Based in Hawkins, Indiana,Stranger Thingsfollows a group of youngsters named Mike, Will, Lucas, and Dustin, as they attempt to survive the onslaught of the Upside Down’s corruption. Luckily, the boys befriend Eleven, a seemingly orphaned girl who possesses incredible powers, capable of fighting off their formidable foes.
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This sci-fi horror series triggers nostalgia with its blatantDungeons and Dragonsreferences in a 1980s timeline that provides the perfect setting for the Duffers Brothers' unique Netflix creation. The residents of Hawkins are bombarded with an invasion of monsters in various forms, all part of the Hive Mind that is somehow connected to the sinister Upside Down. These horrifying creatures inStranger Thingsall carry out their role in Vecna’s master plan to infect the globe with its depravity.
Updated July 26, 2025, by Levana Jane Chester-Londt:With the Gate supposedly closed by Season 3’s finale, all seems well in Hawkins once again, and El and the gang have to battle against a whole new class of Stranger Things monsters in Season 4: humans, particularly of the teenage variety. If school politics aren’t enough to deal with, the mysterious string of sudden supernatural deaths has everyone in the cursed town on edge.
Considered a Satanist Cult, D&D takes most of the wrap, and the group of once-close friends finds themselves disjointed physically and emotionally, and the perfect targets for Vecna, who preys on the vulnerable and has proven himself to be the puppetmaster ofall the Stranger Things monstersset on corrupting the world.
New enemies revealed in Season 4 of Stranger Things will be included.
11The Hawkins Tunnel System
No, it’s not a typo, the actual Tunnel System inStranger Thingsis, in fact, a creature. It is an intricate network of underground passageways that have formed themselves under the town of Hawkins, which, if it hadn’t been disturbed, might have eventually covered the globe. Emerging fromthe Gate to the Upside Down, the Hawkins Tunnel System works to connect the two realms. The more ground it covers, the easier it will be for the Mind Flayer’s minions to roam freely.
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These tunnels are somehow telepathically linked to the Mind Flayer, which can apparently control the release of noxious spores from its walls, creating the perfect hunting grounds for the ominous creatures ofStranger Things.
10The Vines
These sinister tendrils are more dangerous than they look, seemingly with a mind of their own, intently focused on capturing unsuspecting prey. The Vines are capable of constricting or suffocating their victims to death, even having the foresight to maneuver down their prey’s throat to inhibit breathing, as with Will Byers.
As formidable as these tendrils are, they do possess one weakness,as Jim Hopper discoversthe Vines' aversion to fire. In season 3, the Vines are set aflame, and poor infected Will simultaneously suffers, confirming the scientist’s suspicions of the existence of a Hive Mind among all the monsters.
9The Flayed
Initially, the Flayed did not appear to be too much of a threat in the greater scheme of things, as Will was the only one infected inSeason 1 ofStranger Things. However, after Billy Hargrove was contaminated, he single-handedly created an army of loyal, governable troops.
The Flayed are mindless drones, having lost all free will before their bodily functions are subsequently controlled by the Mind Flayer. An infected Billy takes up authority of the Hive Mind, apparently second-in-command of the army of destruction. The Flayed cannot be killed directly, as the damaged body will become a pile of red-tinged sludge capable of re-forming, and that is where things just get a lot worse!
8D’Artagnan Aka Dart
Inheriting its name from its apparent love for Three Musketeers bars, D’Artagnan lived a relatively luxurious life as Dustin’s pet. The other members of the Party are immediatelysuspicious of Dustin’s discoveryand he is forced to continue caring for Dart in secret. It is only when Mews, the Hendersons' cat, becomes a tasty treat that Dustin begins to take the situation seriously.
Starting as a type of larvae, this creature transforms into a Pollywog, then a Frogogorgon, followed by a Catogorgon, before becoming a Demodog. Surprisingly, however, even after all this metamorphosis, Dart still maintains a taste for chocolate and even appears to recognize his former owner whilst in its Demodog state.
