With the end of Squid Game
season 2, and season 3 set to conclude the series for good, it’s time to look at other shows for fans of the Netflix hit to enjoy. Squid Game initially debuted on Netflix back in 2021, and despite all odds, the South Korean thriller shattered records for the streamer. The show’s unique visual style, intense and dramatic storyline, and the dystopian setting resonated with audiences, and the show was renewed for a second season.
Three years later, Squid Game finally delivered the second season, which saw Gi-hun try to investigate the mysterious games and get some answers. However, after just seven episodes, season 2 leaves the story with some immense cliffhangers, which may leave audiences desperate to indulge in another death-defying dystopian series. Or perhaps something that delivers a similar level of tension, intensity, and unique storytelling. Below are some of the best shows worth watching while waiting for Squid Game season 3 to finally drop.
10
Snowpiercer
Snowpiercer is a TV series which expands and builds on the concept of the 2013 film starring Chris Evans. Despite the show going into development shortly after the film released, there were many delays which ultimately meant the series did not begin airing until 2020. However, when the show began airing, it was a hit with audiences and managed to get four seasons out before the show was wrapped up in 2024.
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Snowpiercer examines a futuristic dystopian world where humans have been forced to move onto incredibly large, constantly-moving trains. With the rest of the world being transformed into a frozen wasteland, humanity now resides and relies on the Snowpiercer for its survival. Like Squid Game, the series also depicts a struggle between classes, with the elites and the impoverished living in separate parts of the train. This division and struggle between classes is powerful, and leads to shocking twists.
9
Strangers From Hell
One of the highlights from Squid Game was the incredible acting from a huge ensemble cast as the contestants were all locked in close quarters and forced to play the games together. This leads to incredible tension, and the actors have ample opportunities to shine. Another show where the actors deliver compelling performances while confined to close quarters is another South Korean psychological thriller, Strangers from Hell.
The show features an extraordinary cast, while focusing on one young man in his 20s. The series also conceals a deep, dark mystery that unfolds over an intense 10-episode run, and culminates in an incredibly satisfying ending which subverts expectations. The tone and intensity of the series has a lot in common with Squid Game, though it is in some ways a darker series.
8
Alice In Borderland
Alice in Borderland is a Japanese sci-fi thriller which also debuted on Netflix. The series is adapted from a Manga comic of the same name. The story follows a group of three young people who find themselves suddenly and mysteriously transported to an empty version of Tokyo City, with mysterious guides and instructions that lead them to participate in a series of death-defying games. The series is full of mystery, and over the first two seasons, the show has continued to intensify and explore the mysterious games.
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The show is also set to release a third season in 2025. With a set of games that force people to put their lives on the line, and a mystery about who is pulling the strings and forcing everyone to participate, the similarities are clear between Alice in Borderland and Squid Game. However, the distinct styles in each series, from the sci-fi futurism of Alice in Borderland, to the child-like simplicity of Squid Game ensure each show has its own clear identity.
7
All Of Us Are Dead
Another South Korean Netflix series that could hit the spot for Squid Game fans is All of Us Are Dead. The first season debuted in 2022, and it has since been renewed for a second season, which is expected to arrive on the streaming platform by 2026. The show also offers an incredible dystopian story with young students who must work together in order to avoid certain death.
However, the differences in the series make it interesting. For one, All of Us Are Dead follows a group of late teenagers in a coming-of-age story, while Squid Game sees people from every demographic join the games. Instead of a set of rigid games where the contestants must play to survive, All of Us Are Dead sees the kids trying to survive a zombie outbreak. It’s a tense show with plenty of action, with a solid group of young actors in the leading roles.
6
Hellbound
Hellbound is also a South Korean series, but one that takes a distinctly more supernatural approach to the story. In a near future society, weird occurrences begin to cause havoc, when large disembodied faces appear and declare individuals who are bound for Hell. This obviously causes people to panic, but when the demons come to claim their victims in a public display of brutality and monstrosity, it takes the tension to a whole other level.
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The series began with one six-episode season, which is divided in half with each set of three episodes following a different main character. However, the show also had a second season which expanded on the core premise. Like Squid Game, it is tense, action-packed, and sees people taken out of their comfort zone as they strive to overcome impending doom.
