Stranger Issues co-creator Matt Duffer has revealed the ultimate battle of season 5 was impressed by enjoying Baldur’s Gate 3.
The ultimate episode of Stranger Issues, The Rightside Up, premiered on New 12 months’s Day. The 2-hour epic noticed our group of plucky heroes journey to The Abyss to confront Vecna and the Mindflayer face-to-face whereas Eleven, Max, Will and Kali used telekinetic powers to battle him in his personal thoughts.
In a brand new interview with Selection, co-creator Matt Duffer confirmed that the ultimate battle was closely impressed by hit fantasy role-playing recreation Baldur’s Gate 3, which is about throughout the world of Dungeons And Dragons.
“We had been fascinated with D&D and I used to be enjoying Baldur’s Gate 3 on the time. We felt it was crucial that the one manner for them to defeat it was for your entire social gathering to work collectively,” he defined.
“Everybody had totally realised — both by way of self-acceptance or they’ve resolved all their varied points — shifting into that remaining battle, they’re completely primed,” he added. “They’re the final word group and it’s the social gathering working all collectively to defeat this factor. And so they every have their very own particular person abilities, proper? And that’s the place I’m going again to Dungeons & Dragons and one thing like Baldur’s Gate, as a result of that’s how you are taking down these monsters that appear in any other case unstoppable.”
He went on to say that “numerous online game references” had been utilized in that remaining battle. Baldur’s Gate 3 boss Swen Vincke responded to the information by calling it “fairly cool“.
That is fairly cool
— Swen Vincke @the place? (@LarAtLarian) January 6, 2026
Late final yr, Matt and his brother Ross stated that the ultimate season of Stranger Issues was impressed by basic video video games akin to Resident Evil, Silent Hill and Steel Gear Strong in addition to how Hideo Kojima sequels are by no means a “picture copy” of what’s come beforehand. “Although it labored earlier than, you proceed to evolve it, develop it and alter it. You problem your self and the viewers, and that’s what we’ve tried to do,” Matt instructed the legendary online game director.
Earlier this month, Minecraft launched an official Stranger Issues enlargement to have a good time the tip of the Netflix hit. Nonetheless some followers are satisfied a secret ninth episode might be surprise-released within the close to future.
In different information, Rhea Seehorn’s performing debut as a sorceress in 1997’s Magic: The Gathering PC recreation has gone viral following the success of Pluribus.
