Netflix is delisting all but four of its interactive titles by Dec. 1. The streaming service kicked off its foray into interactive titles in 2017, and there was a time when Netflix was putting out a new interactive special every few months or so, but it’s been over a year since the last one dropped in 2023.
And I would know, as a person who’s been systemically going through every single one, playing them, and figuring out just how interactive they are.
It’s a pity, because the most recent title, Choose Love, finally delivered on the dating sim potential of these interactives. (Never mind that the main character had literally no reason to be flirting with other dudes when her fiancé was literally perfect for her). However, come December, Choose Love will be removed from the platform, along with my other favorite interactive titles, like Barbie: Epic Road Trip (which is surprisingly nuanced!), You vs. Wild: Out Cold (the best of the Bear Grylls-themed interactives), and Escape the Undertaker (which surprised me in how interested it made me in WWE lore). So if you ever wanted to help Barbie achieve her dreams, or if you’d like to get a slightly amnesiac Bear Grylls out of the wilderness, you should load up those titles sooner rather than later.
The only four titles that will remain are Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend, Ranveer vs. Wild with Bear Grylls, and You vs. Wild. The latter three are fine. Bandersnatch, while impressive and expansive, is a bit too dark for my tastes. I always appreciated the sheer variety the interactives had, though, yes, they did veer toward silly and lighthearted most of the time.
This doesn’t mean Netflix is doing away entirely with interactive titles tied to their existing franchises. Netflix has an official visual novel app called Netflix Stories in the line of Episode and Choices: Stories You Play, and it’s exclusively built around their shows. There are games for Outer Banks, Emily in Paris, Love is Blind, Perfect Match, Selling Sunset, and more. I haven’t tried this out yet, but the moment they make a Bridgerton one, you can bet I’ll immediately be trying to smooch Anthony Bridgerton.
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