Dungeons & Dragons has been an important part of Stranger Things from the very start, and Season 4 is no exception. For the Duffer brothers, the show’s creators, the popular tabletop game has been one of their biggest inspirations since the very beginning of their own creative adventure. In an exclusive video, the pair tells Tudum what they drew from the game for Stranger Things — and why.

D&D isn’t just a game that the characters play in Stranger Things; it also intrudes into their lives as the Upside Down creeps into their world. “Everything about their D&D game mirrors very much the reality and how they’re functioning in the real world,” Matt Duffer says. “And how they handle the various obstacles that come their way.” 

“And it’s a reflection, too, of their personality,” Ross chimes in. “I think it says a lot about someone, what their D&D character is.”

The Duffers on set with Joe Quinn (and some Dungeons & Dragons gear).

Tina Rowden/Netflix

It’s not just the kids who draw influence from the world of elves and paladins. Season 4’s villain Vecna is also loosely drawn from the role-playing game — albeit, a few years ahead of time. Each season’s Stranger Things big bad is inspired by the classic Dungeons & Dragons monster manual; while Vecna’s true backstory is more complex, he’s no different. “In this case, it was Vecna, who really wasn’t a character until the ’90s,” Matt says. “We cheated a little bit, but we thought Eddie is so advanced — and the idea of Vecna did exist [in the lore] — that he could have brought Vecna back to life.” 

Also brought back to life? Dungeons & Dragons itself, which is seeing a bit of a recent resurgence in popularity. The Duffers stop short of claiming credit for that comeback. “I think it’s more than that,” Ross says. “I really think that in this day and age where everything is digital, and we’re FaceTiming people, there’s just less human interaction. And I think that Dungeons & Dragons is a reason to get together with your friends and actually see them face to face. And even though it’s make-believe, I do think it brings people closer.” It certainly worked for the party.

You can see the rest of the Duffers’ D&D interview below. The final episodes of Stranger Things Season 4 hit Netflix July 1. 

The Duffer Brothers Geek Out On Dungeons and Dragons