Stranger Things has revealed the Upside Down is a bridge to the Abyss. Could other worlds exist? Here's what a new prequel suggests

Although the Upside Down might seem like the nightmare itself in Stranger Things, Netflix has shown that it is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Season 5 showed that the Upside Down is a wormhole linking Hawkins with another world, called the Abyss. It redefines the audience's understanding of monsters in the series and gives rise to an even greater question - could there be more worlds other than those two already presented in the show?

This possibility has become especially intriguing since Netflix announced Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure, a new prequel of live-action Stranger Things due in 2028.

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Although it doesn't prove the existence of more worlds, this project allows the franchise to explore new worlds and supernatural phenomena.

Is the Upside Down one of several worlds in Stranger Things?

Initially in the show, the Upside Down appeared as a reflection of Hawkins, but in its negative image. It appeared to be the same kind of area as Hawkins, except for being empty and having alien creatures and plants in it.

However, it became known to be quite different from the original depiction in season 5.

According to the official description provided by Netflix for the last season, Dustin realised that the Upside Down was not an autonomous realm, but the portal linking our world and the Abyss.

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This difference is important to consider. While the Abyss is the world where Vecna, the Mind Flayer, Demogorgons and other creatures live, the Upside Down is the connection between these two worlds.

This information brings additional nuances into the mythology of the show besides the idea of two worlds existing simultaneously within the one city. However, it does not suggest the existence of many other worlds parallel to ours.

Right now, the Abyss is the only other realm presented on the show.

What is the Abyss, and how is it connected to Vecna?

Abyss gives rise to a completely new setting where Henry Creel turns into Vecna, according to the story provided in the series.

In accordance with the background story in the show, Henry is sent into that hazardous dimension after their meeting in Hawkins Laboratory.

The connection between this dimension and Henry is crucial for the supernatural danger hovering over Hawkins because the creatures in the Abyss can access Earth using the gate referred to as the Upside Down.

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This difference can also help to better understand why breaking the connection between these two places is so critical. The issue here is not the existence of a shadow reality of Hawkins created by Hawkins itself.

The issue is that there might be a hostile dimension merged with our world.

Speaking about the Stranger Things narrative, this could be regarded as one of the most significant innovations.

Could the Stranger Things prequel introduce other worlds?

The TV show was announced on November 6, 2026. Its launch is scheduled for 2028, and the series will take place in the 1950s.

The show will be created by the same creators as the previous series, in addition to Kate Trefry, who will act as the showrunner and co-creator of the series.

Joe Wright, director, has been hired to direct the first three episodes of the series.

Netflix called the series a show which presents a completely new world, a new set of heroes and villains, and an enhanced mythology.

There are different possibilities that can be considered.

The prequel may include a previous case of the occurrence of supernatural phenomena, meet a new group of characters who have had their encounter with the phenomenon beyond the boundaries of reality, or reveal the origin of the special powers associated with the franchise.

Nevertheless, there is one important limitation – Netflix has not stated that the new series will present a new world in its series.

The name Other Worlds is indicative, but this does not mean that the series will have many other worlds.

How does The First Shadow fit into the Stranger Things universe?

Actually, this new prequel is not the first time the franchise tries to get into the world before the events of the initial series.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a story about the history of Henry Creel and his connections with unusual phenomena that eventually influence the town of Hawkins, and it is staged.

Thus, the show provides an interesting insight into the mythology of Henry Creel, which may be helpful for those people who want to learn more about the origins of the main threat in the show.

Nevertheless, with Other Worlds, the creative team has a possibility to return even further in time, since this series is described by Netflix as being earlier than not only the initial series, but also the stage production.

What could other worlds mean for Stranger Things?

That being said, it does not mean that any other dimension cannot have other worlds, other histories, and other beings as long as the supernatural laws of this dimension are not changed.

As the example of the Abyss clearly shows, the franchise can easily leave Hawkins Town and still be itself. Another dimension must have its own meaning instead of yet another place where creatures from other worlds might appear.

For now, we already have one definite place that exists beyond our world – the Abyss.

What needs to be determined is whether the mythos of Other Worlds will develop or whether the series will have yet another storyline from the same universe.

The main point that should be highlighted in conclusion is that the Upside Down is definitely not the last solution to the main mystery of Stranger Things.

It is just a starting point into a greater dimension, and maybe the first time Other Worlds had an opportunity to look into it.