Picture Credits: Netflix / Getty Images
If you caught that cryptic, CCTV-style teaser over the weekend and were wildly speculating about what it could be, you’d no doubt be coming up short as we did. Thankfully, Netflix Games has officially pulled back the curtain on Unhinged, a brand-new interactive horror experience dropping on Netflix globally this June on the date we pulled from the cryptic teaser.
Developed by Night School Studio, Netflix’s acclaimed in-house team behind the Oxenfree series and Black Mirror: Thronglets, Unhinged is being billed as an immersive thriller that plays out in roughly the same amount of time it takes to binge a single episode of television. From what we’ve seen, this is a mix of the lost PT horror demo and Outlast, mixed in with the DNA of the studio, which has made its name on its ability to create creepy atmospheres.
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming release of Unhinged on Netflix, beginning with the first look trailer:
What is the plot of Unhinged?
Unhinged traps players in a dark, claustrophobic scenario: a Category 5 hurricane has knocked out the power to your apartment building, and you quickly realize you aren’t alone in the dark.
Who is in the voice cast for Unhinged?
Netflix has secured a massive, triple-A voice cast for the new title, including:
- Zoë Kravitz (The Batman) stars as Ava, the protagonist trapped in her sanctuary-turned-prison.
- Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) voices Claire, Ava’s best friend who lives across the street and serves as her primary link to the outside world.
- Troy Baker (The Last of Us) plays Ben, the building’s superintendent.
In addition to the voice talent, Netflix and Night School Studio have tapped award-winning composer Jason Hill (Netflix’s Mindhunter, Gone Girl) for the score. He is joined by legendary sound designer Ren Klyce.
Turning Your Phone into a Controller
We’ve seen Netflix testing the waters with using smartphones as controllers for their cloud-based TV games recently, but Unhinged takes that integration a step further into true mixed-media immersion.
Players will launch the game on their TV via the Netflix app and scan a QR code to link their smartphone. From there, your phone becomes a 1:1 motion controller for Ava’s flashlight, tracking your real-world hand movements to illuminate the shadows on your screen.
The audio design pushes the immersion even further. While the environmental sound effects boom through your television speakers, any texts or phone calls Ava receives from Claire or Ben will actually cause your real-world smartphone to vibrate, ring, and play the dialogue directly through the device in your hand akin to how the PS5 controller works.
How does the gameplay work?
Unhinged will offer two ways to play:
- Story Mode: Designed for a pure narrative experience. There are no timers, and you cannot die, allowing you to focus entirely on the mystery.
- Standard Mode: A reflex-driven survival experience. High-stakes moments feature a shrinking timer bar on the screen, forcing you to frantically scan the room with your phone to find interactive objects. If the clock runs out, you die (though you will respawn at a recent checkpoint rather than facing a total game over).
Unhinged launches globally on Netflix Games on June 30th.
Are you excited to play Unhinged on Netflix? Let us know in the comments down below!
