Netflix is ​​launching a standalone kids’ gaming app

Netflix has launched a new standalone kids’ gaming app called Netflix Playground, the company announced Monday. Netflix Playground is available as part of a Netflix subscription, and contains no ads or in-app purchases.

Netflix says the app gives kids access to an “ever-growing” library of children’s games. Netflix Playground launches with titles featuring characters from popular children’s shows.

The app, designed for children aged eight and under, is now available in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Philippines and New Zealand. It will be released worldwide on April 28. The app is available on both iOS and Android.

It can be accessed offline without a mobile phone or Wi-Fi connection, which the company says makes it “the perfect companion for long plane rides or grocery trips.”

For example, one game is titled ‘Playtime With Peppa Pig’, and sees players ‘jump into Peppa’s world with a range of fun activities’. There’s also a “Sesame Street” game where players practice matching using flash cards or coordination by connecting the dots. Other titles include “Let’s Color,” “Storybots,” “Bad Dinosaurs,” and more.

“We’re building a world where kids can not only watch their favorite stories, but step into them and interact with their favorite characters,” said John Derderian, Netflix’s vice president of Animated Series + Kids & Family TV, in a press release. “We’re creating a seamless destination to explore, learn and play. Whether it’s reuniting with Hank and the ‘Trash Truck’ crew for new adventures or making a smoothie with ‘Peppa Pig’, watching and playing on Netflix can be the fun and easiest part of every family’s day.”

Netflix first launched games in 2021 and had ambitious plans for the space, but has since brought them back after its titles failed to attract interest. The streaming giant has also shut down several video game studios such as Boss Fight, Spry Fox, and the AAA studio.

Late last year, Netflix entered the TV gaming space with a slate of new party games meant to be played in groups, including TV versions of Tetris and Pictionary. The company also said it would prioritize cloud gaming, but noted it was still in the early stages of those plans.