Netflix’s flagship series 'Stranger Things' became a global phenomenon almost immediately after its first season dropped. With the final season 5 release date officially set for November 27th, it’s the perfect time to dive into the tie-in board game, 'Stranger Things: Upside Down'. Given that the show itself is steeped in the Dungeons & Dragons sessions played by the core cast, this tabletop adaptation feels like a natural fit.

The game comes in a neat 26cm square box—a surprisingly portable size for a game that packs in a full board and a suite of miniatures.

Coming from CMON, a company well-versed in churning out miniature-heavy games, the quality here is solid. The monster figures are particularly impressive; they carry a genuine sense of dread and possess a satisfying weight to them.

The board design is quite striking, effectively mapping the Hawkins town from season 1 and the twisted reality of the Upside Down. Between the character boards, the scene cards detailing key episodes like the Demogorgon’s attacks, and various props, it’s impossible not to be reminded of specific scenes from the show.

While the components might feel a bit modest as mere merchandise, the game design itself is clearly crafted with a faithful eye on the source material. But how does it actually play?

The game is based on the first two seasons of the show. In the season 1 scenario, the goal is to rescue Will before Eleven leaves the Act Track at space 3. You choose your favourite characters, flip through scene cards, and push through your fear to reach the objective.

Each character comes with unique abilities. Jim Hopper, for instance, has the highest fear track—essentially a health bar—making the character a solid choice for newcomers. Dustin, with their mobility advantages, is also a great pick for a first-time player.

The board is divided into upper and lower sections, mirroring the show’s dual worlds. The Upside Down is particularly punishing; you accumulate fear just by moving, and it can wreak havoc when resolving scene cards after your main actions.

The core mechanic involves comparing your action card values against the '!' token stacks. These tokens are scattered across the map, hiding values underneath. You have to balance your action cards against the total sum of these stacks; fail the check, and you take fear equal to the difference. To succeed, you’ll need to roam the board, recruit allies, and secure items to upgrade your character’s stats.

During my first run, I wandered into the Upside Down without a plan and lost the game in under 10 minutes because I couldn't manage the fear. I had to rethink, scout properly, and equip items before jumping back in. Only after clearing the laboratory investigation did the pressure from the scene cards finally subside.

Thanks to some lucky 'Psychometry' checks while helping Eleven, I used the ally card 'Benny Hammond' to trigger Eleven’s 'Telekinesis,' clearing two Demogorgon stacks. In the end, it was 'Joyce' who entered the Upside Down and saved Will. Just like in the series, it was Joyce Byers who pulled the son back from the brink.

At its heart, this is a cooperative game. Finding a truly great co-op experience can be tough, but what happens when a designer who worked on the legendary 'Pandemic' series gets involved? With that expectation in mind, I took a closer look.

While you can play solo, I highly recommend two or more players. I tried it alone to learn the ropes, but without dialogue, it felt a bit sterile. Once I played with someone else, the experience came alive. Discussing which action cards to play and moving together truly evoked the feeling of the show's protagonists working as a team.

The design encourages you to show your hand and debate moves, which not only boosts the co-op fun but also makes it accessible for those who aren't seasoned board gamers.

A 2-player run through the season 1 finale took about an hour, including setup. I don’t think adding up to four players would change the duration or difficulty significantly, though the turnover of scene cards would speed up, making the game feel more frantic.

Horror-themed games with balanced difficulty are rare. If you’ve only played games like Halli Galli, this might be a step up, but if you've dabbled in Splendor or Catan, you’ll manage just fine. Just be wary of 'analysis paralysis'—if you talk too long, the game can drag, so agree on a time limit before you start.

The biggest draw of this game is how faithfully it captures the show’s atmosphere. Fans will spot references, key scenes, and props everywhere. The tension and thrill of flipping those '!' stacks are the real highlights. Gather a group of fans, start talking strategy like the main characters, and the fun will surely double.

That said, if you don't know the source material, you might find it hard to get immersed. The tension is high, but without the context, it’s just another 'avoid monsters and save someone' game. It’s a decent co-op horror title, but a newcomer misses out on the heart of the experience. The slightly steep price is also a bit of a drawback.