The cultural footprint of Hawkins, Indiana, has left a massive void in the television landscape. As the final chapters of the Stranger Things saga unfold in 2026, many viewers are searching for that same intoxicating blend of 80s nostalgia, synth-heavy soundtracks, and the "kids on bikes" adventuring spirit. While nothing can perfectly replicate the chemistry of the original party, several series capture specific facets of what made the show a global phenomenon.

Finding a worthy successor involves looking at different genres: some lean into the cosmic horror, others into the teenage angst of developing superpowers, and some into the pitch-perfect recreation of decades past. Here is a curated selection of shows like stranger things that will keep the lights flickering and your theories spinning.

The masters of time and missing children

Dark

Often described as the "German Stranger Things," Dark is a far more complex and somber beast. It begins with the disappearance of a child in the fictional town of Winden, but quickly evolves into a multi-generational epic involving time travel, predestination, and the end of the world.

If you enjoyed the mystery of the Upside Down but wished for a narrative that requires a literal family tree to track, this is your next obsession. While the 1980s setting is only one part of the story (it spans centuries), the attention to detail and the sense of small-town dread are palpable. It trades the Spielbergian wonder for a colder, more philosophical dread, making it perfect for those who grew up with the Hawkins kids and are ready for something more mature.

Paper Girls

Based on the celebrated graphic novels, Paper Girls captures the "friends on a mission" vibe better than almost any other show on this list. Set in 1988, four girls delivering newspapers on the morning after Halloween accidentally stumble into a war between time-traveling factions.

Like the early seasons of Stranger Things, the heart of this show is the chemistry between the leads as they grapple with their future selves and the weight of their choices. It features high-stakes sci-fi concepts but remains grounded in the emotional reality of early adolescence. It is a vibrant, female-led alternative that treats its young protagonists with the same respect and complexity as the Duffer Brothers do.

Psychic powers and government conspiracies

The Institute

A recent addition following its 2025 release, this adaptation of Stephen King’s novel feels like a spiritual homecoming for Stranger Things fans. The parallels are undeniable: a brilliant boy named Luke Ellis is kidnapped and taken to a facility where children with telekinetic and telepathic abilities are used as tools for government agendas.

Since the Duffer Brothers have always cited King as their primary inspiration, The Institute feels like seeing the source material come to life with modern production values. It explores the darker, more clinical side of what Eleven went through at Hawkins Lab, focusing on the camaraderie and rebellion of children trapped in a hopeless situation. It is tense, often heartbreaking, and provides that specific "superpowered youth against the system" thrill.

I Am Not Okay With This

If your favorite part of Stranger Things was Eleven’s struggle to control her powers while navigating the horrors of high school, this short-lived but brilliant series is essential. It follows Sydney, a teenager dealing with family grief and burgeoning sexuality, who discovers she has telekinetic powers triggered by her emotions.

It feels like a love letter to John Hughes movies but with a bloody, supernatural twist. The 80s aesthetic is present despite being set in the modern day, achieved through its wardrobe and cinematography. It manages to be both intimate and explosive, capturing the raw, volatile nature of teenage power.

Small towns with terrifying secrets

From

For those who lean into the horror elements of the Upside Down—the feeling of being hunted by something you don't understand—From is a terrifyingly effective choice. The story centers on a town in middle America that traps everyone who enters. At night, terrifying creatures emerge from the forest, smiling and looking human, but capable of unspeakable violence.

Like Stranger Things, it features an ensemble cast trying to solve the logic of their environment while surviving. It is significantly more graphic and leans harder into the "puzzle box" mystery format, but the sense of isolation and the "us against the world" dynamic is very much in sync with the fight for Hawkins.

Wayward Pines

Before they became household names, the Duffer Brothers were writers on this series, and their DNA is all over the first season. A Secret Service agent arrives in a picturesque town in Idaho searching for two missing colleagues, only to find that the town is surrounded by an electrified fence and ruled by strict, bizarre laws.

It captures the paranoid atmosphere of a government-sanctioned mystery and the feeling that something is deeply wrong beneath the surface of a quiet community. It is a fast-paced thriller that shifts genres mid-way, rewarding viewers who enjoy the investigative aspects of the Hawkins police department and the local newspaper.

