“The Story Lives Inside Us”: Hideo Kojima Says Goodbye to 'Stranger Things'

Game designer Hideo Kojima commented on the conclusion of the series Stranger Things, sharing a personal message on social media. According to him, the project held special significance, as it coincided with a major turning point in his life — in 2016, he transitioned to independent creative work and began to view streaming services in a new light as a medium.

Kojima noted that for nearly a decade, the story of the residents of Hawkins accompanied him not only as a viewer, but also on a personal level. He compared the Upside Down from Stranger Things to inner states — anxiety, loneliness, and the search for one’s own path — emphasizing that he grew up alongside the characters, both on and off the screen.

The developer added that Stranger Things is not merely a completed series, but a world and a cast of characters one can always return to in their thoughts.

The final episode was released on December 31, 2025, with the fifth season accumulating 137 million views overall. The season premiere in November set a Netflix record with 8.46 billion minutes watched in a single week, surpassing the previous record held by season four. The series became Netflix’s most-watched show, with more than 1.2 billion total views across all seasons.