What Arc Raiders has to do with Stranger Things and why it works

When I remember ARC RaidersI don't normally think about anything related Stranger Things. However, now that I'm playing the game in the middle of the final season of the Netflix series, I still see a lot of parallels between the two that are really fascinating. ARC Raiders and Stranger ThingsThe stories are completely different, but both rely on the same aspects to bring their worlds fully alive. Both involve larger-than-life menace, as many epics do, but the fact that their formulas work so well is a combination of tools that continues to be successful in pop culture.

The extraction shooter only launched in October, but its short lifespan hasn't stopped it from becoming one of the biggest games of 2025. ARC Raiders scratched an itch that many other live service games were trying to hit. Among the new ARC Raiders update and first half Stranger ThingsThe final season hit Netflix and both have had a lot to offer lately. Even if you only root for one and not the other, it's hard to deny that it's both ARC Raiders and Stranger Things both share a nostalgic core.

Synth-Heavy Soundtracks Liven Up ARC Raiders and Stranger Things

The most striking similarity between the two is first their soundtracks. The ARC Raiders the soundtrack is one of the best game scores of 2025, but it's clear that it also sounds an awful lot alike Stranger Things'music. At this point, even if one hasn't even seen the show, Stranger Things has some of the most famous songs of the last decade, especially its main theme song. The show just wouldn't feel the same without the score ARC Raiders would probably feel much different even without synth-centric music. Synth immediately sets the mood in both. Whether Eleven is facing the Demogorgon or trying to avoid the ARC while scavenging for supplies, the beautifully moody synth sound in the background really ramps up the tension. It's the cornerstone of their worlds, but it's also a key part of another trait they both share: a love of 80s retro style.

The retro aesthetic of the 80s is at the heart of every world design

Since then of course Stranger Things is actually set in the 80s, it's obvious why its aesthetic is the way it is. When it comes down to it ARC Raidersdeveloper Embark Studios could easily have chosen a different style. The source of inspiration could have been a completely different decade. ARC Raiders it could have been much more futuristic with its style, or even more bare-bones and survivalist, since it's a post-apocalyptic story based on a deadly robotic AI threat. A more primitive, wasteland-inspired look would feel too similar to him Horizonalthough, a Fallout the franchise bet on a post-apocalyptic world wrapped in images of naive optimism of the 1950s.

ARC RaidersRetro technology has a practical quality that isn't ostentatious. Whatever it is ARC Raiders weapons, cosmetics or items are all incredibly grounded and analog, coincidentally matching the pre-digital world Stranger Things. Even if ARC Raiders uses the 1980s as a blueprint, it's certainly not the first sci-fi game inspired by the decade.

Other notable games that embrace the retro-futurism of the 80s

Alien: Isolation (2014)
Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (2021)
Intergalactic: The Heretical Prophet (under development)

Nostalgia supports ARC Raiders and Stranger Things' Tone

It's hard to embrace retro-futuristic style without also relying on some serious nostalgia. The 1980s are often looked upon fondly because of their intense impact on pop culture. Whether it was music, movies, television, or products, the 80s were full of iconic moments that still influence creators today. While nostalgia can be a powerful tool, it can also easily become cheesy. However, ARC Raiders and Stranger Things don't use the 80s as a path to shoe references. Stranger Things is a love letter to the 80s, not a parody, and ARC Raiders it uses the atmosphere of the decade as a tool to ground its world instead of feeling like a cheap and easy gimmick.

Isolation and slow tension create a more meaningful experience

Insulation and slow burn are definitely features that are more in line Stranger Things' earlier seasons, but it still applies when looking at the series and ARC Raiders. Before the main plot of Vecna officially started, Stranger Things developed as a slower mystery and one of many things that ARC Raiders handles measured stimulation well. When ARC Raiders it brings action, it's intense, but when there's no threat of it being taken down and players can focus on surviving and clearing, it's a pretty slow-burn experience for a live service game. Other titles with live services like Fortnite and Call of Duty they made the event a top priority but ARC Raiders forces players to take their time. Both Stranger Things and ARC Raiders let the tension hang in the air, make the mystery and heavy mood a priority instead of constantly serving up action cravings.

What is it about this formula that works so well?

Synthesizers are versatile tools that can capture different emotions.
80s retro-futurism is an aesthetic that creates eye-catching yet grounded visuals.
Nostalgia is a useful tool for making viewers feel attached.
Slow narration can make for a richer experience.

Each of these features is strong enough on its own, but when combined they create a really strong identity. ARC Raiders and Stranger Things in the end, they look nothing alike, but use the same tools to build their own special worlds. Across pop culture, 80s sci-fi was one of the genre's most successful periods, and the decade's unique atmosphere will continue to inspire developers and creators.

So, though ARC Raiders' lore is far removed Stranger Things and his Dungeons & Dragons– inspired by a horror mystery, both still share basic principles, and that's fascinating. Despite these properties encompassing the same aspects, they were able to clearly stand on their own, demonstrating how a single theme can inspire diverse and unique stories.