The Stranger Things Finale’s Climactic Battle Was Inspired By Baldur’s Gate 3
Everyone knows that the core DNA of the Netflix sci-fi phenomenon *Stranger Things* is interwoven with *Dungeons & Dragons*, but the show’s final confrontation apparently drew direct inspiration from a recent, acclaimed adaptation of the tabletop game. According to one of the series’ architects, the epic climactic battle sequences were heavily influenced by Larian Studios’ 2023 Game of the Year, *Baldur’s Gate 3*.
*Stranger Things* co-creator Matt Duffer recently revealed to Variety that he was deep into playing the award-winning RPG while finalizing the scripts for the highly anticipated last season. Duffer implied that his personal time in Faerûn heavily shaped the final narrative design. For those who need a massive spoiler alert regarding the finale, Duffer noted that the inevitable showdown involving Vecna and the Mind Flayer ended up sharing specific themes and crucial story elements that directly echo both established *D&D* lore and the inventive, high-stakes storytelling found in *Baldur’s Gate 3*. It seems the influence of the modern gaming masterpiece will be keenly felt as the saga of Hawkins finally concludes.