{"id":5911,"date":"2026-07-01T16:15:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T15:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/?p=5911"},"modified":"2026-07-01T16:15:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T15:15:26","slug":"how-to-play-unhinged-netflixs-new-thriller-game-that-turns-your-phone-into-a-survival-tool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/2026\/07\/01\/how-to-play-unhinged-netflixs-new-thriller-game-that-turns-your-phone-into-a-survival-tool\/","title":{"rendered":"How to play Unhinged, Netflix\u2019s new thriller game that turns your phone into a survival tool"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a dark and stormy night. The lights are out in an apartment building. And Ava, voiced by Zo\u00eb Kravitz, quickly discovers she isn\u2019t as alone as she thought. That\u2019s the setup for Unhinged, Netflix\u2019s newest release, but this time, you\u2019re not just watching the nightmare unfold. You\u2019re part of it.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Via Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n

The interactive thriller-horror experience puts players directly into Ava\u2019s story, with your phone becoming the controller and your only chance of helping her escape. All you need is a Netflix account, your phone, and roughly the same amount of free time you\u2019d spend watching an episode of your favourite show.<\/p>\n

So, what exactly is Unhinged? Who is in the cast? And how does the game actually work? Here\u2019s everything you need to know.<\/p>\n

What is Unhinged on Netflix?<\/h2>\n

Netflix\u2019s latest big release isn\u2019t a new series or film; it\u2019s a game. In Unhinged, players take control of Ava, who finds herself trapped inside her apartment building during a Category 5 hurricane.<\/p>\n

Her only link to the outside world is a phone call from her best friend Claire, who lives across the street. But while the storm rages outside, the real danger is much closer to home.<\/p>\n

The building\u2019s stairwell has been locked, cutting off Ava\u2019s only escape route. A wellness check on a neighbour reveals unsettling clues that something is seriously wrong. Then comes the terrifying realisation: Ava is not alone.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Via Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How do you play Unhinged?<\/h2>\n

Getting started is pretty straightforward. Find Unhinged in Netflix\u2019s Games section, select it, and scan the QR code shown on screen to connect your phone.<\/p>\n

From there, your phone becomes Ava\u2019s controller. Your real-life movements mirror her actions in the game, letting you move her hands and guide her flashlight through the darkness.<\/p>\n

The experience is designed to blur the line between the game and reality. When Ava receives a phone call or message, your own phone rings, vibrates, and plays the audio through its speaker. Meanwhile, the rest of the eerie atmosphere and environmental sounds come through your television.<\/p>\n

Does Unhinged have different game modes?<\/h2>\n

Surviving Unhinged depends on how intense you want the experience to be.<\/p>\n

For players who want to focus purely on the story, Story Mode removes the pressure. There\u2019s no countdown timer, and the game prevents you from dying so you can experience the narrative without the stress.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Via Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Standard Mode, however, turns up the panic. During tense moments, a shrinking timer appears at the top of the screen, forcing you to quickly search your surroundings for the right interactive object.<\/p>\n

Fail to find what you need before time runs out and Ava dies, although you won\u2019t be thrown back to the beginning. Instead, you\u2019ll restart from your most recent checkpoint.<\/p>\n

Who stars in Unhinged?<\/h2>\n

The game features a recognisable cast, including Zo\u00eb Kravitz as Ava, Sadie Sink as Claire, Ava\u2019s best friend, and Troy Baker\u00a0as Ben, the apartment building\u2019s superintendent<\/p>\n

The interactive Netflix game was also developed with collaboration from David Fincher and Zach Cregger, who helped shape the project\u2019s thriller-inspired world.<\/p>\n

Unhinged is Netflix leaning fully into the idea that games can be more than something you play: They can be something you experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, <\/span><\/i>like our Facebook page<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Featured image credit: Netflix<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It brings a horror movie to life<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":5915,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[58,40,12],"coauthors":[27],"class_list":["post-5911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-explained","tag-gaming","tag-horror","tag-netflix"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to play Unhinged, Netflix\u2019s new thriller game on your phone<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Unhinged is Netflix\u2019s newest release, but this time, you\u2019re not just watching the nightmare unfold. 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