Netflix’s Black Mirror Lets You Control a Creepy Game – Are You Ready to Play?

by

[This story contains spoilers from the Black Mirror season seven episode, “Plaything.”]

In a novel twist for the first time in Black Mirror’s seven-season run on Netflix, the audience is given the opportunity to interact with one of the chilling storylines by using their smartphones while the show progresses.

In “Plaything,” one of six fresh episodes from Charlie Brooker, currently streaming, a video game reporter (portrayed by both Lewis Gribben and Peter Capaldi) develops an unhealthy fixation on the game called Thronglets, created by the esteemed developer Colin Ritman. Notably, this is the same actor, Will Poulter, who reappears in the series. (Indeed, the episode can be seen as a follow-up to the 2018 interactive film “Bandersnatch” within the Black Mirror universe.) This fixation eventually leads the character into a bleak future, where the game (or its collective entity, the ‘throng’) aims for greater control and attempts to break free from its digital prison.

Indeed, Netflix has ventured into the gaming sector too! Now, fans of the series “Black Mirror” have the opportunity to experience “Thronglets” firsthand, as they make crucial decisions affecting a fresh digital species, all while relaxing on their sofas. You can download “Thronglets” from mobile app stores, and it’s even included with your Netflix subscription – just scan the QR code provided in the season seven trailer to get started!

Sean Krankel, head of Netflix’s Night School Studio (the team behind Thronglets), expresses his high anticipation about the upcoming episode. He finds it incredibly exciting to revisit characters that have already left an inspiring, cool, strange, and unique impression on us. The opportunity to interact with these characters in our own homes is something he believes is not just a supplementary experience, but rather, it’s like becoming a part of your personal version of “Plaything” or Thronglets.

The team had long admired Charlie Brooker, the creator of Black Mirror. They were excited about the prospect of collaborating with him. Not only were they already enthusiastic about his work on Bandersnatch, but they also loved the idea of creating a game that would be embedded within the episode itself. This game could serve as more than just a promotional tool; it could become a fully-fledged in-episode game. It was almost like a fantasy come true to expand this concept and make it a reality.

According to Krankel, his team started working on the spin-off game towards the end of 2023 when “Plaything” was merely a script, some sound designs, and a few static images. Moreover, an interesting novelty for Netflix is that the design of the thronglet characters from the game served as a basis for the creatures depicted in the episode itself.

Brooker shared that we began working together with our gaming partners during pre-production, which allowed us to draw inspiration for the game’s appearance from them. As a result, our collaboration on the game significantly enhanced both the visual aspect and overall atmosphere of the game within the episode itself, and ideally, it also improved the game using elements from our series.

It’s quite possible that “Playtest” is one of the most personally-inspired episodes that Charlie Brooker has penned for Black Mirror.

Prior to his rise as a groundbreaking TV writer, Brooker was once a video game critic for a magazine titled PC Zone. During an event at the GDC, he reminisced about reviewing a video game named Creatures, which involved tending to adorable animals within the game.

Brooker jokingly commented, ‘That’s as personal as it gets, because then all kinds of unpleasant events occur.’ He had always anticipated that the show would be a mix of ‘Sim City’ and ‘The Sims,’ with elements of what people do with ‘The Sims,’ and also a touch of artificial intelligence.

In the brief moments I saw them on-screen during the episode, it was clear that the game was a rich experience, blending aspects of Tamagotchi, Sim City, and other simulation games. Just like in the show, these digital critters keep tabs on my actions, adjusting their behavior accordingly. What’s fascinating is they also seem to remember the decisions I make.

Krankel emphasized that they aimed for the game to feel seamlessly connected, not just a loosely tied collection of features. He said it should appear as if the game was literally extracted from an episode. Additionally, he highlighted another key objective: to allow players significant control within the narrative, ensuring it wasn’t merely a simplistic simulation. Instead, they wanted it to be a fully-fledged story, avoiding the label of being just a shallow imitation of games that inspired them.

In the interactive adaptation of Thronglets, similar to the version seen in Black Mirror, players begin by nurturing these endearing creatures, caring for them much like one would a pet. However, things soon take an unexpected turn as the Thronglets grow beyond playthings and develop into a civilization that seeks the player’s aid in their quest for unrestricted power. This narrative parallels a significant plot twist from the episode, where the Thronglets are ultimately released from their digital confinement.

In this game, the creatures called ‘thronglets’ surprise players by adapting to their strategies, gaining insights from them over time, eventually even showing compassion towards the player. Despite their collective power far surpassing human comprehension, they can outsmart and overpower any individual human. Although there are differences from the TV series (players don’t interact with thronglets through drug use), the emotions experienced during the show – such as joy, fear, sorrow, and unease – are all mirrored in the game.

Krankel explains that since the series Black Mirror often presents a satirical or slightly sarcastic/humorous perspective on current events, we may have adopted a similar tone when communicating with and engaging the characters in the game. However, it’s crucial to note that despite our interactions suggesting otherwise, they are not truly portrayed as villains. In fact, they don’t intend to cause us any harm.

Normally, when a Netflix viewer finishes watching an episode of a show, they have usually seen all there is to see of that particular series. However, Krankel points out that the game might hold more appeal for a longer period and could offer repeat value: “I’m excited for people to discover and begin unveiling the hidden mysteries,” he says, drawing inspiration from Brooker, who incorporates numerous Easter eggs in Black Mirror.

Coming back around to the starting point, it’s noteworthy that Bandersnatch, Netflix’s inaugural adult interactive feature, took two years for Brooker and his crew to create with the streaming service. Now, “Plaything” and Thronglets are blazing a trail in Netflix storytelling, offering subscribers an innovative opportunity to delve deeper into the onscreen world they’re watching – a world that can be as chilling as it is captivating.

At the GDC, Brooker expressed how fascinating it is to witness the mutual enhancement between two distinct areas. He advocated for even more collaboration along these lines. “I can’t say for certain where we’ll all be in a decade, but I suspect we’ll find ourselves immersed in an endless entertainment spiral, which seems preferable to reality,” he added humorously.

At present, enthusiasts of the series “Black Mirror” have the opportunity to manage their own digital realm. However, it’s important to note that the population within this universe may grow at an accelerated rate.

As a die-hard fan, I’m thrilled to share that the highly anticipated seventh season of Black Mirror is now live and streaming its six gripping episodes on Netflix! Plus, the intriguing Thronglets game has just made its way into mobile app stores, exclusively available for Netflix subscribers. Can’t wait to dive in!

Read More

2025-04-10 10:26