Stranger Things is over. Season 5 was released by Netflix, and its finale has sparked numerous theories. What is certain is that the ending was partly inspired by a successful video game.
During an interview with Variety, Ross and Matt Duffer, the creators and directors of Stranger Things, revealed that the final battle between Vecna and the series’ heroes was inspired by Baldur’s Gate 3 or, more broadly, the world of Dungeons & Dragons.
“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. 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.”