The next generation of teen detectives

Wednesday

While it leans more into the gothic and macabre than the sci-fi elements of Stranger Things, Wednesday has become a massive companion piece for the same audience. It features a school for misfits, a monster-of-the-week mystery, and a central protagonist who doesn't fit in.

Wednesday Addams’ investigation into a series of murders at Nevermore Academy provides that same satisfaction of watching teenagers outsmart the adults. It is stylish, darkly funny, and captures the "cozy horror" vibe that makes Stranger Things a popular choice during the fall season.

Lockwood & Co.

This British series offers a unique spin on the supernatural: ghosts have plagued London for decades, and only children have the psychic sensitivity to fight them. It follows a small, independent agency of three teenagers who take on cases without adult supervision.

The dynamic between the three leads—Lucy, Anthony, and George—mirrors the core trio of Mike, Dustin, and Lucas. There is a sense of grit and danger to their world, and the absence of helpful adults forces them to rely solely on their wits and their bond. It is an adventurous, smart, and often spooky series that deserved a longer run but remains a top-tier recommendation for fans of teen-led mysteries.

Retro atmosphere and psychological grit

Yellowjackets

While Yellowjackets is much darker and more visceral, it shares the dual-timeline structure and the heavy 90s nostalgia that Stranger Things brought to the 80s. It tells the story of a high school girls' soccer team whose plane crashes in the wilderness, and the survivors' lives 25 years later.

The show excels at exploring the bonds forged in trauma and the possibility of supernatural influence versus psychological breakdown. For fans who enjoyed the older teen storylines in Stranger Things (Nancy, Steve, Robin, and Jonathan), Yellowjackets offers a more intense, character-driven exploration of survival and the secrets we carry from our youth.

Cobra Kai

On the surface, a martial arts drama might seem like an odd fit, but Cobra Kai is the reigning king of 80s nostalgia. It effectively continues the story of The Karate Kid, bringing back the original actors and blending their mid-life crises with a new generation of teen rivalries.

The show captures that specific Amblin-era heart—the training montages, the high-stakes school rivalries, and the constant references to the music and movies of the 1980s. It lacks the supernatural elements but makes up for it with a genuine love for the era that Stranger Things fans will find comforting and incredibly fun to binge.

The foundations of the genre

The X-Files

To understand Stranger Things, one must understand The X-Files. This seminal 90s series about two FBI agents investigating paranormal cases is the blueprint for the government conspiracy and "monster of the week" tropes.

Episodes involving children with extraordinary powers, shadow organizations working in labs, and the tension between skeptics and believers are all themes that the Duffer Brothers have expanded upon. Whether you watch the classic standalone episodes or follow the overarching "mytharc" of alien invasion, you will see the DNA of Eleven and Hopper in every scene. It remains one of the most atmospheric and influential sci-fi shows ever made.

The OA

If you were drawn to the more abstract and emotional side of the Upside Down—the idea of other dimensions and the psychic connection between people—The OA is a profound journey. It begins with a blind woman returning home after being missing for seven years, her sight restored and a strange story to tell about her captivity.

She gathers a group of five local high schoolers to help her on a mission that spans dimensions. It is a show that asks for a high level of trust from the audience, rewarding them with a deeply moving and unconventional sci-fi narrative. It captures that sense of "the weirdness in our backyard" better than almost anything else on television.

Choosing your next adventure

When deciding which of these shows like stranger things to watch first, consider which element of the Hawkins experience you miss most.

  • For the 80s/90s Nostalgia: Start with Paper Girls or Yellowjackets.
  • For the Small-Town Mystery: Go with Dark or Wayward Pines.
  • For the Supernatural Teen Squad: Dive into Lockwood & Co. or Wednesday.
  • For the Sci-Fi Horror: From or The Institute are your best bets.

The beauty of the current streaming era is that the spirit of the "80s adventure" has evolved into a diverse range of stories. Whether it’s through time travel, psychic abilities, or simply the bond of friendship against the unknown, the legacy of shows like Stranger Things continues to thrive in these remarkable series. The Upside Down might be closing its gates, but the mysteries in these other worlds are just beginning.