Top 15 Gaming IPs on Netflix by Hours Watched: January to June 2023

The analysis examines the performance of gaming-related intellectual properties on Netflix, specifically identifying the top 15 franchises by hours watched during the first half of 2023. By leveraging viewership data released by the platform, the assessment highlights the dominance of family-oriented content and the rapid growth of narrative-driven adaptations.

Pokémon leads the rankings with 261 million hours watched across 29 titles, underscoring the enduring appeal of established family-friendly franchises. Collectively, family-oriented IPs—including Sonic, Angry Birds, Cuphead, Rabbids, Wakfu, and Skylanders—account for over 56% of the total hours watched among the top 15 gaming properties. This concentration of viewership suggests a strong, consistent demand for wholesome, accessible gaming entertainment on the streaming service.

The Witcher stands out as a significant outlier, securing the second-place position with 233 million hours watched. Its performance is particularly notable for its high engagement velocity; the third season alone generated 33.4 million hours of viewership within its first two days of release. Given this trajectory, the franchise is positioned as a primary challenger to Pokémon for the top spot in future periods.

The findings illustrate a bifurcated landscape where long-standing family brands maintain a broad, stable audience, while high-production, narrative-driven sagas drive intense, short-term spikes in engagement. This data provides a clear indicator of how gaming-derived content is successfully integrated into broader streaming strategies, reflecting a diverse audience appetite for both episodic family adventures and mature, serialized storytelling.