Comparison

Netflix Game Controller vs ColdTrace

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Netflix Game Controller

Transform your phone or tablet into a game controller for playing Netflix games on your TV or computer. Enjoy multiplayer party games, puzzle adventures, and solo experiences without needing extra gadgets. Games are included with your Netflix membership.

Highlights
  • Use phone as a game controller
  • Play on TV or computer browser
  • Multiplayer party games
  • Solo adventures and puzzle games
  • Swipe, tap, type, draw, and steer
  • No extra gadgets needed
Read full description

It's game time! Play games instantly on Netflix with the Netflix Game Controller. No gadgets or gizmos needed: Once you install this mobile app, you can use your phone or tablet as a controller to play games on TV, or through your computer browser by visiting Netflix.com. Swipe, tap, type, draw and steer right from your phone. Once you're set up, the party starts. Plan a group game night to enjoy multiplayer party games with friends and family, or dive into brain-teasing puzzle games and solo adventures. Whether you're relaxing on the couch or taking a break at your desk (we won't tell your boss), you'll have a whole world of games at your fingertips. Let the fun begin! A few games to try on your TV or computer today: OVERCOOKED! ALL YOU CAN EAT Team up with friends as you rush to slice, stir and serve your way through an endless stream of orders. Can you keep your cool in the kitchen? PICTIONARY: GAME NIGHT Draw 'til you drop — or one of your friends guesses what you're sketching — in this hilarious and fast-paced spin on the classic group game. LEGO PARTY! Play minigames and hunt for gold together through Challenge Zones in this BAFTA award-winning family game. Dodge dragons and flying roast turkeys! BOGGLE PARTY Race against the clock to find words (the longer, the better) in a jumbled-up letter grid. Play daily puzzles solo or party with up to eight players. Games are included in your Netflix membership, with no ads or extra fees. The Netflix Game Controller app is compatible across most mobile and tablet devices.

About

ColdTrace

Step into a simulated phone investigation to uncover the truth behind a cold case. Explore messages, photos, and notes to piece together a layered narrative and determine if an event was an accident.

Highlights
  • Simulated phone interface exploration
  • Uncover layered narratives
  • Piece together timelines
  • Interactive investigation
  • Multiple investigation threads
Features
Read full description

A phone. A cold case. The truth is buried somewhere in between. ColdTrace puts you inside a real investigation, or at least, it feels that way. Navigate a stranger's phone, piece together the timeline, and decide: was it really an accident? AN IMMERSIVE FICTIONAL EXPERIENCE • Explore a fully simulated phone interface: messages, photos, notes, voicemails • Uncover a layered narrative where every clue matters • Multiple threads to follow, one truth to uncover FEEL THE TENSION The line between player and investigator blurs. You're not watching the story unfold, you're living it. Every deleted file, every text thread, every timestamp brings you closer to the answer. YOUR INVESTIGATION, YOUR PACE ColdTrace is not a passive experience. What you read, what you dig into, and when, it all shapes your understanding of what happened. For fans of interactive fiction, true crime podcasts, and crime documentaries who want to go deeper. ColdTrace is a fictional narrative experience. All characters and events are entirely invented. Note: Some chapters require a Premium unlock. Some investigations are available for free, while the complete experience can be unlocked through an in-app purchase. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Netflix Game Controller4 screens
ColdTrace4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Netflix Game Controller at none against ColdTrace's 8. Netflix Game Controller also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (251K vs 6.6K). ColdTrace's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ColdTrace sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Netflix Game Controller asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Netflix Game Controller against 4.8 for ColdTrace. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Netflix Game Controller has 251K ratings behind it against 6.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 57% of Netflix Game Controller's written reviews are positive against 38% of ColdTrace's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Netflix Game Controller ships an update weekly, ColdTrace every 5 days. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Netflix Game Controller versus ColdTrace: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNetflix Game ControllerColdTrace
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (251K ratings)4.8 (6.6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.2% of reviews — better37.6% of reviews
Number of ratings251K — better6.6K
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#10 — better#118
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size91 MB194 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperNetflix, Inc.Saclic Studio

Customer experience

Netflix Game Controller

All ratings247,828 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral3.0%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews2,302 reviews
Positive57.2%
Neutral7.1%
Negative35.7%

ColdTrace

All ratings6,324 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral2.5%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews399 reviews
Positive37.6%
Neutral16.0%
Negative46.4%

Bugs and requests

Netflix Game Controller

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Unable to connect phone as controller
  • App keeps redirecting to App Store
  • Games not launching properly
  • Frequent crashes and freezes

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more games
  • Improve QR code scanning process
  • Implement Bluetooth connectivity
  • Introduce multiplayer and co-op modes
  • Optimize for mobile devices

ColdTrace

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Netflix Game Controller

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

ColdTrace

Subscriptions8
  • Cold Trace$6.997 Days
  • ColdTrace Yearly$9.991 Year
  • ColdTrace Weekly$9.997 Days
Show 5 more
  • ColdTrace Premium3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • ColdTrace$19.991 Year
  • ColdTrace Yearly$34.991 Year
  • Yearly Trial3 Days trial$34.991 Year
  • TrueCrime Yearly 2$34.991 Year

Questions

Is Netflix Game Controller free?
Netflix Game Controller is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ColdTrace free?
ColdTrace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Netflix Game Controller or ColdTrace?
ColdTrace is rated higher. Netflix Game Controller averages 4.6 out of 5 from 251K ratings, while ColdTrace averages 4.8 from 6.6K ratings.
Do Netflix Game Controller or ColdTrace have ads?
ColdTrace shows ads; Netflix Game Controller does not.
Which is updated more often, Netflix Game Controller or ColdTrace?
Netflix Game Controller ships an update weekly, and ColdTrace every 5 days. Most recently, Netflix Game Controller was updated on November 6, 2026 and ColdTrace on November 6, 2026.
Which is more popular, Netflix Game Controller or ColdTrace?
Netflix Game Controller currently peaks at #10 in the App Store charts, and ColdTrace at #118. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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