Netflix wants your living room to be the arcade now. Their new party game turns three of the biggest shows on the platform into a minigolf course - and it's already live.
## What dropped Netflix Minigolf launched July 28, built by Netflix-owned studio Next Games. It's 60-plus levels across three worlds - Stranger Things, Squid Game and Bridgerton - playing like minigolf smashed together with pinball.

No console, no controller. You boot it on the TV, scan a QR code, and up to four people use their phones to putt. There's a 'Pranks' mechanic - grab them on each hole, then unleash them on an opponent's turn - so the lowest score doesn't always win. It's free for all subscribers, and it's reported in the Variety gaming roundup.
## Why it matters Squid Game is one of the biggest pieces of pop culture on the planet, and it's a Korean show that went global - that crossover reach is the whole story. Netflix is finally leaning on its own IP for games instead of random licenses, and a couch party game with no extra hardware is the smartest on-ramp they've got. This is a Friday-night group activity, not a hardcore grind.
## The read The phone-as-controller setup is the real unlock - zero barrier, everybody already has the hardware in their pocket. Netflix has fumbled its gaming push before, but a free, dead-simple party game built on shows people already love is exactly the lane that could stick. Low stakes, high replay.
## The move Open Netflix Games on your TV, scan in, get the group involved. Lean on the Pranks - controlled chaos is a legit strategy here.
## Sources - What's on Netflix - Stranger Things, Squid Game, and Bridgerton Crossover in New Netflix Minigolf Game (Jul 16, 2026): https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/netflix-minigolf-party-game-squid-game-stranger-things-bridgerton/ - Variety - Gaming News Roundup, Week of July 27 (2026): https://variety.com/2026/gaming/news/gaming-news-roundup-week-of-july-27-1236822833/
