In season 2 of “Stranger Things,” the kids go to the Palace, commonly identified as Palace Arcade.
The arcade is introduced as a favorite hangout for Hawkins’ young gamers. Dustin, Lucas, Mike, and Will spend time there playing classic arcade games, while a mysterious new player known as MADMAX begins topping the high-score lists. That player turns out to be Max Mayfield, one of season 2’s major new characters.
The Palace Arcade helps establish the season’s 1984 setting and its fascination with video-game culture. The boys play Dragon’s Lair, a real arcade game released in 1983, and compete over scores in a way that reflects the era’s obsession with public leaderboards.
The location is also the setting for Will’s disturbing encounter with the Mind Flayer’s shadowy form. The name is sometimes written as “Palace Arcade,” while the season’s episode title “The Palace” uses the shorter form. Both refer to the same Hawkins arcade.