Search the App Store for "netflix game controller" and the first result is Netflix's. The next few aren't. On Nov 8, 2026, four apps with controller-style names came from sellers other than Netflix:
| App | Seller | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| N Controller, Game Remote App | Farah Whitaker | 4.5 stars (141 ratings) |
| Ntflx Controller: Game Control | XAVREK MORNIK | 4.5 stars (26 ratings) |
| N Controller, Gamepad for TV | HUIS KIEN | 4.7 stars (148 ratings) |
| TV Game Controller | Pixel Kraft Studios | No ratings |
Netflix's own app is listed as Netflix, Inc. and shows 4.7 stars (252K ratings), and Apple's US Top Free chart ranked it #7 that day. Netflix also publishes "Netflix Playground: Kids Games", a different app under the same seller.
Do you need it?
Only on iPhone or iPad. Netflix's help page:
| Device | Requirement |
|---|---|
| iPhone or iPad | iOS/iPadOS 17 or later, and the Netflix Game Controller app. If it isn't installed, you're asked to install it when you scan the QR code. |
| Android | The main Netflix app. There's no separate controller app. |
The App Store listing says iOS 18.0 or later (current version 3.30, dated Nov 2, 2026), so the two Netflix pages disagree on the minimum version.
How it works
You pair by scanning a QR code on the TV or computer screen. On a TV, each player needs their own phone or tablet; on a computer, a keyboard and mouse also work. Physical gamepads aren't supported. The controller phone doesn't need to be signed in to a Netflix account, and Netflix says no account data is shared from it.
The controller can drop when your phone screen turns off. Turning the screen back on usually reconnects it, and sometimes you have to scan again. Netflix also suggests turning off a VPN, and switching between Wi-Fi and cellular. Its help page adds that gameplay information from a controller phone is linked to the account running the game on the TV.
Games
Netflix describes games on TV and at netflix.com as a beta, not available in every country or on every device. The United States is on its country list. Games are included with a membership, with no ads, fees or in-app purchases. If a game has no "Play Game" button, Netflix says it may be a mobile-only game.
Sources
- Apple — Top Free Applications RSS feed (US) (checked Nov 8, 2026)
- Apple — Netflix Game Controller on the App Store (checked Nov 8, 2026)
- Apple — iTunes Search API results for "netflix game controller" (US) (checked Nov 8, 2026)
- Netflix Help Center — How to use a phone or tablet as a controller to play games on Netflix (checked Nov 8, 2026)
- Netflix Help Center — Play games on TVs and computers (checked Nov 8, 2026)