Stranger Things final Dungeons & Dragons has a deeper meaning, Duffer Brothers explain

Stranger Things made its love for Dungeons & Dragons clear from its very first episode. The game was an inseparable part of the core members, where they laughed, shared stories and strategized together. The game was an important narrative element that propelled friendships and the narrative of the show.

The finale remained loyal to this inspiration and paid a perfect homage to the D&D lore. The Duffer brothers shared what the finale meant.

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Duffer brothers on how Stranger Things final Dungeons & Dragons game held a deeper significance

Chapter 8: The Rightside Up marked the end of the Season 5 and by extension the entire series. The finale places all the surviving characters inside Mike Wheeler’s basement. They all play one last game of Dungeons & Dragons, mirroring the shot from where it all began in Season 1. This creates a heartfelt full-circle moment, almost shot-for-shot.

The games marked the beginning of the adventure and that adventure ends right at that game.

In an interview with Netflix’s Tudum, the Duffer Brothers explained that this ending had been planned for a long time. Ross Duffer said:

“That’s been planned for a very long time. It felt right to go full circle. This is about this group of characters saying goodbye to their childhood.”

He mentioned how the basement and the game marked the first point of connection and mental bonding with the show's core characters.

“To say goodbye to it, you have to play one last time.”

It is thus a perfect narrative exit for the show that relied on D&D lore. The game has been a part of growing up for many and hence if one of the most epic sci-fi shows ended on this note, it is a perfect homage to this game.

Ross Duffer further emphasized how the shot reminded him much of the first day on set.

“That was the first thing we ever shot, and it felt appropriate that this would be the last thing we ever shot.”

The creators of Stranger Things put effort into making the original Season 1 shots replicate in Season 5. This allowed viewers to experience a full circle closure. Matt Duffer echoed that sentiment, describing the emotional aspect of this final scene:

“It was very emotional and nostalgic to shoot that scene. What was happening on the day and what the actors were feeling and what we were feeling very much mirrored the scene.”

The farewell wasn’t just fictional; it was echoed and mirrored by even the cast who played these characters for over a decade. The epilogue shows Mike, Max, Dustin, Lucas, and Will seated at the table where D&D pieces are laid out.

It is Mike's basement, the place where many of the story's events sprout. It was where El was hiding in Season 1. When Mike shares a heartfelt narration of what happens to each of the core characters, the game ends with a suggestive reveal.

Mike’s younger sister Holly and her friends begin their own D&D campaign. The moment quietly signals the passing of time and the transition from one generation to the next.

Ross Duffer explained the meaning behind that choice, noting that Mike watching from the sidelines reflects him:

“remembering all the joys that he had as a kid.”

It’s a subtle way of showing that while the adventure is over, its impact remains. Childhood doesn’t disappear; it evolves into memory.

The finale of Stranger Things also leaves room for interpretation, particularly regarding Eleven’s fate. Rather than providing definitive answers, the show allows viewers to decide what comes next, reinforcing the idea that Stranger Things is less about plot resolution and more about emotional resonance.

Matt also mentioned his satisfaction with how the story ended. It all turned out perfect. It is sometimes difficult for many creators to find a satisfying ending to a story with high stakes, deeply relatable characters and most importantly, massive popularity.

But Matt Duffer expressed satisfaction knowing that Season 5 and the series by extension had to end and it did exactly how he envisioned it.

"We’re really happy with how it turned out."

Stranger Things finale episode is streaming on Netflix.