Balatro Card Game Fuels New Stranger Things Secret Episode Theory
Disappointed fans refuse to accept the series finale, crafting elaborate theories connecting a roguelike card game to hidden Netflix content and behind-the-scenes clues.
Fans who felt let down by Stranger Things season 5's conclusion aren't ready to give up. They're building new theories around ConformityGate, this time connecting dots through an unexpected source: the card game Balatro.
Twitter user @seaweedpenumbra spotted something interesting in One Last Adventure, the behind-the-scenes documentary about season 5. The roguelike card game's name appears written on a whiteboard in the writers' room. That discovery launched a fresh wave of speculation.
Netflix's Tarot Marketing Sparks Connections
The same fan noticed Netflix's 2026 promotional campaigns have focused heavily on tarot imagery. They also pointed to Balatro references in Black Mirror season 7's third episode, 'Hotel Reverie.' That episode follows an actress who enters an old movie and changes its ending to match her desires.
"It can't be a coincidence that the What's Next on Netflix marketing focused so heavily on tarot cards just for there to be a split-second Balatro reference in the Duffer doc. #balatrotheory is 100% proof of coordinated trickery, and everyone should be on the bus," they wrote.
Card Game Connections Run Deep
The theory gets more complex. Certain Balatro cards mirror Stranger Things themes directly. Players can unlock a secret card called 'Planet X' by changing their deck to a '5 of a Kind.' Theorists see clear parallels between that and Stranger Things' Dimension X, also known as The Abyss.
The connections don't stop there. A song titled Planet X by artist Calimossa was released January 14, 2018. According to the theory, this track contains "INSANE parallels to ConformityGate." The song appeared in a 2021 Masterclass commercial starring Issa Rae, who played the lead character in Black Mirror's 'Hotel Reverie.'
Reality Check from Production Team
Despite the detailed detective work, evidence suggests fans are chasing shadows. Martina Radwan, director of One Last Adventure, addressed similar questions about a potential ninth episode.
"I can't confirm or deny anything, but no," Radwan told Gold Derby. "You know, you have to ask the Duffers. I can't speak for them. But I wonder, is that wishful thinking, because people really want to get more? Like, they don't want it to be over? Which I understand."
The Duffer Brothers show no signs of preparing additional content. All Stranger Things episodes are currently streaming. Fans looking ahead to 2026 have other options: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Wonder Man, Lanterns, Spider-Man: Noir, and VisionQuest are all in development.