Stranger Things may have finally come to an end after a decade back in December 2025, but its popularity is far from over. With spin-off episodes, Dungeons & Dragons’ inspired TTRPGs, and even an arcade game, fans are still eager to find new and unique ways to return to Hawkins and the Upside Down.
As one of Netflix’s most successful shows since it aired way back in 2016, it is no wonder that Stranger Things has amassed quite a fanbase, and even less surprising that other companies are hoping to cash in on the action. That is why one beloved studio has teamed up with the creators of Stranger Things to bring the show’s iconic villain, Vecna, into the fray.
Yes, I am talking about Dead by Daylight, the multiplayer survival horror game where players can take on the role of both killers and survivors in a twisted game of hide and seek. Created by Behaviour Interactive and first launched back in 2016, Dead by Daylight has become one of the most successful in the genre and that is no doubt thanks to its regular collaborations with big names in horror. As such, the game features the likes of Ghost Face, Jason, Michael Myers, as well as a series of original characters. You can also take on the role of a survivor, with characters such as Nancy Wheeler, Steve Harrington, Cheryl Mason, and Jill Valentine being just some of the names you can pick from the ever-growing roster.
However, back in June 2024, Stranger Things’ Vecna was added to the game as yet another killer, and in January 2026, players could also take on the role of Vecna’s original form, Henry Creel. With some of the Dead by Daylight killers being a lot more iconic than the rest, and each offering their own unique playstyle and abilities, it seems as though Vecna’s arrival left fans feeling divided.
This came after one user took to r/deadbydaylight to ask, “I’ve never seen Stranger Things. Are you happy with new Vecna’s powers? Are they lore accurate?”
With over 40 comments amassed, it was safe to say that Stranger Things‘ fans definitely had an opinion about Vecna’s portrayal in Dead by Daylight, with one user replying, “He seems fun, but it isn’t super accurate to what he actually does in the show. He primarily attacks people’s minds and takes them into a memory world in the show, so many of us were hoping they’d incorporate that by using the Void dimension mechanics from the Halloween event…. He also attacks by stretching his claw arm in season 5, but I’m guessing that wasn’t implemented because they started working on the chapter a while before, and it was originally going to be released before season 5 but was delayed.
“Keeping the development period and delay in mind, I think it’s fine as an adaptation,” they concluded. “He is able to do most of the stuff he does in DBD even if it isn’t his main thing, and it seems fun. Honestly, they did a good job making him seem even more threatening than the show did.”
However, another fan simply said, “Lore accurate? They aren’t… inaccurate. But they could’ve done better.”
With the majority of fans seemingly agreeing that Dead by Daylight‘s Vecna is a positive addition to the game’s ever-growing roster, it seems as though it is something that Stranger Things’ fans will need to try out for themselves.
- Release Date
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2016 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
