Season 7 of the science-fiction anthology series “Black Mirror” debuted Thursday, accompanied by the unveiling of a new mobile game directly tied to one of its episodes. The game, entitled “Thronglets,” was developed by Netflix’s in-house studio, Night School Studio, and complements the narrative of an episode titled “Plaything.”
“Thronglets” draws players into the unusual task of nurturing peculiar virtual creatures—small yellow pets whose survival and well-being rest entirely in players’ hands. Successfully maintaining these pets sees them rapidly multiply, increasing the complexity of the management tasks exponentially. These digital creatures are capable of resource gathering, technological advancement, exploration, and constructing buildings and tools, each step helping the player navigate faster progression.
Though reminiscent at first of classic, innocuous digital pet games like Tamagotchi, “Thronglets” conveys the darker, deeply unsettling thematic undercurrent characteristic of “Black Mirror.” The disturbing element becomes clear as players discover the pets are sentient and capable of communicating directly with their caretakers—a haunting detail shaping the gameplay profoundly. For instance, while players initially chop trees with an axe, their creatures soon suggest that bones make a far more effective tool—prompting challenging moral decisions like choosing to sacrifice creatures for their bones to accelerate progression.
The release of “Thronglets” marks a subtle yet significant shift in Netflix’s gaming strategy, which has previously been criticized for lacking clear direction. Recently, the streaming giant refined its vision, focusing on four distinct gaming categories: narrative-driven games closely connected to Netflix original shows, titles aimed at younger audiences, party-style multiplayer games, and mainstream games with potential mass appeal—either original IP or tied to established brands.
This newest offering represents Netflix’s first venture into tying a mobile game explicitly into the narrative of an individual TV episode. “Thronglets” is available exclusively to Netflix subscribers on iOS and Android devices, blending unique gameplay with narrative immersion in a manner sure to resonate with the show’s audience.
Netflix’s gaming initiative previously launched a mixed roster, including independently produced games, popular established properties, and licensed games connected to original content. Not all of these titles achieved successful engagement; notably, the recent cancellation of “Netflix Stories,” a narrative-focused gaming experience tied directly to Netflix reality shows such as “Love is Blind,” has prompted re-evaluation and realignment of strategy.
At the recent Game Developers Conference, Jeet Shroff, Netflix’s vice president of games technology and portfolio development, underscored the company’s refined focus on narrative experiences, multiplayer party games, kids’ titles, and mainstream gaming offerings. “Thronglets,” categorized clearly within the mainstream segment, embodies the fresh clarity of this strategic pivot.
With this combination of popular narrative IP and intricate, ethically charged gameplay mechanics, Netflix aims to capture a broader gaming audience. Success stories such as “Squid Game: Unleashed,” which Sensor Tower reports has surpassed 20 million downloads, reflect the potential growth trajectory that Netflix envisions for its gaming division moving forward.
