If you’re a Netflix subscriber, you've likely already dived into the latest season of Black Mirror. Season 7, released just yesterday, has garnered positive reviews across the board for its six gripping episodes. However, my focus today isn't on the series itself, but rather on Netflix's newest game inspired by it: Black Mirror: Thronglets.
Black Mirror: Thronglets Is Based on Season 7’s Episode 4
If you’ve watched Episode 4, you're well aware of how unsettling the experience can be. For those who haven't yet, let me break it down for you. The episode transports us between the years 2034 and 1994, with the story revolving around Cameron Walker, portrayed by Peter Capaldi. Starting in custody for shoplifting, Cameron's tale delves into childhood trauma, obsession, and the ever-present Black Mirror theme of being trapped within a simulation.
Black Mirror: Thronglets directly reflects the retro pixelated virtual pet game featured in the episode, titled Plaything. This game, originally developed in the '90s by Colin Ritman—a Tuckersoft developer featured in other Black Mirror episodes like Bandersnatch and Nosedive—has been reimagined for mobile devices by Night School, one of Netflix's game studios. It begins with a glitchy Tamagotchi-like experience but evolves into a deeply existential journey.
In Thronglets, you nurture digital life forms known as Throngs. What starts as a single quirky pixel blob grows into a complex organism with its own evolving consciousness, subtly learning from your every action.
Watch the trailer here!
The Game Is Watching You Too
As you continue playing, Thronglets keenly observes your choices and behaviors. Over time, it offers a personality assessment based on your interactions with your Throngs. You can even share and compare your results with friends, adding a social element to the experience.
Both Black Mirror: Thronglets and its source episode, Plaything, explore themes of memory, digital legacy, and isolation. The episode itself strikes a deeply emotional and dark chord. If you're a fan of the series or simply looking to try an intriguing new game, Black Mirror: Thronglets is available now on the Google Play Store.
For more gaming news, check out our coverage on Chasing Kaleidorider, blending romance with high-speed action, and now open for pre-registration.
