamer’s Next Game Studios in Helsinki, Finland.

“We’re not here to compete with consoles,” said Alain Tascan, Netflix’s President of Games, speaking during the event.

He said the company was focused on developing a “completely new way to play games”, and added: “This is just the beginning.”

For the party games, you’ll simply play using Netflix’s app on Android – or the company’s N-Controller app on iPhone.

Players can then log onto the game and use their phones as controllers to join in.

New titles out now include wordy hit Boggle Party, tricksy Party Crashers: Fool Your Friends, and classic party title Pictionary: Game Night.

“Starting today, you can play games on your TV, using your phone as a controller,” Alain said.

“No setup needed, it’s as easy as streaming your favourite shows.

“You can now go from watching K-Pop Demon Hunters to playing Pictionary: Game Night without ever leaving Netflix.”

There’s also a version of retro classic Tetris called Tetris Time Warp.

And Netflix also plans to release a special murder mystery style title called Dead Man’s Party: A Knives Out Game, inspired by the Knives Out movie franchise.

“World-famous detective Benoit Blanc is in the house to solve another murder,” Netflix explained.

“This time? It’s at your house and everyone’s a suspect in this social party game where you and your crew star in your own Knives Out mystery.

“It’s up to you to find out what happened and convince everyone you’re not the killer.

“Or, if you are, keeping Blanc off your tail and influencing the vote so you don’t get outed.”

Netflix is also handing out some more mobile games as part of its subscription.

Several big-brand games are already available including LEGO DUPLO World, Barbie Colour Creations, and Toca Boca Hair Salon 4.

Kids will enjoy the upcoming release of PAW Patrol Academy, which is “coming soon”.

TESTING NETFLIX’S NEW GAMES

The Sun’s tech editor Sean Keach secretly tried Netflix’s new games out at the Next Games Studio in Helsinki, Finland…

Boggle Party

I love words. Probably explains my job. Anyway, Boggle is right up my street.

You’re given a grid of letters and you have to compete to find as many words as possible before the time runs out. It’s like a word search speed run.

Making things more exciting is a prank feature that lets you mess with your fellow players, and a button that lets you call out suspicious words.

It’s also family friendly, so don’t worry about anything dodgy appearing on-screen.

Party Crashers: Fool Your Friends

This game is all about fooling your family or pals by pretending you’re in their group.

They’ll be in on a secret, and you won’t know it – but you have to make out like you do.

It requires cunning and the ability to lie well.

I was rubbish at it, but I still thought it was good fun.

Pictionary: Game Night

Pictionary hardly needs any introduction, given how much a staple of game nights it already is.

It works very well as a TV party game, letting you sketch out words with your phone’s touchscreen – hopefully allowing your comrades to make a good guess at what you’ve drawn.

You can choose from varying levels of word difficulty. I drew a brilliant (and well-guessed) mattress, but I passed on the option to sketch “imagination”.

Netflix Puzzled

This isn’t a specific game but an entire app stuffed with daily puzzles.

And it wraps in big-brand games.

I had a go with a Stranger Things puzzle that included special behind-the-scenes clips from the cast upon completion.

And I really enjoyed a jigsaw-style K-Pop Demon Hunters puzzle that got increasingly difficult – and brilliantly showcases the animated movie’s stunning visuals.

I’m not alone in liking the movie either. Earlier this year, Netflix revealed that it was the company’s most-watched film of all time. Impressive!

Picture Credit: Sean Keach

And that’ll also be joined by a special release of WWE 2K25: Netflix Edition, also “coming soon”.

But perhaps the blockbuster mobile release for Netflix is the release of the original Red Dead Redemption for mobile.

The title, which doesn’t yet have a release date, reimagines Rockstar’s GTA-style Wild West classic for your smartphone, with a new interface and control system.

It’s the first time that the game has ever been made available on smartphones.

And if you’re in the USA, you’ll also be able to play Best Guess Live, which is like an interactive quiz.

“Best Guess is a daily game show that fits in your pocket,” Netflix said.

“Where you compete in real-time against the rest of America for your share of thousands of dollars in real money.

“Hosted by Hunter March and Howie Mandell, you’ll get five clues, 20 seconds each, but only one answer each round.

“Answer wrong and you’re out for the rest of that puzzle.”

And on top of that, Netflix is also releasing a brand new app called Netflix Puzzled.

This is packed with daily challenges that include jigsaw-style puzzles and classic games like Sudoku.

Netflix is also including puzzles inspired by its biggest franchises including Stranger Things, Squid Game, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and Emily In Paris.

It comes just weeks after Amazon revealed its own major expansion of its gaming line-up.

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Amazon Prime members now get access more than 50 games as party of their subscription, including a selection of 25 GameNight titles.

And it follows a major revamp of Netflix’s user interface, which includes a prominent Games tab on the main screen.