Netflix Cancels Six Indie Games, Including Don’t Starve Together

Netflix has been making significant strides in its gaming sector, unveiling a list of upcoming shows and games for the year. While the list included some exciting titles, it was noticeable that several anticipated games were missing. Notably, Netflix Games has decided to drop Don’t Starve Together from its mobile lineup, and it's not the only game to be removed.

There Are Six Names Missing!

The streaming giant has scrapped six previously announced games from its mobile gaming catalog. Fans eagerly awaiting Don’t Starve Together, Tales of the Shire, Compass Point: West, Lab Rat, Rotwood, and Thirsty Suitors will need to look elsewhere for these titles. Netflix is refining its gaming portfolio, and unfortunately, these games did not meet the cut. This isn't the first time Netflix has withdrawn games after initial announcements; Crashlands 2, for example, was also removed despite having started beta testing in some regions.

This move is indicative of a broader shift in Netflix’s gaming strategy, leaning more towards narrative-driven games and titles linked to their popular shows and movies, rather than indie games. A clear example of this direction is Netflix Stories, which is set to include popular shows like Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias later this year.

So, What About the Games that Netflix Promised Like Don’t Starve Together?

While these games won't be available through Netflix, most of them are still set to launch on other platforms. Don’t Starve Together, originally slated for mobile release via Netflix in June 2024 as part of a trio of Klei Entertainment games, will now be ported to mobile by Playdigious. Similarly, Lab Rat and Rotwood, the other two Klei titles, have been dropped from Netflix’s plans, though Rotwood continues in early access on Steam.

Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, a cozy life simulation, was initially planned for a fall 2024 launch but has been delayed to early 2025. The absence of the Netflix Games logo from its website further confirms its exclusion from Netflix's lineup.

Compass Point: West, developed by Next Games, which Netflix owns, was one of the earliest titles announced for the platform, making its cancellation quite unexpected. Thirsty Suitors, a stylish, story-driven RPG by Outerloop Games and published by Annapurna Interactive, was set to come to mobile via Netflix but has now been pulled.

This wraps up our update on Netflix Games' decision to scrap these titles. Meanwhile, you can explore other offerings from Netflix on the Google Play Store. For more Netflix-related news, check out the upcoming additions to Netflix Stories, including Ginny & Georgia and Sweet Magnolias later this year.