While not an extremely new technology, many people have no idea that an interactive movie or television show episode is even possible. Meant to replicate those fun choose-your-own-adventure books everyone read as a young child or teen, this technology literally gives you the chance to impact what you are watching. And companies have been trying for many years to make the media consumed by its viewers more interactive, but few have actually succeeded. While similar of these types of experiences started happening on the DVDs of our favorite films or discs of our favorite video games as "Easter Eggs," they are now being added to streaming shows.
One company that has done this, and done it well, is Netflix, the streaming giant that was launched in 2007. In 2019, Esquire reported that the leadership of the streaming company was looking to add even more interactive programming, with Netflix’s chief product officer Greg Peters saying, “You should anticipate we’ll do more of those as we start to explore that format." The article goes on to say that Chief content officer Ted Sarando noted, “We’ve got a hunch that [the interactive format] works across all kinds of storytelling and some of the greatest storytellers in the world are excited to dig into it.”
Below are all the interactive television shows and movies Netflix has released, ranked from worst to best.
22 Cat Burglar
In the trivia-based interactive Cat Burglar, viewers play as a cat attempting to steal paintings that are priceless from a museum guarded by an "evil" dog. It ranks low on our list because the choices the viewers makes don't really impact the story as much as other interactive shows and films. Despite this, Cat Burglar is still a great and fun interactive option from Netflix.
21 You vs. Wild
The very first of the Bear Grylls interactive specials, You vs. Wild, has each episode put Bear into a unique situation the viewer must help get him out of. Sadly, each choice the viewer makes either instantly causes a failure or points to the correct path Bear needs to take. Although the series is not as entertaining as other Grylls features on Netflix, it is still worth a playthrough.
20 Buddy Thunderstruck: The Maybe Pile
Based on the stop-motion series, Buddy Thunderstruck, Buddy Thunderstruck: The Maybe Pile tells the story of Buddy, a stunt driver dog, and his best friend, Darnell, as they decide what crazy thing they want to do that day. The viewer can choose between two options and watch the hilarity as the characters act out their choices. Despite having no real plot, Buddy Thunderstruck: The Maybe Pile is silly and interesting option for an interactive moment.
19 Battle Kitty
With a more sophisticated (i.e. the choices are more integrated) and fun storyline, Battle Kitty is a great interactive series. Following a talking cat who is rather smart, Battle Kitty focuses on the cat's wish to become a warrior on Battle Island. Fans of watching streamers play games will enjoy this because it almost has the same vibe of watching someone else play a game and enjoying it.
18 Kimmy vs. The Reverend
Kimmy vs. The Reverend is an interactive special episode of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and one of the few live action interactive shows on this list that tells us what happens after the series finale. Kimmy is supposed to marry a handsome prince (played by Daniel Radcliffe), but things don't go as planned when she finds a book that may lead to other kidnapped women. The interactive options are good, but it is obvious the story is being dictated to the viewers, rather than there being a real choice.
17 Captain Underpants: Epic Choice-O-Rama
Based on the Captain Underpants books and movies, Captain Underpants: Epic Choice-O-Rama is an interactive-animated feature where George Beard and Harold Hutchins must try to save their secret base, their tree house, from being demolished by the neighbor, Principal Krupp. While the story is pretty good, the choices don't have a huge impact on that storyline. Despite this, Captain Underpants fans will still enjoy the show.
16 The Last Kids on Earth: Happy Apocalypse to You
Based on the Netflix cartoon The Last Kids on Earth, The Last Kids on Earth: Happy Apocalypse to You allows the viewers to choose what happens to Jack when he decides to throw a party for his crush, June. The choices made determine where the four kids from the main story need to go and what they have to do to obtain the party supplies. The Last Kids on Earth: Happy Apocalypse to You is one of the few interactive Netflix adventures where the choices made can change which scene plays, although the story's ending is always the same.
15 Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous: Hidden Adventure
Similar to all the other entries in the Jurassic Park / Jurassic World franchise, the interactive series, Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous: Hidden Adventure, showcases a group of people, in this case kids, who thought they were going to visit a cool dinosaur theme park, but things go wrong, and they end up running for their lives from some rather hungry dinosaurs. Based on the animated television series, Camp Cretaceous, the interactive version gives every dinosaur lover the chance to impact their favorite stories.
14 Spirit Riding Free: Ride Along Adventure
Based on the animated television series, Spirit Riding Free, which was loosely based on the animated movie, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, the animated interactive adventure, Spirit Riding Free: Ride Along Adventure, follows a group of teens and their horses as one girl tries to plan a surprise party for her horse.
Things go terribly wrong when the other three girls who are supposed to be distracting said horse must get the horse back after it is kidnapped. Falling into similar issues as previous entries, the choices don't make much difference in the overarching storyline, but the plot is decent enough and worth a playthrough.
13 Animals on the Loose: A You vs. Wild Movie
This second Bear Grylls interactive adventure film is so much better than the first entry he has out. Animals on the Loose: A You vs. Wild Movie tells what happens when an electric fence goes out at the nature preserve and Bear must fix it before the animals escape. The order the mini-missions are done in, and the choices actually heavily effect what happens and how the story plays out, leading to a much better You. vs. Wild interactive story.
