Netflix’s Stranger Things committed a significant continuity error in its fifth and final season by featuring a scene where a character plays the arcade version of Ghosts ‘n Goblins on a home NES console, despite the show’s heavy emphasis on 1980s period accuracy.
The Arcade vs. Console Discrepancy
While the new character Derek Turnbow appears to be playing the classic 1985 platformer on a Nintendo Entertainment System, retro gaming enthusiasts were quick to spot that the footage displayed on the television is unmistakably the arcade original. The retro-focused outlet Time Extension highlighted that the tell-tale sign lies in the screen’s black borders. The arcade cabinet utilized these borders for text overlays regarding player scores, whereas the home console version integrated that information directly over the gameplay area.
A Baffling Production Oversight
This technical blunder is particularly jarring because the show’s production team seemingly had all the correct components on set. The scene features a physical NES console connected to a television, complete with the original Ghosts ‘n Goblins cartridge inserted. Despite having the authentic hardware present, the post-production team opted to use arcade footage, sparking frustration among the show’s dedicated fanbase.
Fan Backlash and Historical Accuracy
The gaming community has been vocal about the mistake, with many taking to forums like Reddit to express their disappointment. One user, PrivateLiker7625, noted that even fans born well after the ’80s recognized the visual discrepancy, calling the error an “insult to the intelligence of those that grew up on this.” Others echoed the sentiment, with some jokingly calling for disciplinary action against those responsible for the oversight.
While calls for termination are largely hyperbolic, the error stands out as a rare lapse in the show’s usually meticulous commitment to period-accurate nostalgia. Stranger Things has occasionally struggled with continuity in the past—most notably by including products or imagery that did not exist during the show’s 1980s setting—but this specific gaming gaffe has proven to be a particularly sore point for retro enthusiasts.
Correction 12/1/25, 8:13 p.m. ET: The NES version is called Ghosts ‘n Goblins.
