Reality-show contestants are highly protective of their on-screen image. Chloe Veitch, a breakout star from Netflix’s risqué dating series Too Hot to Handle, now extends that control to her digital avatar in Netflix’s mobile video games. Her character is featured prominently in games based on the streaming giant’s reality programs, including Too Hot to Handle, where contestants form romantic connections and face penalties for getting too frisky. Veitch’s avatar serves as a “love guru” guiding players through the game.
Veitch noted that her digital persona is nearly identical to her real-life appearance, down to her multiple tattoos. “Obviously it doesn’t get spots, it doesn’t have hormone imbalances, so I’m quite jealous,” she said. She also ensured her digital version met her standards: “I’ve said to the team when we were first developing me into the game – you need to make sure my boobs look big.”
Netflix’s reality-show-inspired games are part of its expanding library of mobile-only interactive offerings available to subscribers. With around 100 titles, including 13 based on Netflix originals, the company aims to increase user engagement and prevent cancellations. Recently, Netflix announced four new games based on its reality shows: Netflix Stories: Perfect Match, Netflix Stories: Selling Sunset, Too Hot to Handle 3, and The Ultimatum: Choices. These games launch alongside new seasons of the shows to keep viewers engaged between seasons.
Brandon Riegg, Netflix’s vice-president of nonfiction series, explained, “It is that amplification effect that if you love the show or you love the game, there is another iteration for you to immerse yourself in, to enjoy that world.” Players design their own characters and engage in choose-your-own-adventure-style stories, with outcomes as racy as a romance novel. In the Too Hot to Handle games, players choose to stay chaste or break the rules by getting intimate with other contestants.
Netflix has not disclosed game performance data, but third-party figures suggest reality-show-based games are performing well. Too Hot to Handle: Love is a Game, released in 2022, had an estimated 5.9 million installs, making it the fourth most popular Netflix mobile game since November 2021, according to Appfigures. Randy Nelson, head of insights at Appfigures, said, “These will be great hooks to draw in new users but also can be a great incentive to prevent losing users.”
Since its expansion into gaming in 2021, Netflix games have achieved an estimated 119 million downloads. The company reported tripling game engagement over the past year. Subscribers spend hours playing these games, which, like the shows, attract a female audience. Some players discover the games first and then watch the reality series, while others do the reverse. “Games can fuel fandom, but they can also create it,” says Sarah Springwater, director of story for Netflix Stories.
Leanne Loombe, who leads external game development for Netflix, noted that the interactive nature of the games, with more than 15 possible endings, keeps players engaged longer. “The thing with games is that they definitely allow you to engage over the longer period of time, and that’s the opportunity that we see,” Loombe says.
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