The Duffer Brothers have taken inspiration from the world of gaming for the climactic battle in Stranger Things. The final confrontation in Season 5 was shaped by the engaging dynamics of Baldur’s Gate 3, bringing the beloved series and much-loved game closer together.
Warning! Spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 8, The Rightside Up, follow:
The Battle in The Abyss
In the epic finale, the heroes venture into The Abyss to face Vecna, whose stronghold is none other than the Mind Flayer itself. The battle unfolds with the team taking strategic positions and wielding various weapons. A smaller group penetrates deeper to confront Vecna directly and save the captive children.
Influence of Baldur’s Gate 3
Matt Duffer, co-creator of the series, shared that while he and Ross Duffer were devising this battle, he was immersed in Baldur’s Gate 3. This party-based RPG significantly influenced the showdown’s design. Reports suggest Matt Duffer highlighted the importance of teamwork, akin to strategies in D&D and Baldur’s Gate 3.
“We were thinking about D&D, and I was playing Baldur’s Gate 3 at the time, and we felt it was very important that the only way for them to defeat it was for the entire party to work together,” Matt Duffer explained.
“Everyone had fully realized — either through self-acceptance or they’ve resolved all their various issues — moving into that final battle, they’re absolutely primed. They’re the ultimate team, and it’s the party working all together to defeat this thing. And they each have their own individual skills, right? And that’s where I go back to Dungeons & Dragons, and something like Baldur’s Gate. Because that’s how you take down these monsters that seem otherwise unstoppable. Lots of video game references were applied to that final battle.”
In Baldur’s Gate 3, players navigate combat with a cast of diverse characters, each bringing unique abilities to the fight. Finding synergy among these characters is crucial in overcoming formidable adversaries.
Stranger Things Meets RPG
Stranger Things mirrors this gameplay style in its final battle. Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) spearheads the attack on the Mind Flayer, engaging Vecna. Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) advises the team to spread out and “chip away at its hit points.” Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) distracts with her gun skills, while others launch attacks from above. Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) wields a flamethrower; others deploy explosive devices, and Steve and Dustin attack from below. Will ultimately uses his powers to deliver a decisive blow.
Following the battle’s broadcast, Larian boss Swen Vincke expressed his delight on social media, with Larian’s publishing director noting a newfound interest in watching the show. Despite the excitement, some fans remain curious about the absence of Demogorgons during the battle. The Duffer Brothers offer explanations, and future spinoffs promise to explore remaining mysteries.