Stranger Things Season 5 Sparks Retro Gaming Outrage
A sharp-eyed blunder in Stranger Things season 5 has retro gaming fans in stitches, as a classic arcade game appears where it shouldn’t. Find out what’s got everyone talking.
Stranger Things has always been a love letter to the 1980s, but the nostalgia really hits its stride in the fifth season. In episode three, viewers are treated to a look inside Derek Turnbow’s bedroom—a proper time capsule packed with toys and games that would make any collector jealous. There’s everything from Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots to a Hang-On arcade machine, and even a Domino’s pizza box thrown in for good measure. Derek, played by Jake Connelly, is seen glued to his telly, controller in hand, supposedly playing Ghosts 'n Goblins on his NES.
Arcade on the NES? Not Quite
Here’s where things go a bit sideways. While Derek’s clearly holding an NES controller, the game on the screen isn’t the NES version at all. Instead, it’s the original arcade edition of Ghosts 'n Goblins, which looks a fair bit flashier than what the old Nintendo could manage. This little slip-up hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans of classic games. In fact, it’s sparked a flurry of online banter—Reddit threads, tweets, and even a cheeky post on Threads, all poking fun at the mix-up. As one Simpsons-inspired comment put it,
“boy, I really hope somebody got fired for that blunder”
.
Fans Take the Mickey
Most punters are taking the mickey rather than getting genuinely upset. For the vast majority of viewers, this detail will fly right under the radar. But for those who grew up with these games or still have a soft spot for retro tech, it’s a bit of trivia to trot out at the next get-together. It’s the sort of thing that’ll have mates rolling their eyes as you point it out for the hundredth time.
Small Details, Big Laughs
What really gets some fans, though, isn’t just the wrong game on the screen. Derek’s playing with the NES cartridge cover flipped wide open—a rookie move if you ask any old-school gamer. That’s just asking for dust to get in and muck things up. Still, it’s all part of the fun, and gives die-hard fans another reason to have a laugh at the show’s expense.
If you’re keen for more on the latest episodes, there’s a full review of the new season out, plus a handy guide to when the next lot of episodes will drop. For now, though, this little gaming gaffe is giving everyone something to talk about.