Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 Returns on 17 September

September 13, 2026

Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is returning to Netflix on 17 September, with its second season delivering 10 new episodes only a few months after the animated spin-off debuted on 23 April.

What is Tales from ’85 about?

The animated series is set between the second and third seasons of Stranger Things. Its next storyline takes place as Valentine’s Day approaches, when the Hawkins gang investigates ghostly sightings and a swarm of unusual creatures creating chaos around town.

The rapid return follows the show’s second-season renewal shortly after launch. That schedule suggests Flying Bark Productions was already working on the next group of episodes before the first season arrived.

For readers planning a themed games room, the show’s supernatural setting also fits naturally alongside a full-size arcade machine or a space-saving bartop arcade. Retro-style lighting, cabinet art and classic controls can complement an ’80s-inspired entertainment area without turning the room into a television set.

Is the animated spin-off worth watching?

The first season divided audiences. It holds a 63% critics’ score and a 52% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Supporters enjoyed its attempt to recapture the feel of the earlier seasons, while detractors viewed it as an unnecessary story placed between the main series’ chapters.

Max and Lucas, both dressed in winter clothes, bike down the road through a snowy forest in Stranger Things Tales from '85

Eric Robles and Jennifer Muro developed the first season, with Robles also serving as showrunner. The Duffer Brothers, who created the original series, worked as executive producers.

Production involved Netflix Animation Studios, Upside Down Pictures, 21 Laps Entertainment and Flying Bark Productions. Flying Bark has also contributed animation to Avatar: The Last Airbender, Marvel’s What If…? and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

A new chapter for the franchise

The main Stranger Things series concluded its 42-episode run on 31 December 2025, making an animated continuation a logical way to keep the wider universe moving. The franchise’s popularity is well established, with its third season setting a record as the most-watched original Netflix series at the time.

A live-action spin-off was reported to be in development in 2023, although no formal announcement has followed. Meanwhile, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 remains the confirmed continuation arriving next.

Its animated format and period setting could make it especially appealing to arcade fans who enjoy the visual language of classic games. Anyone planning a custom themed setup can compare arcade machine buying options, explore DIY arcade kits or browse arcade parts for a more hands-on project.