By Sagar V. Mankar 
On January 1, 2025, Netflix revealed that its latest mobile game addition, Squid Game: Unleashed, has achieved remarkable success across global markets. The game has secured the top position as the #1 “Free Action Game” in 57 countries and claimed the coveted #1 Top “Free Game” spot in 24 countries on the App Store charts.
Released on December 17, the game draws inspiration from the globally acclaimed Korean series and delivers an intense, competitive experience. It features a unique blend of battle royale mechanics and childhood games, supporting up to 32 players in fast-paced, competitive matches. Despite featuring cartoonish visuals, Unleashed does not shy away from graphic content.
It is also Netflix’s most ambitious gaming project to date, developed by their first-party studio Boss Fight over two years with a team of approximately 100 developers.
Netflix has made the game available to both subscribers and non-subscribers completely free of charge, without any advertisements or in-app purchases. Bill Jackson, the game’s director, explains this strategic decision: “We wanted to be part of the conversation and open this up as much as possible so that people, even non-members, can experience what this is.”
The game’s launch perfectly complements the massive success of Squid Game Season 2, which shattered records by becoming the most-viewed non-English series in its premiere week. Released on December 26, the game garnered an impressive 68 million views, claiming the No. 1 spot in 92 countries. This milestone surpassed the previous record set by Wednesday Season 1 in 2022, which recorded 50.1 million views in its opening week.
Squid Game: Unleashed is part of Netflix’s growing portfolio of interactive gaming titles. The company continues to invest in adapting its hit shows and films into interactive experiences, aiming to engage audiences beyond traditional streaming.
Upcoming projects include Bloodline: A Rebel Moon Game, inspired by Zack Snyder’s sci-fi epic. Scheduled for release in 2025, this co-op action game will allow players to reclaim their planet from oppressive forces, offering a rich multiplayer experience exclusively on Netflix.
In the past few months, Netflix appears to be evaluating its gaming strategy. This is evident from the appointment of a new gaming boss, the closure of Team Blue, the departure of key executives, the formation of a new AI team, and the exit of the external VP of gaming following the removal of two of the GTA trilogy games.
Source: Netflix on X