Black Mirror: Is Thronglets Based on a Real Video Game?

In the fourth episode of ‘Black Mirror‘ season 7, titled ‘Plaything,’ a reclusive video game reviewer named Cameron Walker grows fascinated with a simulation video game called Thronglets, which becomes increasingly sophisticated with each passing day. However, the video game world soon turns into a dark obsession as Walker loses himself in virtual reality, pushing him down a path of crime and violence. Subsequently, a murder investigation is reopened to find the truth behind Walker’s actions and how Thronglets ties into it. To that end, the simulation game plays a pivotal role throughout the narrative, showcasing the thin line between the real and virtual world and the ease with which the distinction can be lost when feeding into a fixation.

Thronglets is a Real Black Mirror Game Inspired By the Show’s Episode

When discussing the realism aspects of Thronglets, it is worth mentioning that a version of the game depicted in the ‘Black Mirror’ episode was launched by Netflix days before season 7’s premiere. The game’s core elements are inspired by Tamagotchi, a brand of handheld digital pets that allows users the ability to interact with these virtual beings and nurture them. Thronglets operates under a similar premise, except it seemingly incorporates gameplay elements from colony sim-type games like RimWorld and god games. Amidst the cultivation of a thriving community, the game also provides users with a chance to explore Colin Ritman’s story through a catalog of video fragments. Thus, for fans of the Netflix series, Thronglets offers more insight into the weird broken reality that was first brought to life in ‘Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.’

In the show’s universe, Thronglets is a failed game from the 1990s that Colin Ritman designed. However, it never saw the light of day because Cameron Walker absconded with the digital copy of the game’s alpha build. As Walker started playing the game, he grew increasingly obsessed and fascinated by the idea of nurturing, hatching, and managing a vast Thronglet community. With time, this obsession only became more pernicious and destructive as it led to a murder. Subsequently, Walker dedicated his time and money to upgrading his computer setup to manage a larger Thronglet community. His hope is that he can somehow communicate with the Thronglets via the use of LSD, which allows him to tap into their language momentarily.

Later, Walker tries to assimilate himself into the Thronglets’ consciousness by drilling a cybernetic port into his brain. While it seems far-fetched and outrageous to others, the computer enthusiast is convinced that the Thronglets have a higher purpose that can only be gleaned if he devotes his entire life to it. Little by little, Walker loses his sense of identity as the video game becomes his reality, one that takes over his entire life. While the game may be fictionally conceived in the series, its existence contributes immensely to the worldbuilding of the ‘Black Mirror: Bandersnatch’ universe, especially as a follow-up to the film’s events. Additionally, its launch as a real product only blurs the lines even further between real and fiction, which is the core theme of most ‘Black Mirror’ episodes.