Stranger Things Uses Wrong Ghosts ‘n Goblins Footage

Stranger Things has kicked off its final season on Netflix, with the first episode setting the stage for the conclusion of the group’s battle against supernatural threats. The series has long been praised for recreating the 1980s environment faithfully, but some viewers with a gaming background spotted a peculiar inconsistency.

Popular retro gaming YouTuber My Retro Life highlighted a scene where characters play on a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1987. On the TV screen, the game shown is Ghosts ‘n Goblins (known as Makaimura in Japan). However, eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed that the footage displayed is actually from the arcade version, not the NES port. The arcade version features distinct graphics that differ from the console release, making the nostalgic moment slightly inaccurate for enthusiasts.

While Ghosts ‘n Goblins was ported to NES in 1986, the scene is set in 1987, creating a minor historical mismatch. Some speculate that the choice was due to copyright protections on the NES version by Nintendo, or that the production opted to use footage from the CAPCOM Arcade Collection—a legal way to show the arcade game on modern systems. This version faithfully recreates the arcade board on consoles, making it the only playable version legally accessible today.

Ghosts ‘n Goblins first debuted in arcades in 1985 before being ported to various systems. Players control the knight Arthur, navigating platforming challenges and hordes of demons to rescue Princess Prin-Prin from Satan’s grasp. The game is renowned for its difficulty and remains one of the most challenging action titles of its era.