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Netflix’s games strategy might be a mess, but Oxenfree studio’s ingenious new chiller-thriller shows it has a secret weapon
Netflix has released Unhinged, a first-person horror game from Oxenfree developer Night School Studio, which uses players' own smartphones as an in-game prop to blur the line between the fictional story and reality. Although Netflix's broader video game strategy has often appeared unfocused, this title demonstrates a genuine creative strength: cleverly integrating mobile devices into gameplay to heighten immersion, echoing similar fourth-wall-breaking tricks seen in games like No More Heroes.
In Unhinged, players scan a QR code to link their real phone to that of protagonist Ava, receiving in-character calls and texts from characters such as her anxious friend Claire, an elderly neighbour and a suspicious superintendent, all while navigating a darkened apartment during a storm and power cut using their phone's gyroscope as a control method. The story, centred on a woman isolated during a blackout who becomes aware she is being watched, escalates from atmospheric dread into a fast-paced thriller, with the game praised for its economical world-building and effective use of technology to enhance tension.
In short
- Netflix released Unhinged, a horror game from Oxenfree studio Night School.
- The game uses players' real phones as an in-game prop.
- It shows a creative strength despite Netflix's messy gaming strategy overall.
Explained simply
Netflix has been developing a video games business as it seeks to expand beyond streaming films and television, but its efforts have often lacked a clear overall direction. The company is now, however, producing titles that demonstrate genuine creative ambition, as evidenced by its new horror game Unhinged from developer Night School Studio.
Unhinged is designed to bridge the gap between a fictional story and the player's real world. Players link their own smartphone to the game using a QR code, allowing in-game characters to send messages and make calls directly to their actual phone. The game itself involves navigating a darkened apartment during a power cut whilst the protagonist realises she is being watched, building from atmospheric tension into a fast-paced thriller.
The game's central innovation matters because it demonstrates how thoughtfully designed technology can enhance storytelling rather than detract from it. By integrating players' real phones into the narrative, Unhinged creates an experience that blurs the boundary between fiction and reality, showing the potential of Netflix's gaming strategy.
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