Whether they love Peppa Pig or the Sesame Street gang, young viewers can now step into their favorite characters’ universe via a new Netflix gaming app launched today.
Aimed at children ages 8 and younger, Netflix Playground is the streaming giant’s latest app offering age-appropriate games and activities included with all Netflix memberships.
“We’re building a world where kids can not only watch their favorite stories, they can step inside them and interact with their favorite characters,” John Derderian, Netflix VP of animation series and kids and family TV, said in a press release announcing the app.
Netflix Playground is now available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., and the Philippines. The app will be rolled out more broadly via Apple’s App Store and Google Play starting April 28.
Netflix first introduced mobile gaming in 2021, linked to popular franchises like Stranger Things. But despite the streamer’s popularity, the gaming offering failed to gain traction. A year after its introduction, less than 1% of Netflix users had interacted with the streamer’s video games.
A second shot at gaming
Experts had pointed out that one of the major challenges with early adoption of Netflix Games could be linked to the games not being instantly playable, a criticism that Netflix has since addressed with the children’s app.
Once the app is downloaded via Google Play or the Apple App Store, users must log in to their existing Netflix accounts to access the app’s content library. Games are instantly playable and can be available offline.
“Netflix Playground is the perfect companion for long airplane rides or grocery trips, ensuring the only surprise is how much fun kids have along the way,” the streaming giant said in a press statement.
Familiar characters front and center
The gaming app’s debut already features an extensive content library filled with familiar characters.
On Playtime With Peppa Pig, kids can care for guinea pigs and make smoothies. On Sesame Street, users can play with flagship characters like Elmo and Cookie Monster and play games like memory cards.
The Dr. Seuss universe includes three different games so far featuring characters like Horton, from Horton Hears a Who!, Stella Sneedy from The Sneetches and Other Stories, and the fishes from One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.
“For parents, the to-do list can be never-ending. That’s why we want to make Netflix a curated space where parents know kids are entertained, engaged, and enriched,” the press statement added. “Combined with our comprehensive parental controls, this high-quality, curated environment lets kids discover at their own pace while giving parents added confidence and peace of mind.”