7Demodogs
Demodogs are infantile versions of a Demogorgons, fulfilling the penultimate stage of development of the beast’s unusual life cycle. With canine-like qualities, these monsters are true hunters that work with a pack mentality that differs from the Hive Mind, although they are undoubtedly still connected. Demodogs will not run into combat mindlessly but opt for calculated stalking and strategic attacks, aided by their keen senses and reinforced skin.
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Thankfully, many of the Demodogswere destroyed by Elevenwhen she sealed the Gate to the Upside Down in Season 2, cutting off their connection to the Mind Flayer and presumed source of power.
6The Hospital Monster
With a concept design inspired byHellraiserandThe Thing,The Hospital Monster was almost deemedtoo scary for television. Formed from the “deceased” bodies of a Flayed Tom Holloway and Bruce Lowe, this horrific beast appears within the hallways of Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Season 3. Made to look like a raging mass of humanoid limbs had the desired effect, and struck fear into the hearts ofNancy Wheeler, Jonathan Byers, and viewers around the world.
With surprising agility, this monster can dissolve and reform itself at will. This ability makes the Hospital Monster virtually indestructible, as even Eleven struggles to eliminate this creature entirely from existence (those tiny bits are difficult to find!)
5The Demogorgon
As the original antagonist of Season 1 ofStranger Things, the Demogorgon’s designwas plucked straight out of nightmares. More than just a mindless monster like the Flayed, the Demogorgon possesses the additional threat of intellect. They appear to also have a heightened sense of smell (particularly for blood) to make up for their lack of sight.
These grotesque creatures can heal themselves quickly and seemingly with no effort, as Demogorgons seems to be completely unaffected by bullets (unless shot directly into its gaping ‘mouth’) with fire as their greatest weakness. It is hard to believe that this savage monster started as an (almost) cute, little ‘slug’ and beloved pet of Dustin Henderson.
4The Spider Monster
Much like the Hospital Monster, the Spider Monster consists of an amalgamation of Flayed victims, but on a much grander scale. Essentially this creature acts as the physical embodiment of the Mind Flayer’s consciousness, growing to a gargantuan size as it collects body parts from the Flayed along the way.
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The Spider Monster originated from Will’s infection inSeason 1 ofStranger Things, afterhe was supposedly “healed” after the monstrosity was forced out of him with heat. Overwhelmed and suffocating, the Vines' remnants went into hiding until it eventually became the source (or proxy) of all the Flayed gathered by Billy in Season 2.
3The Mind Flayer, Aka The Shadow Monster
Assumed to be theLord of the Upside Down, the Mind Flayeris a recurring tyrant throughout the first three seasons ofStranger Things. As the root of all evil, the Mind Flayer controls the Hive Mind, sending out its minions to cause chaos around Hawkins and potentially the rest of the globe if given the chance.
The Mind Flayer demonstrates superb intellect as it possesses Will while ensuring to remain undetected, using his new host to trick the rest of the Party into focusing their attack on the wrong location. When this monster realizes that more could be done with the possessed corpses of the Flayed, it facilitates the reconstruction of the remaining limbs to form abominations such as the Hospital Monster and Spider Monster. Anything could become a potentially deadly weapon in the “hands” of the seemingly indestructible Mind Flayer but as it turns out, this dark entity has Vecna to thank for its accomplishments!
2Demobats
So far, these savage winged beasts have only been seen in The Upside Down, but that doesn’t mean they can’t pass through the Gate, which is likely to happen any day now. Poor Steve Harrington is the first to face these monstrosities inSeason 4 ofStranger Thingsand is sliced up like swiss cheese by their razor-sharp talons, barely escaping with his life. Demobats are sensitive to sound and drawn to it like a moth to the flame; which could either be advantageous or have fatal consequences.
Much like the Demogorgons, the Demobats demonstrate an advanced intellect, particularly when taking on Eddie and Dustin, and soon discover they can enter the reinforced structure through an exposed air vent. With their first attempt unsuccessful, the swarm of Demobats immediately seeks out a similar entrance point, driving the boys from their safety and claiming a life in the process.
