Stranger Things gets a retro-style video game adaptation ahead of the season 2 premiere

Two things I can probably guess about you right now - you're interested or at least a little curious about Stranger Things on Netflix, and ditto for video games. And if I'm correct, then I've got news for you: Netflix is publishing a Stranger Things game, and it's available now on iOS and Android.

Stranger Things: The Game plays almost like an old-school Legend of Zelda game, only instead of bokoblins and dungeons, you're taking on shady government figures, dodging flashlights, and exploring the town sewers. The story is a quasi-recap of the plot from Stranger Things season 1, albeit with some embellishments for gameplay's sake. At least I don't think I remember any of the boys doing sweet flips to earn Eggo tokens, or Chief Hopper punching his way through a government lab filled with lasers... All told, there's at least 10 hours of gameplay, 7 playable characters to choose from, 6 'dungeons' and over 30 quests.

There's a few more action-oriented, side-scrolling chase scenes as well, but regardless of what you're doing, it's all presented in a throwback retro style. Not quite as retro as the show itself (season 2 takes place in 1984, meaning these graphics are way too advanced for the time) but it's still quite charming.

The really good news is that it's completely free. No in-app purchases, no initial pricetag. I would say the game also lacks ads, but I mean... it basically is one big advertisement for season 2. And with the series set to return on October 27, that's fine by me!  

Sam Prell

Sam is a former News Editor here at GamesRadar. His expert words have appeared on many of the web's well-known gaming sites, including Joystiq, Penny Arcade, Destructoid, and G4 Media, among others. Sam has a serious soft spot for MOBAs, MMOs, and emo music. Forever a farm boy, forever a '90s kid.

Latest in Horror Shows
Kaitlyn Dever as Abby in The Last Of Us season 2
The Last of Us showrunner says newcomer Kaitlyn Dever was "within The Last of Us DNA" before the show existed
Clicker and Ellie
The Last of Us season 2 trailer brings the heart and the horror back to Joel and Ellie
Rick and Michonne in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
The Walking Dead boss looks to squash hopes of The Ones Who Live season 2 – though that doesn't mean we won't ever see Rick and Michonne again
The Last of Us season 2 first look
The Last of Us season 2 will tell "a different version" of the story, but Neil Druckmann loves the changes they've made: "Its DNA is in there"
The Xenomorph in Alien: Earth
New look at Alien: Earth has fans theorizing over whether they can hear a Predator in the background
Danny Huston in 30 Days of Night
The Hunger Games director to follow up Stephen King adaptation with Netflix series based on "30 Days of Night meets The Last of Us" horror podcast
Latest in News
Anthony Mackie in Captain America: Brave New World
Brave New World box office crosses milestone for Captain America movies, even though it still might not break even
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor
The first three episodes of the best Star Wars show are now available to watch for free ahead of the Andor season 2 premiere
Mio and Zoe holding a dragon during the trailer for Split Fiction.
Split Fiction blows It Takes Two out of the water by selling 1 million copies in 2 days, becoming Hazelight's fastest selling game ever
Death Stranding 2
Hideo Kojima says he'll "apologize beforehand" for Death Stranding 2 moments with Troy Baker's Higgs which are "so ridiculous" that "you'll probably throw the controller"
a stone giant walks on a field near a cliff
Erenshor, the 'MMORPG' with fake players that's not actually an MMO at all, gets an imminent release date
Michael Bay
Michael Bay and James Cameron had a call to commiserate over the state of the movie industry: "No one can greenlight anything anymore"