While Stranger Things races toward its explosive Season 5 finale, it’s fair to say that the franchise’s reach now extends far beyond Netflix, which means that it isn’t going anywhere. But for an IP that has expanded across almost every medium, it remains notably absent from one of the biggest spaces in entertainment: a full-scale video game.
Since debuting on Netflix in 2016, Stranger Things has spawned mobile games, tabletop releases, comic books, tie-in novels, and a stage production. It has also dipped into immersive formats with two virtual reality titles and, most recently, a licensed add-on for “Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024”. What it hasn’t produced, however, is a traditional big-budget console or PC game, let alone an open-world one.
Other Big Franchises Already Have Open-World Games
That absence stands out as other major pop culture franchises have made the leap. Harry Potter found massive success with “Hogwarts Legacy” in 2023, Avatar joined the list with “Frontiers of Pandora” that same year, and Star Wars ventured into the open-world arena with “Outlaws” in 2024. Each offers players a chance to explore familiar worlds at their own pace — something that feels particularly suited to Hawkins and the Upside Down.
An open-world Stranger Things game would have plenty to work with: a small-town map, multiple playable characters with distinct abilities (whether it’s the likes of Will, Eleven, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Hopper, or new ones entirely), access to the mirror dimension known as the Upside Down, and perhaps even a timeline that could span several seasons.
Related: ‘Stranger Things’ Finale Breaks Netflix-Only Tradition
Stranger Things Is Being Rebooted in Animation
Netflix and the Duffer Brothers have been careful about how and when the brand expands, and one possible reason we haven’t had a game yet is timing. Unlike some long-running franchises, Stranger Things is still relatively young, having only launched in 2016.
But the series is now nearing its conclusion with the upcoming Season 5 finale (Volume 2 on December 25 and the final episode on December 31), and Netflix seems largely focused on finishing that story before pushing into major new territory.
For instance, next year, Stranger Things will expand into animation with a new series titled Tales From ’85, signaling that the company sees long-term value beyond the main show.
An open-world game may not be imminent, but given the franchise’s scale and the industry’s track record, it still feels more like a matter of when than if.
A game would also, in part, act like a reboot in its own right, in the same way that “Hogwarts Legacy” felt like a loose reset of the Wizarding World. Similarly, perhaps an open-world Stranger Things title could act as a prequel to the ’80s era of the flagship series, even long before the ’50s-set stage show The First Shadow.
Where Can I Watch Stranger Things Season 5?
Stranger Things seasons 1 — 4 and Season 5 Volume 1 are now streaming on Netflix.
Volume 2 will premiere on December 25 and the finale will premiere on December 31 (availability depends on your region/time zone).
Stranger Things Season 5 stars Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Joe Keery (Steve Harrington), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Brett Gelman (Murray Bauman), Nell Fisher (Holly Wheeler), Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Jamie Campbell Bower (Vecna/Henry Creel), Cara Buono (Karen Wheeler), and Linda Hamilton (Dr. Kay).
Would you like an open-world Stranger Things video game? Let us know in the comments down below!
