The Stranger Things Franchise Officially Returns February 2027

Published Nov 9, 2026, 8:00 AM EST Known as 'Cyberpunk 2077's' biggest fan, Angharad is a Welsh games writer who thrives in anything related to digital storytelling. If a video game explores the intricacies and horrors of womanhood, she is there. Thanks to previous work at GAMINGbible, GameByte, The Loadout, Game Luster, Angharad has built a strong understanding of both the digital world and what fans want from it and is eager to share her thoughts and expertise with readers. It may have been almost a year since the Stranger Things finale shocked us all, but to nobody's surprise, the franchise continues to live on after becoming Netflix's most successful show of all time. Running for almost a decade and consisting of five seasons of supernatural chaos, Stranger Things swiftly became a household name as it took viewers to 1980s America, where the story followed a bunch of kids that had to juggle the pains of growing up with an ongoing supernatural threat. Praised for its homage to the 1980s, atmosphere, acting, and characterization, it is no surprise that Stranger Things still boasts a dedicated fanbase, and it is a fanbase that will be pleased to hear that the fun is far from over as the hit Netflix show is expected to return in February 2027. In collaboration with Bandai Namco, Netflix has revealed the Stranger Things-inspired Tamagotchi virtual pet variant. Yes, you read that correctly. You can get your hands on the beloved childhood toy, but with a Stranger Things-twist. Created by Bandai back in 1996, the pocket-sized digital pet was all the rage in the late 90s/early 00s and taught many of us the responsibility of owning a pet (and subsequently abandoning it when a new toy was released). Gameplay consisted of hatching an egg and nurturing your pet by feeding it, cleaning up after it, and taking part in mini-games to manage its health and behavior. Now, the Tamagotchi is back and, in a very unique spin, its screen will be upside down to, you guess it, immortalize the Upside Down in Stranger Things. Launching alongside a themed case and shell, the Stranger Things Tamagotchi virtual pet variant is set to launch in Japan in February 2027, and retails at 3,300 yen (~$21). At the time of writing, no worldwide release has been confirmed, but due to the success of the show outside of Japan, it is very likely that it will leave Japan exclusively soon after launch. That being said, despite featuring an upside-down screen and themed casing, players should not expect any characters from Stranger Things itself, including Eleven and the gang or even the Demogorgon. There are also no show cameos or in-game references. Instead, you will raise the standard Tamagotchi pets, such as Babytchi and Marutchi, and their adult forms, Mametchi, Kuchipatchi, and Nyorotchi. So, can we consider this a Stranger Things-inspired version? Well, I guess that is up for debate, but with it costing just $21, it makes sense that Bandai has not broken the mold when it came to its design, and this should be treated as more of a collectible than a fully Stranger Things video game adaptation. Complete with a black and red color scheme, an accompanying chain to hang from your belt or bag, and that upside-down interface, it definitely looks the part, even if its gameplay leaves a lot to be desired. As mentioned, the Stranger Things-inspired Tamagotchi virtual pet variant launches this February in Japan. 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.