Stranger Things is not only a television show—it’s a phenomenon. Combining supernatural horror, ’80s nostalgia, Dungeons & Dragons pomp, and relatable misfits, it’s created a very particular niche that audiences just can’t have enough of. If you’ve already rewatched every episode, memorized every Kate Bush montage, and are anxiously awaiting the next season, don’t worry—we’ve rounded up 13 other titles that tap into that same eerie, nostalgic, and thrilling vibe. Let’s count them down in reverse order.
13. Wormwood – Government Secrets & Real-Life Mind Control
If you were fascinated by the sinister experiments that went on in Hawkins Lab, this one’s for you. Wormwood delves into the true CIA mind control operation called Project MKUltra—the very inspiration for Stranger Things’ dark history. Errol Morris directs this docu-drama about the suspicious death of a government scientist and gets to the bottom of one of America’s weirdest chapters in history. It’s eerie, true, and deeply unnerving.
12. The Twilight Zone (Reboot) – Classic Sci-Fi in Bite-Sized Form
The DNA of Stranger Things owes a lot to The Twilight Zone, and this reboot revives that same spirit of eerie storytelling. With short, self-contained episodes that explore time travel, doppelgängers, and secret experiments, it’s a great fix if you’re in the mood for something mysterious but manageable.
11. Eerie, Indiana – Kids Investigating the Strange Before It Was Cool
Before Hawkins, there was Eerie. This offbeat ’90s cult show is about two teenagers discovering strange things are happening in their apparently ordinary Midwestern hometown. It’s got UFOs, haunted appliances, and as much small-town weirdness as to feel like a less intense, more comedic cousin of Stranger Things.
10. Paradise (Paraiso) – A Spanish Take on the Stranger Things Formula
Taking place in the ’90s along Spain’s coast, Paradise is about a group of teenagers trying to find their lost friends—and discovering something much more paranormal. With synth-infused scores, squad-bike riding, and dimension-jumping bizarre, it’s like Stranger Things moved to the Mediterranean, with a regional twist and a lot of retro vibe.
9. Fear Street Trilogy – Slasher Horror with a Side of Nostalgia
If Stranger Things’ grittier, gorier moments are your thing, then Netflix’s Fear Street trilogy is a must. Leaping from decade to decade and connected by a curse, these movies are half-slasher, half-supernatural thriller—and even boast Sadie Sink (Max) in a breakaway role. Bonus: it’s based on R.L. Stine’s young adult horror books, so there’s lots of campy fun.
8. The OA – Reality-Bending and Emotionally Rich
This one’s a slow burn—but if you’re into the emotional core of Stranger Things, The OA will hit hard. It follows a young woman who reappears after years missing, now calling herself “The OA” and claiming to have seen other dimensions. It’s strange, spiritual, and built around themes of found family and inner strength—perfect for fans of Eleven’s journey.
7. Dead Boy Detectives – Teen Ghosts Solving Mysteries
Picture Dustin and Will dying but choosing to remain on earth and crack paranormal mysteries rather than go to the afterlife. That’s Dead Boy Detectives in a nutshell. It’s clever, bizarre, and part of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman universe, and adds a British flair to the “kids with supernatural abilities against the supernatural” formula.
6. All of Us Are Dead – High School Horror, Korean Style
If you enjoy the thrill of Stranger Things’ most harrowing moments, then this South Korean zombie horror will be utterly addictive. A group of students is forced to battle for survival against a viral pandemic that has them holed up in their school. It’s bloody, poignant, and masterfully paced—with rich themes of friendship, sacrifice, and survival.
5. Alice in Borderland – Life-or-Death in a Game World
Take the intense high-stakes vibe of Stranger Things and crank it up with macabre survival games in alternate Tokyo. Alice in Borderland sees a misfit clique of teens being coerced to play life-or-death survival games to survive. It’s biting, psychoanalytic, and gripping—perfect for those who dig the more intense and action-packed narrative threads of Hawkins.
4. Dark – The Missing-Kids Story With a Time-Twisting Twist
This German series starts with a child vanishing in a small town—but before you know it, it’s a rich, time-traveling epic across generations. It’s darker and moodier than Stranger Things, but just as complex, with the same level of worldbuilding and emotional resonance. If you want a puzzle with your paranormal, this is for you.
3. The Umbrella Academy – Superpowered Siblings Saving the World
Family dysfunction? Check. Psychic powers? Check. Apocalypse on the horizon? Definitely. The Umbrella Academy is a series about a set of adopted super-powered siblings as they attempt to stop the apocalypse from occurring. It’s full of killer soundtracks, quirky humor, and heart—similar to Stranger Things, but with a bit more anarchy and comic-book panache.
2. I Am Not Okay With This – Teen Angst Meets Psychic Mayhem
This underappreciated Netflix gem is a younger, moodier sibling of Stranger Things. It follows Sydney, a teenager who’s learning to control her telekinetic powers amidst grief, identity crisis, and cringe-worthy adolescence. It’s brief, snappy, and packed with 8’80s-infused style and explosive emotions (literally).
1. Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero – Scooby-Doo Meets Cosmic Horror
For a book version of the Stranger Things experience, Meddling Kids is a hilarious, psychedelic, and eerie ride. It’s about a team of adult ex-teen detectives who are plagued by the one case they never actually cracked. Imagine Lovecraft crossed with nostalgia crossed with sheer pandemonium, with an underlying sweetness of friendship and redemption. It’s horrifying, hilarious, and utterly binge-able—on the page.
Whether you’re hungry for more psychic abilities, hidden labs, teen heroism, or just some vintage atmospheres and heart, these selections tap that same zappy energy that makes Stranger Things so unforgettably awesome. There’s life after Hawkins—you just need to know where to find it.