I can't believe it, but it's time to say goodbye Stranger Things has finally arrived. The Netflix series launched when I was a sophomore in college, and now that it's almost a full decade later, it's wild to see the series come to an end. Stranger Things has been one of the biggest franchises of the past decade, and while the final season wasn't perfect, it's the end of a truly memorable era. The final of Stranger Things is a bittersweet moment, and while it was time for the series to end, it's surprising to me that it hasn't expanded into other types of media, especially video games.
Yes, there is a wild variety Stranger Things merch out there. Between an increase in Eggo Waffle sales and the swarm of people wearing Hellfire Club shirts after Season 4, Stranger Things has maintained a vice grip on pop culture, but it has remained limited to streaming. on paper, Stranger Things seems perfect for a video game adaptation, and while there have definitely been spin-offs of the series, they haven't gained much traction. One of the most compelling versions of the franchise was canceled before it even saw the light of day. Despite Stranger Things' lack of game success, that doesn't mean these spin-offs aren't worth a look. One in particular may even be the best Stranger Things spin-off fans have at the moment. Appropriate name Stranger Things: The Gamethis 2017 title may have flown under the radar of some fans.
Stranger Things: The Game is also the title Stranger Things: 1984 depending on the online store.
Stranger Things: The Game is an underrated retro-inspired gem
- Stranger Things: The Game is only available for mobile devices (iOS and Android).
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The game takes place between Season 1 and Season 2.
Stranger Things: The Game currently stands as the highest-rated spin-off game in the franchise, and for good reason. With its 16-bit art style and simple, yet classic, The Legend of Zelda-like gameplay, it's a solid homage to the decade the show is set in. Turning Stranger Things to a retro, pixelated game with an overhead perspective only makes sense. Stranger Things games have struggled to gain traction, but this iteration does a fantastic job of keeping the spirit of the show alive, despite its mobile limitations. Frankly, being a mobile game actually works in its favor, as it's a great platform for simple game mechanics. Players can take on a variety of beloved characters from the show, and while not all of them are present, the game still has a fun roster.
Every playable character in Stranger Things: The Game
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Pocket
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Microphone
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Nancy
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Lucas
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Will
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Dustin
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Eleven
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Max (added in honor of Season 2)
Stranger Things: The Game maybe not the deepest gaming experience, but for those who craved more 80s-driven content after hours of binge-watching Stranger Thingsit was a good low-effort option. Its simplicity only adds to its charm, making it a light-hearted game that offers a little something extra for fans. This might be the best Stranger Things spin-off game, but it's definitely not the only one. There are other options to consider, and even if they don't manage to reach the same heights as Stranger Thing: The Gamethey are still worth mentioning, especially for the diehard fans who are hungry for more Stranger Things Final.
Stranger Things games feature one hit and two misses
|
Game |
Metacritic score |
|
Stranger Things: The Game |
81 |
|
Stranger Things 3: The Game |
53 |
|
Stranger Things VR |
44 |
Even if Stranger Things 3: The Game and Stranger Things VR didn't do as well with critic scores, it's still an example of how the Netflix series has tried to break into gaming before. Doing this is, of course, much easier said than done. Adapting a franchise to a new medium can be difficult, and video games can be one of the hardest. Licensed video games have had a notorious reputation in the past, and it's hard to shake that. For the most part, licensed video games are seen as low-stakes money, but Stranger Things: The Game balanced simplicity with a strong aesthetic and gameplay, breaking it free from that curse. As fun as Stranger Things: The Game may be, it's also a reminder of a now-cancelled spin-off game that never made its debut.
Stranger Things is also no stranger to game crossovers. The franchise has been involved in Fortnite, Dead in daylightand even Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
Telltale's canceled Stranger Things game could have been the franchise's big break into gaming
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Little is known about the game, but it was slated for a 2019 release.
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The game was canceled when Telltale Games suddenly shut down in 2018.
Unfortunately, this project ended up being added to the list of canceled games that could have been good. Games being canceled mid-production is nothing new, but it always stings. Telltale Games has a long history of making strong adaptations of popular film and television IPs. Batman, Game of Thrones, Back to the futureand The Walking Dead all were handled incredibly well by the developer, and it's a shame we'll never get to see how the team approached it Stranger Things.
Although Telltale Games was purchased and revived by LCG Entertainment, its Stranger Things the game continues to gather dust. At the moment, the developer is busy working on The wolf among us sequel, and after that it's unclear what the team has planned for the future.
Stranger Things may not have reached the same heights in gaming as it has with the rest of pop culture, but there is at least one shining gem hiding beneath the rubble. The Stranger Things seasons may have faced their own highs and lows over the years, but at the end of the day, it's still a solid show that brought retro '80s nostalgia back into the spotlight. Whether it rekindled one's love for Eggos or introduced someone to the magic of Dungeons & Dragonsthe end of Stranger Things marks the end of a fun chapter in pop culture history.
- Release date
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2016 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
- Directors
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Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz
- Author
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Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock
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Millie Bobby Brown
Jane 'Eleven' Hopper
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Finn Wolfhard
Mike Wheeler
