Stranger Things Fans Will Love Escape The Dark, And It’s Just One Reason I Think Netflix House Is A Must-Visit

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When it comes to fun experiences, Disney and Universal are the leaders – Disney with its immersive storytelling and Universal with thrilling adventures. Six Flags focuses on intense roller coasters. Below them, you’ll find a wide variety of options like LEGOLAND, SeaWorld, Dave & Buster’s, and escape rooms, with a new attraction called Sloth World on the way. In 2025, Netflix joined this competitive landscape with its first two interactive entertainment spaces, called Netflix House.

I recently went to the opening of Netflix House Dallas, and I was really impressed. The space is huge, and it’s packed with fun, immersive experiences celebrating lots of different Netflix shows and movies. There’s everything from games and themed food and drinks to amazing decorations. Whether you’re a dedicated binge-watcher or just a casual fan (even if you only know Stranger Things), it’s a place you’ll want to check out. Plus, they’re planning to change things up regularly, so there will always be something new to see and do, making it a destination you’ll want to return to again and again.

Let’s explore why the Netflix show’s depiction of Hawkins makes a strong case for similar setups in cities across the US. First, let’s discuss one of the two main storylines set in that town.

Stranger Things: Escape The Dark Is Truly A One-Of-A-Kind Adventure

The goal of Stranger Things: Escape The Dark is to fully immerse players in the world of the show, making them feel like they’re actually in an episode. The story revolves around finding three missing teenagers from Hawkins, including Eddie Munson. Using a flashlight and special headphones with 3D sound, fans will experience various scenarios and locations familiar from the popular series.

Stranger Things: Escape The Dark Quick Facts
  • Price: From $39-$49
  • Length: Approximately One Hour
  • Age Limit: Guardian Required For Children Under 14

I don’t want to give away too much, but I can share a few things I loved. Will’s Castle Byers is one of many incredibly detailed locations – Eddie’s trailer is another – that you’ll want to take your time exploring. I could have spent a whole hour just looking at everything! The experience also uses headphones and amazing visual effects, combining realistic sets with digital tricks like screens, smoke, lights, and holograms. There are several truly impressive moments that make this a must-see for fans.

Though not every part matches the strong atmosphere of the beginning and end, Escape The Dark blends the feeling of escape rooms, haunted houses, and theme park shows in a new way – but it skips the complicated puzzles and intense scares that can deter some people from those other experiences.

Squid Game: Survive The Trials Is All The Fun Games Without The Death

You don’t need to be a fan of Stranger Things to have fun with Escape the Death, and similarly, you don’t need to have watched Squid Game to enjoy the Survive the Trials experience. Though knowing Squid Game definitely enhances the experience, especially seeing the games recreated and encountering the Pink Soldiers!

Squid Game: Survive The Trials Quick Facts
  • Price: From $39-$49
  • Length: Approximately One Hour
  • Age Limit: All Ages, Though Guests 3 And Under May Have Limited Participation

When you begin the Trials, you’ll receive a numbered wristband to keep track of your score. It’s a competition where you’ll compete against others in your group—and maybe even strangers!—and you’ll need to use skills like quick thinking, agility, awareness, memory, and good timing to succeed.

The game reaches its peak with the incredibly popular Red Light, Green Light, overseen by the unsettling doll, Young-hee, who watches everyone like a robot. While losing in Squid Game: Survive the Trials won’t result in death, players who don’t finish first can expect some good-natured ribbing from their friends.

The RePlay Arcade Is More Than Just On-Theme Video Games

I’m a big fan of arcades, whether they’re classic, old-school places or the newer, bar-focused ones. I especially love trying games I haven’t played before, and Netflix’s RePlay Arcade is full of those – everything there is unique to the brand, though you’ll find familiar types of games like basketball, football, and punching bags. They’re really creative too – for example, they quickly turned a Dance Dance Revolution machine into a game based on their hit animated film, KPop Demon Hunters. But it’s not just about adapting existing games; it’s much more than that.

