Netflix’s desire to be a one-stop shop for all types of visual media has finally produced a strong contender for the platform’s attempt in the interactive entertainment sphere with the release of Unhinged. While it’s more of an intense linear point-and-click horror game rather than a layered survival horror experience in the vein of the Resident Evil franchise, the short game feels like a step in the right direction for Netflix’s “Games” department.
Like many iconic horror films, Unhinged’s protagonist is a young woman who must escape the clutches of a mentally deranged killer while being trapped in her apartment building. It’s a simple enough premise for a horror film, but the method that Netflix uses to shift the premise into an interactive experience opens the door for some exciting prospects for the future of interactive releases on streaming platforms.
Unlike many popular horror games, Unhinged does not feature traditional combat or item management; instead, it relies on the player to point and click on specific objects or parts of its dreary environment to progress the plot. Players control the game’s pointer and flashlight with their own real-world smartphone, pointing it at the television screen, similar to a light gun from the Time Crisis games. This method controls surprisingly well and even integrates story beats with characters calling and texting the protagonists throughout the particularly tense and stormy night.
Players will take control of Ava, a young woman (voiced by Zoe Kravitz) who lives in her own apartment, across the street from her best friend Claire (voiced by Sadie Sink). Despite local warnings to evacuate the area for a brutal hurricane, the girls decide to stick it out until their block’s power goes out, inspiring the pair to pack up and find a hotel out of the storm. Unfortunately, a mysterious killer voiced by Troy Baker has other plans.
“It doesn’t take too long for Unhinged’s intensity to ramp up or to complete the whole experience…”
It doesn’t take too long for Unhinged’s intensity to ramp up or to complete the whole experience, which can be done in around an hour. During that time, Ava will need to hunt for tools and methods of escaping her apartment complex. The game includes several situations where players will need to act quickly in order to survive, but those who want to avoid that stress can freely switch off the timed segments in Unhinged’s accessibility options.
Without spoiling too much about the game’s plot, Ava must make her way through multiple levels of her apartment building, all while being pursued by the killer. Unfortunately, the killer only arrives during linear, scripted scenes that do not provide alternative forms of progression, which could have been a fun way to include multiple endings. Because of this, there are few reasons to replay Unhinged after completing its intense final act.
Zoe Kravitz does a great job as Ava, providing a performance that demonstrates all ranges of distress, while Sadie Sink’s Claire interacts with Ava through cell phone calls, alerting her friend of the killer’s close proximity. Neither role feels phoned in, with all actors, including Troy Baker’s disturbed villain, feeling more than comfortable in the horror genre.
Several memorable gross-out moments will linger in players’ memories long after they complete Unhinged’s short but sweet horror ride. However, it’s highly recommended to try the Netflix game on a strong internet connection, because without it, the game’s performance and sound can suffer from stutter, making it difficult to feel immersed in Ava’s deadly night. Further updates may cure that instability, but during the review period, playing the game on my Smart TV was a less smooth experience than playing Unhinged through my PC’s browser.
Despite the lack of gameplay options and the ability to explore multiple narrative outcomes, Unhinged is a worthy and successful experiment for Netflix’s interactive entertainment department for several different reasons. Solid performances, effective writing, innovative controls, and accessibility options for those who fear their reaction times won’t be up to par all help make Unhinged one of the first original Netflix games worthy of subscribers’ time. Hopefully, it can inspire more innovative interactive experiments for streaming platforms.