5
Sweet Home
Sweet Home actually came out several months ahead of Squid Game in 2020. Another South Korean series, this time set in the horror and apocalyptic genres. The series ran for three seasons, and it explores a world where many people find themselves transforming into terrifying monsters due to some sort of supernatural virus.
The show is incredibly dark, with intense themes throughout, and visuals that mirror that dark storytelling. However, it also includes an incredible story as scientists and the government strive to figure out what has happened, and if these things can be reversed. Meanwhile, one character finds themselves being a potential exception who can transform into a monster at will, and retain their humanity.
4
Black Mirror
Black Mirror is a British anthology series from Charlie Brooker. The show is also found on Netflix, but with each new episode exploring a new concept, the thing that ties the series together is a focus on dystopian technology which can reshape and reform the entire world. Hauntingly, many of the episodes include concepts about technology that is familiar today, although just slightly enhanced to a level that makes it feel more like science fiction.
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The series is thought-provoking, and willing to go to dark places in order to tell a powerful story. Like Squid Game, there are several episodes which revolve around accumulating money, but the actions required are often seen as morally unacceptable. The concept of pushing people out of their comfort zone and then seeing what choices they are willing to make in order to stay alive is common to both shows, and particularly well executed in Black Mirror.
3
Money Heist
Money Heist is a Spanish heist crime drama series, and on the face of it, the connections to Squid Game could appear to be purely aesthetic. Yes, they both have characters who dress in pink jumpsuits and wear masks that hide their identity, but both shows explore a stark separation between classes. In Squid Game, the people in masks work for the elites, eliminating those who lose the games, but Money Heist has the people in masks as the criminals who steal a vast fortune and share some of that wealth with the less fortunate.
Both shows explore class distinctions, both see a group of those who struggle to make ends meet put into difficult circumstances, but there are also clear differences. In Money Heist, the thieves work against the government in order to pull of a huge heist, and they manage to win over the nation thanks to the symbols they become. The show is an fascinating exploration of class disparity, and one well worth watching after Squid Game.
2
The 8 Show
The 8 Show is another South Korean thriller series, with a much closer premise to Squid Game. The show premiered in 2024, and it is expected that it will go on to have a sequel, though nothing has been officially confirmed yet. While the show also features a game show format where the participants can earn extraordinary amounts of money, The 8 Show is much darker and more psychological in nature compared to Squid Game.
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The show follows eight contestants who join a game show where they are all placed in a shared living space. Each contestant resides on a different floor, and they end up being designated by the name of that floor. As they stay longer, the money they earn increases drastically, but they uncover dark secrets and shocking surprises about how the game works along the way, which makes this series a thrilling and tense experience from start to finish.
1
Kaiji
Kaiji is a Japanese anime series adapted from the manga of the same name. This series of comics was actually one of the inspirations behind Squid Game, which the show’s creator has referenced as having had an influence on his work. While the anime style may reduce the level of realism in the show, the violence and intensity is incredibly high, with the brutal nature of the games in Kaiji being significantly more deadly than Squid Game.
While losers in both Squid Game and Kaiji are literally eliminated through death, the killings in Squid Game tend to be straightforward, with a bullet shot ending their lives. In Kaiji, the deaths of losers tend to be much more violent, and increasingly creative. However, the central character, the premise, and the tension in the show all feel very similar to Squid Game, making it another great choice to watch for fans of the Netflix hit series.
In Squid Game, a mysterious invitation to join a competition is sent to people at risk who are in dire need of money. Four hundred fifty-six participants from all walks of life are locked into a secret location where they play games to win 45.6 billion won. Games are selected from traditional Korean children’s games, such as Red Light and Green Light, but the consequence of losing is death. To survive, competitors must choose their alliances carefully – but the further they go in the competition, the more likely betrayal will rear its ugly head.
- Release Date
-
September 17, 2021 - Finale Year
-
November 30, 2024 - Cast
-
Wi Ha-joon
, Anupam Tripathi
, Oh Yeong-su
, Heo Sung-tae
, Park Hae-soo
, Jung Ho-yeon
, Lee Jung-jae
, Kim Joo-ryoung - Seasons
-
2
- Writers
-
Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Directors
-
Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Showrunner
-
Hwang Dong-hyuk
