When does Stranger Things season four hit Netflix? That’s the question of the hour for many. One of the downsides of any season in this hit horror and sci-fi show is the fact that you will likely have to wait a whole year—and sometimes more—to find out what happens next. Well, fortunately, there are ways you can stay busy while you wait.
If you are a fan of the retro 80s horror of Stranger Things, you are lucky. If you are also a fan of horror games, there are some titles out there that can fill the void until season four drops. For some Stranger Things-esque gaming titles to enjoy, take a look below.
10 Until Dawn
A game about young people trying to connect and enjoy their youth while dealing with mysteries and a monster’s emergence, it seems like these two are cut from a similar cloth. While Stranger Things happens in a small mid-west town and involves younger children Until Dawn follows many of the same plot beats and scary moments. It captures the experience of working with a team of “friends” to take down a legendary creature almost entirely.
9 Alan Wake
Many have made the connection between Stranger Things and Stephen King. The show’s approach to horror and sci-fi feels like a King novel. However, there is another game that many people feel is inspired by this author’s style: Alan Wake.
The similarities are there: an eerie small town, forest-based horror scenes, and a retro-horror style. It almost feels like you can take Finn, Eleven, and the gang and plop them right in the middle of this game.
8 Friday The 13th
Yes, you read that right. Friday the 13th should be on your Stranger Things video game playlist. While Friday the 13th is a slasher game and series of films, the one thing that ties it to Stranger Things is teamwork.
In the game, you can work alongside other gamers to escape Camp Crystal Lake or call the police. This game does resemble the all-star Hawkins, Indiana group. Again, the 80s aesthetic and campiness are there as you enjoy moving through this old-school style multiplayer.
7 Stories Untold
This one is a little less known than the others on this list, but its plot and creativity pack a major punch if you’re up for it. This game is a text-based adventure experience that allows you to choose your next path. It’s spooky, atmospheric, and incredibly fresh.
What makes this game match up so well with Stranger Things is that the creators teamed up with Google to create a Google Home voice-based adventure where you can call Dustin and guide him through an adventure plot. This 80s style text-based adventure game has the depth to top the Google game.
6 Resident Evil 1
Yes, Capcom’s most recognizable horror outing is on this list, and for a good reason. It isn’t the zombies nor the run through the mansion, but Resident Evil does include some entertaining creature feature fun that definitely evokes the atmosphere of Stranger Things. From fighting Plant 42 to battling giant snakes, you will be fighting monsters that would even make Steve and Dustin jealous.
5 Silent Hill
This one comes directly from Ross Duffer, the co-creator of Stranger Things. In an article, he remarked that many people have picked up on the similarities between Stranger Things and Silent Hill, especially regarding the upside down.
He confirmed that he and the team actually looked to these games for inspiration on creating the monstrous world. Therefore, this would be a great game to visit or revisit as you await season four. The fog, horrifying monsters, and weird town settings echo the world of Stranger Things.
4 The Last Of Us
The Duffer brothers also mentioned this game as an inspiration for Stranger Things, mainly due to its emphasis on storytelling and character development. Video games are definitely beginning to embrace well-crafted stories, but The Last of Us has taken it to another level, making the experience feel cinematic.
Stranger Things has emphasized the same attention to detail and story development. This would be a great game to take on to get a horror gaming experience with a focus on story development.
3 Alien: Isolation
While Stranger Things is mostly known for horror, it’s important also to remember the sci-fi elements associated with this show. This especially shows up during the third season. In it, viewers get to see more scientists, more labs, and even more detailed discussions around conspiracies and science experiments.
In some of the final scenes of the season, there is claustrophobia that comes with seeing the characters roaming the halls of the underground lab and the mall. It feels inspired by games like Alien: Isolation. The dread of characters turning around corners and moving through rooms is a feeling you get as you play this newest iteration of the Alien franchise.
2 Call Of Cthulu: Dark Corners Of The Earth
Monsters, cosmic horror, and a missing person’s case? You knew this one had too many similarities to Stranger Things to not be on the list. Many of the monsters in Stranger Things feel as if H.P. Lovecraft’s creations inspire them.
Much of season one feels very similar to this game, as much of the activity revolves around Will’s disappearance. The town’s moody atmosphere in Call of Cthulu definitely feels like an early 1900s Hawking, Indiana. If you are awaiting season four, this game is worth a playthrough.
1 Dark Souls
This game may seem like an unlikely candidate for this list, as it’s a gothic horror tale that seems pretty far removed from the 80s retro scene of Stranger Things. However, surprisingly, this game was also mentioned as an inspiration for the show by the Duffer brothers.
The reasoning behind this was that Dark Souls brings uneasiness to the player that the creators also wanted to bring to the show. Both keep you on the edge of your seat as you move from scene to scene in a way that you may not be expecting. Dark Souls is also a great reminder of the Dungeons and Dragons style games the Hawkins gang would play throughout the seasons.
NEXT: Apocalyptic: 15 Dark Souls Creatures So Powerful They Can End The World
