Entertainment
Relic Hunters’ First-Ever Mobile Game Now Exclusively on Netflix
Are you ready to shoot and dash through colorful levels in an action packed, role-playing game (RPG) from the Relic Hunters franchise? We’ve got you covered with Relic Hunters: Rebels, the first mobile game from developer, Rogue Snail, available to exclusively play beginning May 3. Play as four of the franchise’s beloved Hunters (Jimmy, Ace, Pinkyy, and Raff) as you craft and collect 44 different weapons each with unique qualities, affinities, and elemental effects! You’ll need these specialized weapons to help fight off space ducks and turtles as you attempt to defeat the evil Ducan Empire.
To celebrate the game’s launch, Rogue Snail CEO Mark Venturelli discusses the creative inspirations behind Relic Hunters: Rebels, the importance of inclusion in gaming and working with Netflix for the first time.
Why did you want to bring Relic Hunters: Rebels to Netflix?
Besides being huge fans of Netflix, we were thrilled to be one of the early pioneer developers for Netflix Games and to be part of this story from the beginning. The idea that we could make games without worrying about monetization was also very compelling, as it allows us to focus on just making a fun game without having to worry about how to pay our bills. This keeps the game fun and fair for everyone. Netflix also backed our vision and provided us with the creative freedom to develop Relic Hunters: Rebels just like we wanted.
Was there anything particularly special about the creation of this game knowing that this is the first mobile game in the Relic Hunters franchise?
We tried to make a game that would run easily on older phones, so we could reach a wider audience in places where people can’t afford a new device every year. It’s a great opportunity to bring even more people into the Relic Hunters universe. Our fans have also been asking for mobile Relic Hunters for a while, and we felt like this was the perfect opportunity to deliver.
Rebels has a non-binary character (Baru). How does inclusion and diversity influence Rogue Snail as a studio and in the games you make?
We have a very diverse team at Rogue that includes people from all walks of life, and that allows us to make better games by enabling new voices and ideas, and by providing our talent with an enjoyable workplace that is welcoming to everyone. The inclusion of Baru was absolutely natural considering that the character was written by a non-binary person, drawn by a trans woman, and voiced by a non-binary talent in Jan Aponte.
We want our players to feel embraced for who they are. We also believe that the gaming community is growing up and learning that making more people feel welcomed and accepted does not make the space any less so for dudes like me, aka a nerdy white guy. As long as we all respect each other, we can have a lot more fun together.
Relic Hunters represents one of Netflix’s first mobile games out of Brazil. What makes gamers in Brazil and South America unique and how does that translate to your games?
Brazilian gamers have a very affectionate relationship with video games as part of our childhood and relationships with loved ones. And we are very culturally diverse – it’s a huge mix of African, European, Asian and Native American cultures. As kids, Brazilians got exposed to anime, American cartoons, superheroes, super sentai, and tokusatsu – one after the other as part of the same morning cartoon show. So I guess all of these combine to make a uniquely Brazilian identity for our games, which at the same time can appeal to a multicultural audience all around the world!
Are there any easter eggs fans should be on the lookout for? If so, why were those important to include?
Yes, especially for those familiar with the Relic Hunters franchise. We like to highlight our Hunters’ journeys, so you may find some easter eggs related to Relic Hunters Zero and the upcoming Relic Hunters Legend in Relic Hunters: Rebels. But you’ll have to play to find out. We don’t want to give away any spoilers 😉
You can download Relic Hunters: Rebels from the Netflix mobile app or directly from the Apple or Google app stores. To find these games:
- Android mobile users will see a dedicated games row and a games tab where you can select any game to download.
- iOS mobile users will see a dedicated games row where you can select any game to download.
- Tablet users will see a dedicated games row or you can select games from the categories drop down menu to download and play.