Netflix’s latest horror game uses your phone as the controller, and it rings while you play.

      Unhinged provides two gameplay modes: a no-stakes Story Mode and a challenging Standard Mode that features a countdown timer and checkpoint restarts.

      Netflix has recently introduced Unhinged, possibly one of the most peculiar additions to its gaming section. Set to launch on June 30, this interactive horror narrative requires no console or controller, as your smartphone serves as the entire interface. During gameplay, you will receive phone calls that ring directly on your actual device.

      In Unhinged, Zoë Kravitz, Sadie Sink, and Troy Baker lend their voices to characters, creating an immersive experience developed by Netflix and Night School Studio, arriving on June 30. You utilize your phone as a controller, flashlight, and a vital link to help your best friend next door survive a stormy night filled with ominous events.

      To play Netflix's Unhinged using your phone as a controller, you will embody Ava, voiced by Zoë Kravitz, who finds herself trapped in her apartment during a Category 5 hurricane when the power goes out. Her best friend Claire, voiced by Sadie Sink, calls from across the street; at that moment in the story, your real phone rings and plays the audio through its speaker, while eerie sound effects echo through your TV.

      To connect your phone, you need to scan a QR code, after which you'll use its physical tilt and motion to direct Ava's flashlight in the dark. Sean Krankel from Night School Studio shared that the team discovered the flashlight concept about two years ago and subsequently built the horror theme around it, realizing that a home invasion story would be particularly unnerving when experienced in your own living space.

      Troy Baker also voices the building superintendent. Players can opt for Story Mode, which presents a narrative without stakes, or Standard Mode, in which they must think quickly under a diminishing timer before dying and restarting from the last checkpoint.

      Netflix’s increasing focus on interactive storytelling

      This is not Netflix's first endeavor into interactive entertainment. The platform has previously attempted choice-driven narratives, starting with Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, and continues to develop original games linked to series like Stranger Things, along with licensed games such as FIFA and Red Dead Redemption.

      However, Unhinged stands out as a standalone original that is uniquely built around its phone-based mechanics. The experience lasts only 20 to 50 minutes, intentionally designed for a single session. Therefore, if you possess a phone and a Netflix account, that’s all you need to navigate through the night in Unhinged.

      Manisha Priyadarshini is a tech and entertainment writer with over nine years of editorial experience.

      Devil May Cry has just arrived on your Switch 2 at a promotional price of $30, valid until July 7. All four characters are featured, running at 60 FPS in handheld mode, and this pricing won't last beyond July 7.

      If you have a Switch 2 and are seeking a fantastic hack-and-slash game to validate your purchase, today is your lucky day. Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition is available on the eShop starting June 23, 2026, at a special limited-time discount. Considering it’s a title from a franchise that has sold over 38 million copies, it’s a deal worth noting.

      Forget the idea of buying a Steam Machine; Valve encourages you to build your own instead. The company is enhancing desktop compatibility and collaborating closely with Nvidia for future support.

      Valve's new Steam Machine has been making headlines, largely due to its pricing, but the more significant story could be that purchasing one isn’t strictly necessary. Valve has announced that SteamOS is becoming increasingly desktop-compatible, allowing gamers to create their own Steam Machines using standard PC components alongside the operating system that powers the Steam Deck.

      Valve aims for SteamOS to function on more than just their own hardware.

      Valve’s Steam Machine is not merely a console, which explains its flexibility and its challenges.

      It resembles a console, connects to a TV like one, and even offers a comfortable experience for couch gaming. However, Valve emphasizes that it remains a PC. The pricing for the Steam Machine aligns closely with the costs of PCs. The new gaming device starts at $1,049 for the 512GB model, while the 2TB version is priced at $1,349. If you wish to include the Steam Controller, it adds an additional $79 to the cost.

      It is priced like a PC but operates like a console.