Netflix's latest horror game transforms your phone into a controller, and it rings while you play.

      Unhinged presents two gameplay options: a stakes-free Story Mode or an intense Standard Mode featuring a countdown timer and checkpoint restarts.

      Netflix has introduced Unhinged, which may be the most unusual addition to its gaming section. Launching on June 30, this interactive horror narrative requires no console or controller. Instead, your smartphone serves as the entire interface, with incoming phone calls that ring directly on your device during gameplay.

      Starring Zoë Kravitz, Sadie Sink, and Troy Baker, UNHINGED is an immersive gaming experience from Netflix and Night School Studio, set to release on June 30. Use your phone as a controller, flashlight, and essential tool to assist your best friend next door in surviving a stormy night filled with ominous events.

      To play Netflix’s Unhinged with your phone as the controller, you take on the role of Ava, voiced by Zoë Kravitz, who is trapped in her apartment during a Category 5 hurricane when the electricity goes out. Her best friend Claire, voiced by Sadie Sink, calls from across the street, causing your real phone to ring and the audio to play through your phone’s speaker, while ambient sound effects continue to echo from your TV.

      To link your phone, you need to scan a QR code, after which you can use its actual tilt and movement to direct Ava’s flashlight in the dark. According to Sean Krankel from Night School Studio, the team discovered this flashlight feature about two years ago and developed the entire horror concept around it, realizing that a home invasion story would be particularly unnerving when experienced in your own living room.

      Troy Baker also voices the building’s superintendent. You can opt for Story Mode for a no-pressure narrative experience or choose Standard Mode, where a decreasing timer necessitates quick decision-making to avoid dying and returning to your last checkpoint.

      Netflix continues to expand its investment in interactive storytelling.

      This isn't Netflix's first attempt at interactive entertainment. The platform has previously explored choice-driven narratives, dating back to Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, and has built original games associated with franchises like Stranger Things, as well as licensed titles including FIFA and Red Dead Redemption.

      However, Unhinged distinguishes itself with a unique standalone experience designed specifically for its phone-focused mechanic. The gameplay lasts only 20 to 50 minutes, intentionally crafted for a single session. So, if you have a phone and a Netflix account, that's all you need to experience the night in Unhinged.

      Manisha Priyadarshini is a technology and entertainment journalist with over nine years of editorial experience.

      Devil May Cry has just arrived on your Switch 2, available for just $30 until July 7.

      Featuring all four characters at 60 FPS in handheld mode, this promotional price won't be available after July 7.

      If you have a Switch 2 and have been seeking a great hack-and-slash game to justify your purchase, today is a fortunate day. Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition will be available on the eShop on June 23, 2026, at a limited-time discounted rate. Given that this game comes from a franchise with over 38 million copies sold, it's a deal worth noticing.

      Forget about purchasing a Steam Machine; Valve encourages you to build one instead.

      The company is enhancing desktop compatibility while collaborating closely with Nvidia on future support.

      While Valve’s new Steam Machine is making headlines due to its price, a more significant story is that users might not need to buy it. Valve has confirmed that SteamOS is becoming increasingly desktop-friendly, allowing gamers to create their own Steam Machines using standard PC components and the operating system that powers the Steam Deck. Valve aims for SteamOS to function on more than just its hardware.

      Valve’s Steam Machine is not a console, which explains both its advantages and drawbacks.

      It resembles a console, connects to a TV like one, and offers a living room-friendly experience. However, Valve emphasizes that it is, in fact, a PC. The price of the Steam Machine aligns closely with that of PCs. The new living-room gaming unit starts at $1,049 for the 512GB model, while the 2TB version is priced at $1,349. If you’d like the Steam Controller included, that adds an additional $79.

      Priced like a PC, but functions like a console.