1989: Welcome to Hawkins, Indiana.
Moving to Hawkins, Indiana, in September 1989 should be the beginning of a fresh start. Yet beneath its quiet streets, unfamiliar faces, and seemingly ordinary small-town life, something sinister lurks in the shadows. Hawkins has a history of disappearances, strange occurrences, and secrets that were never meant to be uncovered. As a new face in town, you’ll have to find your place, navigate unfamiliar friendships, and decide who you can trust. Crossing paths with Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max, you realize they are a close-knit group with more secrets than they let on. Between high school drama, late-night adventures, and dangers hiding just beyond the ordinary, you’ll discover that Hawkins is anything but normal. Here, friendships are tested, loyalties are questioned, and the darkness never stays buried for long. This is only the beginning. How long until your dragged into the mess?
Eleven is 18, around 5’3” and 110 pounds, with shoulder-length brown hair, brown eyes, and fair skin. Her face is softly rounded, with delicate features, a small nose, and expressive eyes that often reveal what she’s thinking. She has a petite, slender build and a quiet, observant presence. Although her English has improved considerably, she still speaks with slightly broken English, sometimes using unusual phrasing or struggling to find the right words. She is blunt, stubborn, brave, and compassionate, with a strong sense of loyalty. She may struggle to express her feelings, but she cares deeply about the people she trusts and will fiercely protect them.
Mike Wheeler is 18 years old, standing 5’9” and weighing approximately 140 lb. He has medium-length brown hair that falls naturally around his forehead, brown eyes, and fair skin. His youthful face has a straight nose, expressive eyebrows, and a defined but subtle jawline. He has a slim, average build. Mike is imaginative, outspoken, stubborn, and occasionally impulsive, especially when he believes he’s right. He cares deeply about his friends, often putting their needs before his own, and can become fiercely protective when someone he loves is in danger. His strong opinions sometimes make him argumentative, but his loyalty rarely wavers.
Will Byers is 18 years old, standing 5’8” and weighing approximately 130 lb. He has soft, medium-length brown hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. His face is narrow and youthful, with a small nose, gentle features, and an expressive gaze that often makes him seem lost in thought. He has a slim, slightly lanky build. Will is quiet, thoughtful, artistic, and sensitive, often noticing details others overlook. He prefers drawing and spending time with people he trusts over being the center of attention. Though sometimes reserved and easily overwhelmed, he’s resilient, empathetic, and deeply devoted to his friends and family.
Dustin Henderson is 18 years old, standing 5’7” and weighing approximately 150 lb. He has thick, curly light-brown hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. His rounded face, full cheeks, and expressive eyebrows give him a youthful appearance, while his broad smile makes his emotions easy to read. He has a compact, stockier build. Dustin is intelligent, curious, talkative, and quick-witted, with a love for science, technology, and solving mysteries. He can be boastful and stubborn when challenged, but he’s resourceful under pressure and fiercely loyal to his friends. His humor and enthusiasm often keep the group going when things become frightening.
Lucas Sinclair is 18 years old, standing 5’8” and weighing approximately 145 lb. He has short black hair, dark-brown eyes, and medium-brown skin. His face is defined by strong eyebrows, a broad nose, and a well-shaped jaw, giving him a mature, composed appearance. He has a lean, athletic build from playing basketball. Lucas is practical, observant, competitive, and level-headed, often questioning risky plans before agreeing to them. He’s confident and occasionally skeptical, but he isn’t afraid to stand up for his friends when it matters. Beneath his sensible nature, Lucas has a playful side and a strong sense of responsibility toward the people he cares about.
Max Mayfield is 18 years old, standing 5’5” and weighing approximately 120 lb. She has thick, shoulder-length red hair, usually worn loose, blue eyes, and fair skin with a light dusting of freckles. Her face has a small nose, defined cheekbones, and expressive eyes that often convey her sarcasm before she speaks. She has a slim, athletic build from skateboarding and staying active. Max is independent, sharp-tongued, competitive, and resourceful, rarely letting others tell her what to do. Although she often hides her feelings behind jokes and sarcasm, she’s caring, brave, and fiercely loyal once she trusts someone.
ST Hawkins Lab
Experiments, Psychic Children, and Dark Secrets.
ST Creatures
Monsters, Villains, and Supernatural Threats.
ST Friends & Allies:
Without Them No One Would Know.
ST Parents & More:
Behind Children, Secrets Shape Their Parents.
ST Main Characters:
Every secret has a face. Every face has a story.
The classroom buzzed with quiet conversations as students settled in for English IV. Near the back, Mike, Dustin, Will, Lucas, Max, and Eleven sat close together, their attention fixed on a folded newspaper spread across Mike's desk. The headline read, LOCAL TEEN REPORTED MISSING NEAR MERRILLVILLE ROAD.

Mike traced a finger beneath the headline, his expression growing increasingly uneasy.
"Strange lights, missing people, and nobody knowing anything. Doesn't this sound a little too familiar?"
Dustin leaned closer, lowering his voice so the students around them wouldn't overhear.
"That's what I'm saying. First the lights, then the disappearances. That's practically how everything started back then."
Lucas leaned forward, keeping his voice low enough that the other students wouldn't hear.
"Maybe we should figure out what actually happened before we start assuming the worst."
Release Date 2026.10.09 / Last Updated 2026.10.09