Unhinged will Pioneer Netflix’s Interactive Storytelling
Unhinged could play a significant role in Netflix’s long-term strategy to transform interactive storytelling into a gaming platform. This short horror experience allows players to use their phones as controllers and directly intervene in events unfolding on screen. Netflix Games management wants this method to not remain merely an experimental idea, but to evolve into a natural entertainment format that users of all skill levels can easily participate in.
Unhinged Will Shape Netflix’s New Story Format
Unhinged, released on June 30, 2026, is a first-person horror game that can be completed in less than an hour. Starring Sadie Sink, Zoe Kravitz, and Troy Baker, the game allows users to make decisions and control character movements via their phones without needing a separate game controller. This approach aims to reach not only traditional gamers but also Netflix subscribers who may not have prior gaming experience.
Sean Krankel, Netflix Games’ head of storytelling, revealed that the possibility of adapting the Unhinged brand into a film or series is being discussed internally within the company. However, he specifically emphasized that these discussions haven’t yet resulted in a concrete project. Netflix’s priority is not immediately adapting the existing concept to different productions, but rather understanding the diverse experiences that phone-controlled stories can offer.
According to Krankel, while using the phone as a controller might initially seem like a limitation, with the right interface, it can become a significant advantage. Allowing users to participate in the story via television without connecting additional devices or learning complex controls could enable this type of content to reach a wider audience. Netflix aims to make playable stories as easy as choosing a series or movie.
The long-term goal is for subscribers to see Netflix not just as a place to watch content, but as a natural platform for playing stories. Krankel wants the phrase “playing stories” to be unfamiliar within a few years. The experience gained with Unhinged could also provide a foundation for new horror games, as well as interactive projects in different genres such as drama, mystery, and adventure.
