| Game | How |
|---|---|
| Stranger Things: 1984 (2017) | A retro adventure where players explore Hawkins and complete specific missions with the local kids. |
| Stranger Things 3: The Game (2019) | A pixel-art action adventure that follows the events of the third season. |
| Stranger Things VR (2024) | A virtual reality game played from a villain perspective using telekinesis. |
| LifeSim | A free simulation where you live in the real Jackson, Georgia, and write your own story. |
Is there a Stranger Things game where you can live in Hawkins?
Stranger Things life simulator
No, there is no official simulator for the fictional town of Hawkins. LifeSim places your character on a 3D map of the real streets of Jackson, Georgia. This is the actual town where the downtown scenes were filmed. You can start your Georgia mystery at no cost on your phone or computer.
Middle school science nerdUnofficial and fan-made. LifeSim is not affiliated with or endorsed by Netflix. You play original characters inspired by Stranger Things, not the official story.
The real Georgia town behind the fictional Hawkins
Hawkins, Indiana, is a fictional town created for the television series. The show uses Jackson, Georgia, as the real location for the central downtown scenes. Fans of the show recognize Jackson Square as the actual town center. You can start a life in Jackson and explore this real place in LifeSim. The map shows the actual streets, parks, and buildings of Butts County.
The 1898 Historic Butts County Courthouse sits right in the middle of Jackson Square. The courthouse is the real landmark that anchors the downtown Hawkins area. Fans who visit the town often walk past the Roots Outdoors Stranger Things Mural. You can find this mural on the map and plan an outing there with your friends.
When you create your character, you type Jackson, Georgia, into the text box. The game reads the location and drops your character into the town. You see the streets from the outside as you walk around the Jackson neighborhood. You can also search for the nearby High Falls State Park and walk there.
Who you can be
A middle school science kid
You fix old electronics in your garage in Jackson. You meet friends after school to compare notes on weird radio signals. You set a goal to map out the dead zones near Indian Springs State Park.
A protective older sibling
You work a part-time job near Jackson Square to save cash for a car. You spend your evenings searching for your little brother. The AI neighbors learn your family routine and text you.
A suspicious local parent
You manage a store in town and notice power outages on the cameras. You start keeping a record of odd events around Butts County. You invite a friend to a diner to discuss your theories.
A dedicated town deputy
You drive the local roads around Dauset Trails Nature Center on your daily patrol. You talk to the people around town to gather clues about strange noises. You try to keep teenagers safe near the woods.
A sample life: tracing strange signals near the lake
Simon is a fourteen-year-old student who lives in Jackson and loves science. He starts his LifeSim game by setting a life goal to build a long-range radio tower. He adds small tasks to his daily to-do list, like buying copper wire and finding batteries. On his first afternoon, he rides his bike to a hardware store near the courthouse.
A few days later, a pickup game appears on the map near Dauset Trails Nature Center. Simon goes to the nature center and meets other teenagers who play tabletop games. The AI people in the town have their own jobs, homes, and memories. The teenagers remember Simon from the nature center and later text his phone.
Simon spends his weekends exploring the trails around Indian Springs State Park. He updates his calendar to plan afternoon meetings with his new friends. Each day ends with a recap of his progress on the radio tower project. If he talks about hidden government secrets, the AI people react to his words.
Official retro adventures and Georgia town simulation
Netflix released several official mobile and console games for the series over the years. Stranger Things 3: The Game is a cooperative action adventure with pixel art. Players follow the events of the third season and fight enemies together. Another title is Stranger Things: 1984, which is a retro puzzle adventure. These official games let you play as the kids or the local police chief.
In 2024, the franchise added a virtual reality game called Stranger Things VR. This game lets players use telekinesis in strange spaces from a villain perspective. None of these official games are life simulators where you live an ordinary day. The official games all focus on specific combat levels, story missions, and puzzle mechanics.
LifeSim offers a different way to experience a small town with hidden secrets. The game has no combat system and no supernatural powers built in. You write your own 1980s suspense story through your daily actions and chats. The AI people in Jackson respond to the mystery that you create in your texts.
Building a teenage mystery story in the south
The television series takes place in the 1980s. LifeSim runs in the modern day, but you can dress your character in retro clothes. You can upload a photo of your character wearing a vintage jacket. The text box lets you describe your character as a fan of old tabletop games. The AI people will notice your interests and talk to you about them.
Your character might notice strange patterns in the town over several weeks. You can use your phone inbox to message the local police about strange vans. You could also tell your friends to meet you at the nature center. You decide how far to follow the clues as you write your own suspense story.
Friendship and found family are important themes of this small town story. Your activities and chats change your relationships with the people around you. A skeptical parent might learn to trust a local cop by talking to them. An older sibling might skip a house party to help a younger child.
Official Stranger Things games and LifeSim
Start a Stranger Things life
How it works
- Pick a life above, or describe your own character in one text box. Name Jackson, Georgia, United States in the text.
- The game reads the place from your text and starts your life there, on a 3D map of the real streets.
- Live day by day. Talk to people in your own words. They remember what you said and did.
Questions
Is there an official Stranger Things life simulator?
No, there is no official life simulator for the supernatural series. The official games include retro adventures, puzzle games, and a virtual reality experience. Fans use LifeSim to live a daily life in Jackson, Georgia, the real town used for downtown Hawkins.
Can I play as an AV club member?
Yes. You can type this role into the character text box when you start. Your character can build radios, plan meetings, and explore the woods around Jackson. The AI friends you make will talk to you about your science projects.
Is it free?
Yes. Your life in Jackson requires no money to play, and there is nothing to buy. You can start your 1980s-style mystery story on your computer or download the LifeSim iPhone app.
Can I explore the alternate dimension in the game?
The game focuses on your daily life on the real streets of Jackson, Georgia. Any secret dimensions or supernatural threats exist only in the suspense story you write. You use your imagination to turn normal places into a map of hidden mysteries.
Why does a Hawkins life start in Jackson?
Hawkins, Indiana, is a fictional town created for the television screen. The crew filmed the downtown Hawkins scenes in Jackson, Georgia. Setting your life in Jackson lets you walk around the real courthouse and the square from the show.
