Netflix ditches five other upcoming releases alongside Don\'t Starve Together

Netflix Games is canceling five more upcoming titles, adding to the recent cancellation of Don't Starve Together. This surprising move affects several anticipated releases, including Tales of the Shire, Rotwood, and Compass Point: West. The cancellations, confirmed by What's on Netflix citing an internal source, are part of a larger restructuring of their gaming strategy. The full list of canceled games includes: Don't Starve Together, Compass Point: West, Lab Rat, Rotwood, Tales of the Shire, and Thirsty Suitors.

What's on Netflix also points to a recent Netflix investor call, suggesting a shift towards narrative-driven games that better align with their existing streaming content, such as their successful Netflix Stories anthology.

This news is disappointing, especially given my earlier prediction that Netflix's focus on promoting their streaming content would impact their broader game library. While the cancellation of titles like Don't Starve Together and Compass Point: West might be expected, the axing of Tales of the Shire, with its strong Lord of the Rings branding, is a significant blow and suggests that only Netflix-branded games are truly secure.

Given the current situation, now might be a good time to revisit our ranking of the top 10 best games currently available on Netflix Games. While the selection is shrinking, there are still some excellent titles to enjoy.