Is ‘Stranger Things’ Finally Getting an Open-World Game?

With Season 5 closing out the Hawkins saga later this year, Stranger Things is on the edge of a major turning point. The flagship series is ending, but what about the franchise as a whole?

Between Stranger Things‘ history of other mediums of storytelling (including the West End/Broadway production The First Shadow) and the upcoming animated series Tales From ‘8, the franchise has already evolved into a broader universe. But there’s still one huge opportunity left untouched: open-world gaming.

Stranger Things Needs To Follow Harry Potter and Star Wars

It’s no secret that open-world video games are incredibly popular right now—perhaps more than they’ve ever been. Over the past few years, we’ve seen “Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora”, “Hogwarts Legacy”, and “Star Wars: Outlaws” all hit big.

These immersive titles let fans explore beloved universes—something Stranger Things is suited for. Currently, there are only mobile titles, arcade-style games, and VR experiences, but nothing on the scale of a AAA open-world release. Yet the potential is massive.

Hawkins alone offers dozens of locations: Starcourt Mall, Hawkins Lab, the arcade, the woods, and lots more. Then, of course, there’s the Upside Down—an entire shadow dimension waiting to be explored. You could embark on quests to uncover supernatural mysteries, or switch perspectives between different iconic characters as chaos unfolds.

Related: ‘Stranger Things’ May Have Revealed Season 5’s Monster • Disney Tips

Stranger Things Is Well Suited to Open-World Gaming

The franchise’s setting is tailor-made for this kind of experience. 1980s Indiana, complete with vintage cars, cassette tapes, and synth-heavy soundtracks, would set the tone perfectly. Mix that with evolving player choices, maybe even tie-ins to events from The First Shadow or Tales From ’85, and you’ve got something that’s fully integrated into the canon.

A game that lets players step into the shoes of someone well-known or entirely new—a local reporter, a junior scientist, or a teenager who stumbles into something terrifying—could keep the Stranger Things world alive for years to come.

So far, no such project has been confirmed. But if the creators follow in the footsteps of other franchises that have leapt into open-world formats, it’s only a matter of time before Stranger Things turned the world of gaming upside down.

Stranger Things Season 5

Watch the first official trailer for Stranger Things Season 5 below:

Stranger Things seasons 1 — 4 are now streaming on Netflix.

Are you excited about Stranger Things Season 5? Let us know in the comments down below!