You can enjoy the new 'Black Mirror' game, and it's a charming nightmare!
The creator of 'Thronglets', which appeared in the seventh season of the Netflix series, claims that the game gives the feeling that a Mogwai has "ruined your life."
The Netflix series Black Mirror, known for exploring technology-driven dystopias, returns with an unexpected innovation: a mobile video game titled Thronglets, which resembles Tamagotchis but with a psychologically unsettling twist. During a private event in March, a preview of the new season of the series was presented alongside the life simulation game developed by Night School Studios, which was acquired by Netflix in 2021.
Sean Krankel, co-founder of Night School Studios and new general manager of narrative at Netflix, stated that the team worked closely with Charlie Brooker to create “an artifact” that viewers could experience as an extension of the series' story. Krankel likened the experience to bringing home a Mogwai, suggesting that it might end up complicating your life as it did in Gremlins. This concept formed the basis of the atmosphere they aimed to convey.
Night School already had experience creating games based on television universes. They had previously worked on a game related to Mr. Robot and were involved in a project tied to Stranger Things before their publisher, Telltale Games, unexpectedly closed. Working with Brooker had been a dream for Krankel, especially after seeing the interactive film Bandersnatch, which demonstrated sophisticated gamified design.
Unlike the series, which presents various narratives about technological dangers in an anthology format, Bandersnatch is an independent and interactive experience. In this new context, the seventh-season episode titled "Plaything" nods to the 1990s, a time when Brooker worked as a video game journalist. In this chapter, the protagonist encounters Poulter's character, a video game developer, and delves into the dark path of the story.
The episode includes the concept of a life simulation game that resembles a “Tamagotchi gone wrong.” In Thronglets, players must raise yellow creatures that multiply, and whose happiness and wellbeing depend entirely on them. However, as the numbers increase, caring for them becomes an overwhelming task, as the little beings remember when they are neglected.
Krankel highlighted a phrase that became the project’s motto: “Thronglets are adorable and horrible,” encapsulating the experience of the game. The player’s mission is to love and care for these characters, forming a connection while also dealing with the consequences of their upbringing. Although many details about how the game intertwines with the "Plaything" episode were not revealed, Krankel mentioned that there are interactions where “the game communicates with the show and vice versa.”
The new season of Black Mirror premieres today, April 10, and promises an intriguing approach with the inclusion of the Thronglets video game.