Stranger Things: Upside Down is a board game based on the Stranger Things television series.
Hawkins, Indiana seems like an average town. However, underneath the exterior lurks a secret. The Hawkins National Laboratory has been doing experiments that have unleashed the horrors of the Upside Down. It's up to the kids in the town to save it.
In Stranger Things: Upside Down, players take on the role of the kids of Hawkins who are trying to stop the operatives of the Hawkins National Laboratory and the evils from the Upside Down. Players must work together to clear stacks of tokens before time runs out. The game offers two seasons of play.
Stranger Things: Upside Down is a cooperative game in which 2 to 4 players take on the role of the series’ protagonists. At the start of the game, players choose a Character and 1 of the 2 Seasons to play,each with its own board, actions, and unique sets of cards. Characters use Action cards to move through iconic Hawkins Locations, get Items, control their Fear, and to beat the value of token stacks in order to gather Allies, escape a secret government agency,help Eleven and be aided by her Powers, and fight the horrors coming from the Upside Down. They perform their actions over a series of turns until they reach their ultimate goal: to stop the Upside Down
forces and rescue Will... or get terrified trying.
Actions are performed by the Characters during their turn, according to the Location they’re in, abilities (in Mike’s case), or the presence of Foes. There are 2 types of Actions:
UNCONTESTED: Characters resolve the action without any obstacles.
CONTESTED: Characters must beat the value of stacks in order to resolve the action. Otherwise, the action cannot be resolved and the Character gains Fear
- strong IP flavor and theming
- family-friendly cooperative play with approachable rules
- heavily dependent on IP for appeal; mechanics may be familiar to co-op fans
- scalability to larger groups could be limited
- cooperative exploration with fear mechanics
- Stranger Things universe, episodic adventures
- IP-driven, screen-to-table adaptation
- Betrayal at House on the Hill (Stranger Things variant)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative play — players coordinate with character-specific abilities to complete objectives
- fear track — progression of fear adds tension and alters available actions
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I'm already getting my wish of Terraforming Mars going into it.
- Stranger Things Upside Down is coming straight to retail in 2023.
- The global board game market size is growing and mainstream, and we're part of that wave.
- Happy Salmon is being given away as part of the festivities, which is a fun party game to kick off the holidays.
References (from this video)
- faithful IP feel
- multiple seasons with carried-over elements
- satisfying cooperative run
- can be complex for casual players
- cooperative teamwork to save Will and collect evidence
- Stranger Things universe, Season 1–2 vibes
- season-driven, IP-forward adventure
- Arkham Horror LCG
- Descent: Journeys in the Dark
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative play with hand management — Players coordinate to pass skill tests and manage cards
- season-based decks — Different decks mirror season progression and character progression
- walkie-talkie communication — Communication mechanics emphasize teamwork and coordination
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- 13 games that we think you should check out for this Halloween season.
- This is one of the more immersive games I think we have on our list today.
- It's almost more of an activity than a game.
References (from this video)
- Faithful Stranger Things IP integration with cooperative gameplay appeal
- High production quality: miniatures, cards with linen finish, and solid insert design
- Seasonal structure provides variety and potential for expansion into future seasons
- Strong art direction and thematic presentation that fans will appreciate
- Solo play support and approachable rules presentation in the unboxing context
- Rulebook is shown in German in the unboxing; language independence and accessibility may vary by edition
- Card text density could be challenging for video play-throughs or quick learning without referencing the full rules
- Complexity and season progression may require careful setup and understanding for new players
- Expansion/season cadence may lead to a larger product footprint and collection considerations
- Investigative cooperative horror/adventure in an 1980s milieu
- Hawkins, Indiana and The Upside Down
- episodic, season-based arcs (Season 1 and Season 2) with narrative-driven objectives
- Cthulhu: Death May Die
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card_driven_events_and_allys — Event, ally, and item cards drive the action, encounters, and character support.
- cooperative_play — Players work together to achieve shared objectives and overcome threats.
- inventory_limit_with_fear_meter — Each character has a limited inventory (items/allies) and a fear meter that influences risk and actions.
- miniatures_and_standees — Detailed miniatures and standees for characters and adversaries to enhance tactical play.
- modular_quad_fold_board — A multi-panel board that can depict season-specific layouts and scenarios.
- season_based_scenarios — Two seasons (Season 1 and Season 2) provide different maps, enemies, and cards to drive replayability.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I really love this IP, so I hope that the game is good
- the art style is really cool of this game, like really cool art style, I like this very nice
- I am already like a fan buying here right now
- I really love cooperative games and I'm looking forward to checking this out quite soon