Despite last December reportedly ending horribly, Netflix has officially confirmed it Stranger Things will return in late 2026 s Stories from '85 receiving new episodes. In addition, the game Stranger Things: The First Shadowis set to premiere on the streaming service in 2027 after its final shows in December and January. Netflix probably won't release another episode of the main series, but it certainly doesn't seem like it has any intention of ending the franchise anytime soon. Hardly surprising, considering Stranger Things continues to be one of the most successful shows on the platform.
Netflix surprisingly didn't release many of them Stranger Things games and we have yet to get that definitive console/PC title that fully captures the magic of the show. Cooperation with Dead by Daylight and Fortnite probably represent Stranger Things' game highlight, but these are not proper adaptations by any stretch of the imagination. So, there are some of the officials Stranger Things games worth playing?
Who is that character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Start
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
6
Stranger Things Palace Arcade
A cute promotional tool and piece of memorabilia
-
Created by Hasbro
-
Contains 20 games, including classic Namco games Pac Man, Galaga
-
It includes some of the original games played on the show
Let's start with an odd one that barely qualifies as a game even though it technically contains 20. The Stranger Things Palace Arcade is a closet-shaped emulator that comes with several games that we see the characters playing in season 2. You can play Block Blaster, Pollywog dangeror Waffle Blastalong with more unique titles such as Eleven's Quest. The cabinet also runs several classic Bandai Namco games.
A new game on Steam feels like weird stuff if you were trapped upside down
Stranger Things fans looking to fill the void after the show ends should definitely check out this new horror game on Steam.
Stranger Things Palace Arcade is a nice keepsake that fits on the shelf, and that's it. The games are fine for what they are, but mostly exist as a novelty rather than something to actively play. Since you can enjoy Namco games almost anywhere, the originals are the main selling point, and for the most part they are fair Stranger Things– themed versions of 80s classics like Breakout or Space Invaders.
If I remember correctly, Arcade of the palace was originally a mobile app in 2018, although I can't find much information about that version. Maybe I was hallucinating.
5
Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales
Gone And Forgotten
-
Developer: Next Games
-
Mobile game
-
Retired in 2024
-
Match-3 RPG
You might not have known it, but Netflix has been trying to break into the gaming space for quite some time, with mostly mediocre results. Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales is a byproduct of that attempt and its lack of long-term viability (for now). While Netflix launched as a cash-strapped microtransaction, it actually scrapped the latter and turned it around Riddles Fairy tales to a completely free game (for those with a Netflix subscription). Combined with some truly gorgeous art, story snippets, and a usable match-3 gameplay loop, this title had a lot to offer; however, it fell short in several key areas.
Despite the removal of microtransactions, Riddles Fairy tales it never stopped feeling like an idle RPG that regularly throws out massive difficulty spikes that kill the player's momentum. You had to log in daily to collect all the necessary resources to level up your characters, so the whole thing felt like an unsatisfying grind.
Plus you can't play it anymore.
4
Stranger Things: Catalyst
A cool Stranger Things game (that might be at a location near you)
-
Sandbox VR
-
Virtual Reality Experience (by location)
-
Multiplayer
Stranger Things: Catalyst it can be an amazing experience… if you experience it. Unlike other VRs Stranger Things game, Catalyst cannot be played on your Meta Quest; instead, it requires you and your friends to book a session at one of the available locations. Depending on where you live, you may not be physically able to play Catalyst in any form, making it completely inaccessible to millions of fans. If your party is lucky enough to have access to one of these centers, you can pay a hefty price to enjoy a 25-minute simulation that turns you into an esper capable of battling armies of guards, demobats, and demogorgons.
With full physical immersion that includes a haptic vest and environmental accents, Catalyst it makes you feel like you might actually be in the Upside Down. The thing is, the game itself is very simplistic, basically amounting to a wave shooter where you have to fend off dozens of the same types of enemies. Fun but nothing memorable. Honestly, this probably won't ever come out as a home game because it needs more than traditional VR to be worth playing.
3
Stranger Things VR
The Most Ambitious Stranger Things game
-
Developer: Tender Claws
-
Virtual reality only
-
Psychological horror and action
Although they barely crack the top 3, Stranger Things VR is the franchise's most ambitious game to date, by quite a large margin. While it doesn't always come together smoothly, the Tender Claws project feels like a meaningful addition Stranger Things universe rather than just a cute distraction to keep you occupied for a few minutes. For the first time in this article, we have a truly must-have game for die-hard fans if they have the necessary hardware. Don't buy Meta Quest 3 just to play it.
7 things that have gone wrong with other people's belongings
Stranger Things became a global Netflix phenomenon in its first two seasons, but everything hasn't been perfect since then.
In a really fun twist, Stranger Things VR casts you as Vecna and allows you to become the main antagonist of the series. As a number one, you race through the scenarios using your raw telekinetic power, making these sections lean on a powerful fantasy. However, the campaign also slows things down by including parts inside the other characters' minds, exploring their shattered psyches and traumas in the form of psychological horror sequences.
Stranger Things VR it gets a lot of things right, except for one really important thing: gameplay. While the combat and movement is playable, it feels a bit clunky and even disorienting, which can be hard to stomach from sitting for long periods of time. Movement speed could also be better as a lot of sections are welcome.
2
Stranger Things 3: The Game
A Proper Stranger Things Game (which is funnier now than it was at launch)
-
Developer: BonusXP
-
Platforms: Mobile, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC
-
Beat 'Em Up with puzzle elements
Now let's get to the heavy hitters. Reflecting the show's eternal love for the past, Stranger Things 3: The Game very much hearkens back to the old days, specifically the 16-bit era of SNES gaming. Yeah, the 90s aren't exactly Stranger Things' focus, but they all fall into the same nostalgia bubble.
BonusXP is an isometric, top-down beat 'em up that charts the entire plot of Season 3, putting together a fun love letter to the source material that you can enjoy either alone or with a friend. Most of the stages revolve around traditional beat-'em-up action, but puzzles break these up, helping to keep things from getting too monotonous. Some RPG elements like crafting and side quests are also included. Finally, the list of characters is quite impressive, especially since all 12 are different from each other.
Stranger Things 3: The Game he's weird At the time of its release, the game wasn't that exciting because it remakes the plot of Season 3, which was still fresh in the minds of most fans. This repetition made it hard to overcome its flaws, such as uninteresting quest design and combat that can't stay interesting throughout the 10-hour campaign. Nowadays though, season 3 is old news and Stranger Things 3: The Game presents a fun alternative way to experience this part of the story.
1
Stranger Things: 1984 (Aka, Stranger Things: The Game)
-
Developer: BonusXP
-
Platforms: Mobile
-
RPG
Far and away, the best Stranger Things the game was the very first. Released in 2017, Stranger Things: The Game was eventually renamed to Stranger Things: 1984. Unlike Stranger Things 3, 1984 doesn't directly adapt the source material, instead opting to tell a story set in Seasons 1 and 2. This immediately makes this release much more appealing than its “successor,” though I use that term lightly since they don't have much in common besides being old-school games.
1984 is a brilliant top-down action-adventure game that serves as a straightforward love letter to 1991 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. You start out as Chief Hopper and start investigating the disappearance of children. Once you find them, they'll join your party, allowing you to switch between characters and use their abilities to solve puzzles. The game perfectly mirrors childhood themes of teamwork by turning character traits into puzzle solving. As long as you can stomach your appetite for mobile games, don't miss this one.
oh right Stranger Things: 1984is free.
