Yes, it’s a mobile game, and yes, it’s a promotional tie-in for a telly series, but the Stranger Things video game is actually quite sweet.
You’re going to be hearing a lot about Stranger Things over the next three weeks.
In a world of runaway TV series successes from online upstarts, Stranger Things is one of the most popular. And it’s with good reason: it’s brilliant.
The fear that it would be cynical nostalgia-bait (like Ready Player One) were quickly unfounded. Instead the first series revealed itself to be a sensitive and likeable slice of period charm (like The Goldbergs) that lifts and benefits the story.
Since it crashed onto our screens in mid-2016, one of the most consistent comments we hear about the series – that is itself inspired by video games in so many ways – has been that fans would rather like to see a Stranger Things video game.
Fast forward to mere weeks before the premiere of Stranger Things season 2, and Netflix – along with Texas game developer BonusXP, Inc. – have, with very little fanfare and no build up, released a Stranger Things video game on Android and iOS. And it looks adorable.
Yes, it’s more of a promotional concern than a development project in its own right, but it is a lovely, fitting slice of nostalgia that will help you get excited for the telly event of the year (sorry, Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, but Netflix has you licked).
Thanks, Touch Arcade.
