Playing Tourist in Netflix's Virgin River Mobile Game

I’ve always been a big fan of cozy small-town shows. I grew up on Gilmore Girls, watch Ginny & Georgia religiously, and never pass up a chance to return to the comfort of One Tree Hill. But somehow, I’ve never gotten around to bingeing Netflix’s Virgin River.

The romantic drama, which premiered in 2019, centers on Mel Monoe (Alexandra Breckenridge), a nurse practitioner and midwife who goes to work in the tiny, remote Northern California town of Virgin River in search of a fresh start — but like any charming small town, it comes with complications. The show is based on the book series of the same name by Robyn Carr, who also serves as an executive producer. In May 2023, it was renewed for a sixth season.

My knowledge of the series is pretty much limited to the basic premise. I know the show involves love triangles, paternity questions, and fires, and that Martin Henderson plays Mel’s love interest, Jack Sheridan. But beyond that, I’d be useless at any Virgin River-themed trivia nights. So, when Netflix announced that it was launching a Virgin River mobile game, I thought it could be interesting to check it out from the perspective of someone as clueless about the mega-popular show as myself. 

Netflix Stories: Virgin River, which was released for iOS and Android on May 29, follows a pretty simple narrative: your grandmother (who you never got the chance to meet) has died and left you all her possessions, leading you to Virgin River to sell her house. The story begins when your car breaks down and a police officer stops you and offers to drive you into town — cue the small town hijinks. 

Although there are certain plot points that seem to happen regardless, it gives you the option to make different choices that lead you down various paths. For example, I was able to pick whether I wanted to go on a date with Peyton (a bartender), Jonah (a cop), or Madison (who apparently used to live with my grandmother). The game also gives you the option to customize whether you’re interested in men, women, or both, which is a cool touch and makes it clear that romance is going to be a big part of the premise.

While the game is a classic “choose your own adventure”-style tale, it also happens to be the perfect Virgin River tour guide. It plops you directly into the town and introduces you to a bunch of main characters right off the bat, including Mel, Jack, Preacher (Colin Lawrence), Hope (Annette O’Toole), and Doc (Tim Matheson). You also wind up in some of the most famous spots in Virgin River, from Jack’s Bar to Doc’s office to the watering hole. 

Playing the interactive game feels akin to watching the pilot for the first time, except more intimate. As I guide my avatar through the unfamiliar town and mingle with strangers, I slowly start to get a feel for the world of Virgin River and its characters. Mel is presented as kind and welcoming, and she and Jack give me a brief, but adorable spiel about how they got together. 

Like Mel, I also quickly discover that the small town isn’t all cozy coffee shops and cute residents. When I go swimming at the watering hole with Peyton, our perfect date is rudely interrupted by a drug dealer who tries to stab us. It’s a jarring moment that not only works as a twist, but also successfully conveys the tone of the show. While the series is touted as comfort fare, the gameplay makes it clear that Virgin River is definitely a smidge darker than Gilmore Girls.

Netflix has dabbled in interactive content for some time now. Under Netflix Games, subscribers can access numerous mobile games like Exploding Kittens, Too Hot to Handle: Love Is a Game, and The Queen’s Gambit Chess. The new Virgin River game is part of a larger collection, which includes a Love Is Blind version. There’s also more adult fare, like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and the interactive rom-com Choose Love. 

These interactive games provide a unique opportunity for viewers to learn more about a show before committing to a binge watch. After playing three chapters, I already understand more about Virgin River. I also feel like I've gained a better sense of the world, characters, and tone than I would have if I had simply just watched a trailer or read a quick recap. It will be interesting to see if Netflix adds more games like this to its library — I could easily see this type of immersive format working well for Ginny & Georgia or Emily in Paris. At the very least, the mobile game is a smart way to tide fans over in between seasons.

Netflix Stories: Virgin River is available to play now.

Kelly Martinez is a TV Reporter based in Los Angeles. Her previous work can be found at BuzzFeed and People Magazine, among other outlets. She enjoys reading, spending time with her cat, and explaining the plot of Riverdale to people.