12 Ranveer vs. Wild with Bear Grylls
Following Indian superstar Ranveer Singh alongside Bear Grylls, Ranveer vs. Wild with Bear Grylls allows us to play through the story of what happens when Singh wants to give his wife a special rare flower only found in the Serbian wilds. The choices in the beginning of the interactive adventure can have a huge impact on how the story plays out later in the game.
Ranveer vs. Wild with Bear Grylls offers more interactivity than other similar options and is rather a fun playthrough, even if Ranveer's commentary on how much he loves his wife can get a bit repetitive.
11 You vs. Wild: Out Cold
Another You vs. Wild interactive adventure featuring Bear Grylls, You vs. Wild: Out Cold completely changes the game, pitting Bear against amnesia. After his plane crashes in the middle of nowhere, Bear loses his memory and his survival skills, forcing the players to help him figure out how to survive. Every single question and possible choice in You vs. Wild: Out Coldaffects the outcome of the overarching storyline, leading to a wonderful interactive adventure.
10 Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale
Based on the animated television series, Puss in Boots, also by Netflix, and a spinoff of the Shrek franchise, Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale put the piratey feline, Puss into a magical book where he must figure out how to get out. The catch: Puss must fight his way through a series of classic Fairy Tales, where the viewer chooses which story he goes into and some of the choices he makes along the way.
As one of the few interactive adventures to do so, Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale breaks the fourth wall by having Puss talk directly to the audience, lending the interactive adventure a unique tone compared to others.
9 Stretch Armstrong: The Breakout
When three high schoolers known as the Flex Fighters are framed by their mentor, the group of superheroes must don their super-powered suits and prove their innocence once and for all in Stretch Armstrong: The Breakout. While the story is decent, and the choices do have an impact, anyone who hasn't watched the television series may be confused at first. Leading to an ending where the Flex Fighters must save the city, this interactive adventure is perfect for anyone who enjoys animated superhero shows or films.
8 Johnny Test’s Ultimate Meatloaf Quest
Johnny Test’s Ultimate Meatloaf Quest has a ton of content compared to the other interactive shows and films on this list. One can play through the story multiple times and give different choices before eventually getting a repeat ending. As a spinoff of the very popular cartoon, Johnny Test (where Johnny is the test subject for his genius sisters various science experiment), the interactive game shows what happens when Johnny decides he wants to find the perfect meatloaf, even if he has to transcend realities to do it.
7 Boss Baby: Get That Baby!
Loosely based on the Boss Baby films and television series, Boss Baby: Get That Baby! has an amazing presentation compared to the other interactive specials on this list. Viewers will assist Baby Corp by taking on a job within the company. The choices and decisions the player makes will impact the storyline and ultimately determine which department the viewer is most suited to work in. With noteworthy villains, great graphics, and a true interactive experience, Boss Baby: Get That Baby! is worth playing.
6 Barbie: Epic Road Trip
Barbie is one of those kids toys that needs no introduction or explanation, especially with the 2023 Barbie live-action film making waves in the box office. Similarly to the animated Barbie movies of the past, Barbie: Epic Road Trip has Barbie attempting to juggle multiple aspects of life, such as helping her little sister open a dog adoption app, make time for Ken and family, and start a music career with a friend.
The choices the player makes have a great impact on how Barbie handles her life and the road trip she is taking throughout the interactive game. As one of the better interactive adventures from Netflix, and one of the few in animated 3D, Barbie: Epic Road Trip, should be on every Barbie fan's to-be-watched list.
5 Escape the Undertaker
Escape the Undertaker is a crossover project from Netflix and the WWE (World Wresting Entertainment), and is also one of the better interactive adventures on this list. Viewers take control of one of three wrestlers in this live action interactive show, then must make some of their important choices as they go to a scary mansion to steal an urn from the wrestler, the Undertaker, which is said to give him his abilities. Which path the players take depends on who they choose, the choices they make, and how they play through the interactive bits of the story.
4 Carmen SanDiego: To Steal or Not to Steal
Carmen SanDiego: To Steal or Not to Steal is one of the few Carmen SanDiego games that can be easily played (at the time of this writing). Telling us what happens when Carmen's friends Zak and Ivy get kidnapped by the evil organization V.I.L.E., which Carmen has been fighting against for years, Carmen must do a series of heists to get her friends returned to her.
As one of the most visually appealing interactive adventures available, Carmen SanDiego: To Steal or Not to Steal is one of the top interactive experiences on Netflix at this time and should be played through by everyone at least once.
3 We Lost Our Human
With no early endings and tons of possible final moments, We Lost Our Human succeeds where others have failed. Telling the story of two pets — a cat named Pud, who is known to be selfish and lazy, and a dog named Ham, who is quite hyperactive — this interactive story puts the two on a quest to find their lost human. While looking for her, the two discover that all the humans are missing because of a glitch in the universe.
With hilarious and adorable animation, choices that actually matter, and a storyline that is both funny and heartwarming, We Lost Our Human is one of the top interactive adventures Netflix has put out to date.
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