Stranger Things Returns To Netflix In An Unexpected Way

Image via MovieStillsDB Published Jul 29, 2026, 5:15 PM EDT Ben Brosofsky has been writing for Screen Rant since 2022 and editing since 2024. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor's in Cinema & Media Arts. Writing serves as a much-needed distraction from tackling a backlog of Steam games that will never be surmounted. Sign in to your ScreenRant account The main story of Stranger Things wrapped up with its final, two-hour-long episode at the end of 2025, but it's become increasingly clear that Netflix won't be done with the franchise for a long time yet. After years of utilizing the IP as a marketing and merchandising powerhouse, it's no surprise that the streaming service isn't letting it go quietly. Stranger Things' first big return came in the form of Stranger Things: Tales of '85, an animated series that struggled to garner the same acclaim as the live-action show. Now, a new Netflix release will bring back the characters yet again in another surprising approach. On its official companion site Tudum, Netflix revealed the details for Netflix Minigolf, a party game available through the streaming platform. The game celebrates several major Netflix franchises, with playable characters from Stranger Things, Bridgerton, and Squid Game. On the part of Stranger Things, the following characters are included: Eleven Demogorgon Hopper Max Likewise, courses in the game are themed around the streaming service's hits. Stranger Things courses are set in Hawkins, with rifts and Demogorgons serving as potential course hazards. Players can also attempt to derail their rivals' progress by aiming for their balls or deploying various abilities. Netflix Minigolf is officially available now for subscribers, and it can be played on mobile, supported TV apps, and Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge web browsers. Netflix's gaming catalog is a mixed bag overall, with its interface offering everything from classics like World of Goo to games called things like Too Hot to Handle 3. It's hard to go wrong with minigolf, though, and Netflix Minigolf feels like a smart way to bring multiple shows together in an appropriately themed environment. This isn't Netflix's first venture into Stranger Things gaming, with previous seasons being retold in the pixelated adventures Stranger Things: The Game and Stranger Things 3: The Game. It's also made its way into VR with, you guessed it, Stranger Things VR, and characters have popped up in ongoing games like Fortnite and Dead by Daylight. Whether you're experienced with Stranger Things games or not, there's nothing to lose by trying out Netflix Minigolf if you're already a subscriber. It won't exactly deliver what a new season of Stranger Things would, but it could still make for a good game night with some friends who are also fans. Release Date 2016 - 2025-00-00 Network Netflix Showrunner Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Stranger Things is a Netflix series set in the 1980s, where the mysterious disappearance of a young boy leads a small town to uncover secret experiments and supernatural forces.