# Stranger Things 3: The Game

> 2019 video game developed by BonusXP

**Wikidata**: [Q107526522](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107526522)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_Things_3:_The_Game)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/stranger-things-3-the-game

## Summary
Stranger Things 3: The Game is a 2019 action-adventure video game developed by BonusXP that retells the events of the Netflix series' third season through retro-styled gameplay. The title launched simultaneously with the show's July 2019 premiere and was initially self-published by BonusXP before Netflix took over publishing duties in 2021.

## Key Facts
- Released 4 July 2019 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and macOS; mobile ports (iOS/Android) followed 29 August 2019.
- Developed and originally published by BonusXP; Netflix became the preferred publisher starting 2021.
- Rated "Teen" by ESRB for Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, and Mild Suggestive Themes.
- Supports both single-player and multiplayer modes; input methods include gamepad and touchscreen.
- Aggregate review score of 62/100 on OpenCritic (37 critics) with only 22 % of critics recommending the game.

## FAQs
### Q: What platforms can I play Stranger Things 3: The Game on?
A: The game is available digitally on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Android. All versions are download-only; no physical edition was produced.

### Q: Do I need to watch Stranger Things season 3 before playing?
A: The game follows the season's plot scene-for-scene, so playing first will spoil major story beats. Developers intended it as a companion piece to be enjoyed alongside or immediately after viewing.

### Q: Is local co-op supported?
A: Yes, two-player local co-op is built in. Each player controls one of the twelve playable characters, swapping on the fly to use their unique abilities while solving puzzles or fighting enemies.

### Q: Has the game been delisted from stores?
A: As of January 2026 the title is still purchasable on Steam, Epic Games Store, Google Play, the App Store, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and itch.io; no delisting notice has been issued.

## Why It Matters
Stranger Things 3: The Game occupies a rare niche: a licensed title released day-and-date with its parent show, designed to let fans inhabit the season's events rather than merely watch them. By adopting 16-bit aesthetics and couch-co-op mechanics, BonusXP evoked the 1980s gaming culture that the series itself celebrates, reinforcing Netflix's cross-media nostalgia strategy. Although critical reception was tepid, the simultaneous launch demonstrated that mid-budget tie-ins could still command attention in an era dominated by high-production-value open-world blockbusters. For researchers of transmedia storytelling, the project serves as a case study in how modern franchises synchronize television and interactive releases, while economists point to its 2021 hand-off from self-publishing to first-party Netflix control as an early signal of the streamer's push into gaming. For players, it remains one of the few officially sanctioned ways to explore Hawkins, Indiana, interactively, making it a cultural artifact for fans even beyond its gameplay merits.

## Notable For
- Launch-day parity with the Stranger Things season 3 premiere—uncommon for mid-tier licensed games.
- Twelve-character roster that mirrors the TV cast, each mapped to specific puzzle-solving skills.
- Cross-buy/cross-save between mobile and desktop versions via a single Netflix account login (post-2021).
- Retro pixel-art aesthetic deliberately evocative of Super Nintendo-era action-adventures.
- One of the first titles to carry Netflix as a formal publisher after the company's 2021 gaming expansion.

## Body
### Development & Release Timeline
BonusXP, an Austin-based indie studio known for porting and supporting larger franchises, began development after working on prior Stranger Things mobile content. The team opted for a top-down 2D action-adventure format to match the show's 1980s nostalgia, emulating classics like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. On 4 July 2019 the game shadow-dropped on consoles and PC alongside the season's Netflix debut; mobile versions arrived 29 August 2019. In 2021 Netflix assumed publishing responsibilities, folding the title into its nascent game-publishing division and integrating Netflix account-based cloud saves.

### Gameplay Systems
Players alternate between twelve characters—Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, Max, Hopper, Joyce, Jonathan, Nancy, Steve, and Erica—each possessing unique combat moves and environmental abilities. Progression is linear: story beats follow the season episode by episode, with combat arenas and simple switch-and-key puzzles breaking up narrative cut-scenes. Local two-player co-op allows drop-in/drop-out at any time; second-player progress saves to the host's profile. Experience earned upgrades team-wide stats, encouraging frequent character swapping rather than relying on a single favorite.

### Technical Specs & Storefronts
Windows minimum requirements target Intel Core i3-4130 / AMD A10-7850K, 4 GB RAM, and DirectX 11-compatible GPU; recommended spec bumps to Intel i5-4570 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200 with 8 GB RAM. The Steam build occupies roughly 2 GB and supports Steam Cloud, Big Picture, and Remote Play Together. Console versions run at 1080p 30 fps on base PlayStation 4 and Xbox One hardware; Switch handheld resolution is 720p. Mobile builds support 60 fps on A9/Adreno 530-class SoCs and above.

### Reception & Legacy
OpenCritic's 62/100 average (22 % recommendation rate) cited repetitive combat and faithful-but-predictable retelling of the show. IGN scored 5.5/10, praising co-op charm but criticizing shallow mechanics; GameSpot awarded 6/10, highlighting pixel art authenticity yet lamenting lack of gameplay surprises. Despite modest scores, the title maintained healthy SteamCharts concurrency for several weeks post-launch, buoyed by series popularity. It remains commercially available across all original storefronts and is periodically discounted to $4.99 USD (down from the $19.99 launch price).

## Schema Markup
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  "genre": "action-adventure game",
  "datePublished": "2019-07-04",
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## References

1. Steam
2. OpenCritic
3. Online Games-Datenbank
4. StopGame
5. ESRB rating database
6. [Source](https://howlongtobeat.com/game.php?id=68766)
7. GameSpot
8. [Source](https://www.igdb.com/games/stranger-things-3-the-game)
9. [Source](https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP0079-CUSA16331_00-ST3TG00000000000)
10. Badgames
11. [Source](https://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Stranger_Things_3%3A_The_Game)
12. [Source](https://www.speedrun.com/stranger_things_3)
13. [Source](https://www.igromania.ru/game/30946/-)
14. [Source](https://ogdb.eu/index.php?section=title&titleid=52371)
15. [Source](https://videogamegeek.com/videogame/288819)
16. [Source](https://lutris.net/games/stranger-things-3-the-game)
17. [Source](https://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri/requirements/_/18901)
18. [Source](https://www.videogamer.com/games/stranger-things-3-the-game)
19. [Source](https://www.pcgamesdatabase.de/gameinfo.php?game_id=4547)
20. [Source](https://www.dekudeals.com/items/stranger-things-3-the-game)
21. Game Informer
22. Q110996436
23. Dark Patterns Games
24. Q124398839
25. GamesMeter.nl
26. Q117506892
27. Delisted Games
28. GOG Dreamlist
29. VGChartz