Free games for kids with no ads or in-app purchases? Netflix’s new app has you covered

Even if you’ve bought one of the best dumb phones for kids, chances are you’re still handing over your phone to distract your child with free games. You’re only human, after all, and 10 minutes of entertainment to avoid a waiting room tantrum is fair game in our books. 

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Trouble is, it’s not without risks – as any parent subject to a hefty surprise bill for some ridiculous in-game armour, crystals, or card packs will attest to. Thankfully, Netflix has announced a potential solution in the form of Playground – a gaming app aimed at kids aged eight and under with – crucially – no ads or in-app purchases.

The games themselves should be familiar and trustworthy territory, with characters from shows like Sesame Street, Peppa Pig, and Dr. Seuss all making an appearance. Promising to encourage creativity with puzzles, free-form play, learning, and more, everything can be played offline, too, making it an ideal choice for flights and travelling.

This isn’t Netflix’s first go at gaming. The company has offered mobile games since 2021, but they’ve lived inside the main app. Playground spins that idea out into a separate, child-focused space designed to keep things simple, safe, and free.

The move also edges Netflix closer to competing with Apple Arcade, which has long pushed its own no-ads, no-microtransactions approach. In this instance, Netflix bundles everything together – films, TV, and now kids’ games – under your regular, single Netflix subscription.

The announcement arrives as multiple countries introduce stricter rules around children’s apps and age verification, pushing demand for more controlled, kid-friendly experiences – a move we can easily get behind.

As for availability, Netflix Playground is available now in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, the Philippines, and New Zealand, with a global rollout set for 28 April. It works on iPhone and iPad, along with Android, and you can just sign in with your existing Netflix account.

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Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.