RePlay features a lot of unique games, like one based on Floor Is Lava where you jump across a glowing floor. There’s also a game inspired by Love, Death + Robots that takes the classic Operation game to the extreme. I especially enjoyed a Happy Gilmore golf game – even though the controls were a bit rough, it was packed with fun references to the movie (including an appearance by Bob Barker!). You can also quickly play a Love Is Blindstyle matchmaker game to see which Netflix character you’re compatible with. I was matched with Red from Orange Is the New Black*, which probably wouldn’t be a good fit for her!

Okay, let me tell you about the real standouts at RePlay. They’ve got three themed mini-experiences that are a little pricier, but totally worth it – each one takes about 15 minutes. First up, another Stranger Things room! It’s set in that iconic basement, and you’re helping Dustin with a new challenge. Then there’s Army of the Dead, which is super unique – you have to pull off a heist without talking at all. And finally, get this – a Sakamoto Days room where you’re literally stacking groceries and throwing them at bad guys! It’s surprisingly active and a fun workout, honestly.

The Merch And Food Options Are Plentiful And Largely Exclusive

Netflix House understands visitors need to recharge, so it offers both a restaurant, Netflix Bites, and a bar. Both serve unique food and drinks inspired by popular Netflix shows – think WWE-themed burgers or Scoops Ahoy ice cream. During my visit, everything I tasted was delicious, and the food was surprisingly affordable compared to other restaurants in the area. Even if you’re not interested in the interactive experiences, it’s a great place to grab a reasonably priced and tasty lunch.

Similar to areas like Netflix Bites, the merch shop at Netflix House is open to everyone. It’s easy to spend a lot of money there, with a huge selection of items like hoodies, keychains, puzzles, LEGO sets, posters, and collectibles – it’s a great place to shop!

I spoke with Greg Lombardo, Vice President of Experiences at Netflix, about using merchandise to highlight shows or movies that aren’t ideal for games or interactive experiences. Here’s what he shared with me:

What’s great about the Netflix House experience is the variety – we’ve brought together shows and movies like Love is Blind, Floor is Lava, and KPop Demon Hunters, alongside our Replay collection. The retail space lets us showcase even more titles. You’ll find things like Virgin River and Frankenstein, plus fun photo opportunities for fans. Because it’s located right by the mall entrance and admission to Netflix House is free, we want people to come in, explore, rediscover favorites, and maybe find something new to watch.

It was a bit surprising to find items from Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein already in the Netflix Store, considering how new it is to the service, but fans can expect to see things added quickly. The store has a lot of KPop Demon Hunters and Stranger Things merchandise – including an impressive life-sized Vecna statue. And for those wondering if The Hunting Wives deserved a spot, the store is really showcasing the Brittany Snow series with exclusive, Texas-themed clothing and collectibles you won’t find anywhere else.

Netflix House Also Honors Its Older Projects, With A Goal Of Rotating Experiences And Other Elements

While shows like Stranger Things and Wednesday get a lot of attention, Netflix House also celebrates older, finished series in subtle and direct ways. For example, a mural behind the bar honors fan favorites such as BoJack Horseman, Ozark, and the “San Junipero” episode of Black Mirror. I especially loved the lit-up chessboard squares on the ceiling in the entrance, displayed near a picture of Anya-Taylor Joy as her character from The Queen’s Gambit.

Beyond everything else, Netflix House isn’t designed to stay the same. The spaces are built to be completely changeable, allowing Netflix to highlight new shows and capitalize on what’s already popular. Practically anything inside – from the bright signs to the food and even the games – could be swapped out over time. This encourages people to come back and experience something new, unlike many traditional arcades or escape rooms.

I had an amazing time at Netflix House, and I think everyone else will too! Why not visit the Dallas or Philadelphia location and experience it for yourself? Just a heads-up: avoid the waiter who looks like Vecna – it might actually be him!

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2025-12-24 02:24