Game Night in the Upside Down: Stranger Things Cast Brings Nostalgia, Chaos, and Laughter to Fallon’s Stage

In a wild whirlwind of nostalgia, internet search queries, mock rivalries, and pure ‘80s chaos, the cast of Stranger Things made a raucous return to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in a segment that can only be described as the most endearing trivia night ever held in the Upside Down.

The game? A fast-paced competition involving auto-completed internet search questions. The goal? Pure entertainment. Hosted by Jimmy Fallon with his usual brand of kinetic charm, the game pitted cast members against each other in teams, led by Fallon and Tariq Trotter (aka Black Thought), in a format that quickly devolved into hilarity, confusion, and oddly sincere debates about the merits of 1980s fashion and junk food.

Round One: “Why Did the ’80s Have the Worst…”

Fallon, paired with Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard, went head-to-head against Trotter’s team. The first prompt: “Why did the ’80s have the worst blank?” Wolfhard quickly typed in “clothes,” while Fallon—leaning into the retro aesthetic he’s known to adore—chose “hair.” Their guesses sparked laughter and agreement across the room, landing them solid points. Wolfhard’s response proved especially prescient, as “clothes” did indeed rank among the top internet-searched completions to that decade-defining phrase.

When “music” appeared on the board later, it caused an uproar. “I disagree with my own answer,” Fallon admitted, clearly feeling the betrayal of having to play a game that challenged his musical nostalgia. His co-stars echoed the sentiment: none of them truly believed the ‘80s had the “worst” music—but when playing to win, sentiment often takes a back seat to strategy.

As the buzzer rang and the laughter subsided, the tone was set: logic had no home here, only speed, guessing prowess, and comedic timing.

Round Two: Regret on a Plate

Next up were Millie Bobby Brown and Caleb McLaughlin. The question: “Will I regret eating this whole blank?”

Brown didn’t hesitate—“cake.” McLaughlin followed with “pizza pie.” As the answers popped onto the board, the game escalated into an outright food fight—verbally, of course. Cake proved to be the top response, and McLaughlin’s pizza didn’t fall far behind. Yet it was Noah Schnapp, entering for the steal, who scored the biggest cheer of the round by guessing the ultimate late-night lament: “bag of chips.”

From cake to turkey (yes, turkey), the segment reminded audiences that Stranger Things actors are just like the rest of us—full of random thoughts, questionable eating habits, and entirely too much confidence in their answers. When Tariq guessed “turkey,” Fallon laughed, offering a thousand-dollar bounty if the fowl appeared on the board. It didn’t.

“I’ll give you $1,000 if turkey’s up there,” Fallon challenged, with mock severity. The moment perfectly captured the bizarre joy of the game: unexpected, unscripted, and weirdly wholesome.

The Final Round: For a Billion Points

As tensions “rose” in this extremely low-stakes battle, the final showdown came down to Noah Schnapp and Gaten Matarazzo. The question: “Should I get a new blank?”

With a billion points on the line (because of course there are no actual rules in late-night shenanigans), Gaten entered the practical answer: “car.” Noah, however, stumbled. In the chaos of the moment, he accidentally typed “ohone,” which Fallon graciously accepted as “phone.”

“We’re gonna take phone,” Fallon announced, evoking cheers, protests, and chaotic glee.

Against all odds—and spelling—the top answers were revealed: “car” and “phone” both hit the board, sealing the round in a climax of comically accidental brilliance. “Ohone,” the typo that changed everything, was immortalized in Tonight Show trivia lore.

A Nostalgic, Offbeat Reunion

What made this segment so effective wasn’t just the humor—it was the chemistry. The cast, many of whom have grown up in the public eye over the course of Stranger Things’ run, brought the same playful familiarity to the stage that made them fan favorites in the first place. Their interactions were authentic: teasing each other, celebrating small victories, and even dancing after successful guesses.

It wasn’t lost on the audience that they were watching young actors who have, for better or worse, grown up in the glow of a globally beloved franchise. But instead of posturing or over-polished answers, what viewers got was sincerity. Whether it was Gaten’s frustrated typing, Millie’s triumphant laugh, or Noah’s bashful error, every moment felt delightfully human.

Even the producers seemed to lean into the chaos—no strict points tally, no real rules, just “let’s see what happens.” In that way, it echoed the spirit of Stranger Things itself: a little absurd, a lot nostalgic, and powered by character-driven charm.

Fallon’s Game Mastery

Fallon, for his part, was in top form—instigating laughter, joking about the rules (or lack thereof), and riffing off each cast member with veteran timing. His dynamic with Tariq Trotter was a highlight in itself, a comedic duo that oscillated between competition and collaboration.

“Don’t be salty,” Fallon teased at one point, prompting a debate about whether that was an American or British saying. It was the kind of back-and-forth that typifies The Tonight Show’s best moments: unscripted magic caught between laughs.

Conclusion: When Chaos Works

In just under seven minutes, the segment did more than deliver laughs. It captured the heart of ensemble television—the way personalities bounce off each other, how shared history creates comedy gold, and how the best entertainment often emerges from pure improvisation.

The Stranger Things cast may be nearing the end of their on-screen journey in Hawkins, but in moments like these, it’s clear the bonds they’ve formed are real—and hilarious.

For fans of the show and Fallon alike, this wasn’t just a sketch—it was a celebration of where they’ve been, and a reminder that even in a world of Demogorgons and alternate dimensions, it’s good old-fashioned human absurdity that brings us together.