Quite a Ride is an upcoming first-person survival horror game on Steam that feels like an unofficial Stranger Things spin-off, and fans of the show may want to add it to their wishlists now. Hardcore fans already know that the Netflix show has been adapted into video games multiple times, with Stranger Things VR on Steam being one example.
However, most of these official Stranger Things games have leaned toward a pixel-art or cartoony style and have largely failed to reach a broad audience. With the show now officially over and Telltale Games' highly anticipated Stranger Things project canceled, the fandom has little reason to expect a high-quality official game anytime soon. That said, there is an upcoming indie game on Steam that could help fill that gap, even though it has no direct connection to the IP.
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Quite a Ride Features at a Glance
- EXPLORE an open-world map
- COLLECT strange resources
- RIDE a bike to charge your phone
- RECORD anomalies and study them
- SOLVE the mysteries of the Blind Spot
Quite a Ride's Gameplay Explained
Developed by Goodwin Games, Quite a Ride is a survival horror game about a teenager trapped in an eerie, anomaly-riddled zone known as the Blind Spot. Its core gameplay revolves around riding a bike to uncover new locations across an open-world map. Players can also get off the bike and explore the environment on foot in a walking simulator-style experience, though remaining off the bike too long can be fatal.
The protagonist is equipped with a handful of gadgets, including a radio and a phone, which are used to locate, record, and study anomalies. These anomalies take the form of strange, hostile creatures scattered throughout the Blind Spot. There is also a base that serves as a safe zone, where players can return to analyze collected data and plan their next outing.
Fans Think Quite a Ride Is the Perfect Spiritual Spin-Off of Stranger Things
There are several reasons fans of Stranger Things see Quite a Ride as an unofficial spin-off of the show. For starters, the game's foggy setting, the Blind Spot, bears a striking resemblance to Stranger Things' Upside Down, the monster-filled parallel world that serves as home to the show's villains. On top of that, the game's aesthetic leans heavily into retro-futuristic themes commonly associated with '80s and '90s sci-fi series. These elements help explain why many fans have started calling Quite a Ride the "OG" Stranger Thing s game. But there's more.
The game's foggy setting, the Blind Spot, bears a striking resemblance to Stranger Things' Upside Down...
Creature Design in Quite a Ride Is Reminiscent of the Upside Down
The teenagers of Hawkins face dozens of horrifying creatures throughout all five seasons of Stranger Things. It's possible that some of Quite a Ride's enemies, including ones reminiscent of the infamous Mind Flayer, were inspired by the show, given the noticeable resemblance between the creatures in the Blind Spot and those from the Upside Down.
Cycling Plays a Key Role in Quite a Ride, Just Like It Did in Stranger Things
Fans of Netflix's sci-fi horror series know that bikes play a key role in its storytelling, especially in the early seasons when the cast is younger. Mike, Dustin, Will, and Lucas are frequently shown riding their bikes, and in season four, some characters even cycle through the Upside Down. Quite a Ride appears to build on this idea by making cycling its core gameplay mechanic, using it both as the primary means of transportation and as a way to generate energy.
Radios in Quite a Ride Can Remind Fans of Stranger Things' Walkie-Talkies
In Quite a Ride, players need to keep a close eye on the radio mounted on their bike, as the strange-tech FM signal helps guide them toward new paths and areas. Each zone features its own anomalies and presents new dangers, but exploring them is essential for uncovering the secrets of the Blind Spot. This mechanic may remind Stranger Things fans of moments when the kids in Hawkins relied on their walkie-talkies to communicate with friends trapped in the Upside Down.
Quite a Ride Development and Release
In response to a fan on X, developer Alex Goodwin revealed that Quite a Ride is being made by a three-person team. As for its release window, the team is currently targeting the first quarter of 2026, though a specific launch date has not been announced. Goodwin also noted that the game's overall length is still being determined, but the goal is to give it strong replay value. Players interested in checking it out at launch can add Quite a Ride to their Steam wishlist to receive a notification when it becomes available.