Netflix Axes Six Indie Games, Including 'Don't Starve Together'

Netflix recently announced its upcoming slate of shows and games, but some notable absences have caught our attention. Six previously announced mobile games have been quietly dropped from the Netflix Games lineup. This includes titles like Don't Starve Together, Tales of the Shire, Compass Point: West, Lab Rat, Rotwood, and Thirsty Suitors.

This isn't the first time Netflix has removed games after initial announcements; Crashlands 2 suffered a similar fate. This suggests a shift in Netflix's gaming strategy, moving towards narrative-driven games and titles based on their own popular shows and movies, rather than a broader range of indie titles. The launch of Netflix Stories, featuring adaptations of shows like Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias, further supports this observation.

What Happened to the Promised Games?

While disappointing for fans, most of the cancelled Netflix Games titles are still finding their way to market via other avenues. Don't Starve Together, initially slated for a Netflix mobile debut, is now launching on mobile through Playdigious. Lab Rat and Rotwood (another two Klei Entertainment titles) have been removed from Netflix’s plans, but Rotwood remains available in early access on Steam.

Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, a life sim originally scheduled for Fall 2024, has been delayed to early 2025 and has removed the Netflix Games logo from its website, confirming its absence from the Netflix platform. Compass Point: West, developed by Netflix-owned Next Games, is another surprising cancellation, given its early announcement for the platform. Finally, Thirsty Suitors, a stylish RPG, will launch on Steam and consoles but will not be coming to mobile via Netflix.

While these games won't be on Netflix Games, you can still explore their other offerings on the Google Play Store. For more Netflix news, check out our article on Netflix Stories adding Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias later this year.