With the end of squid game
season 2 and season 3 set to conclude the series for good, it's time to take a look at other shows for fans of the Netflix hit to enjoy. squid game initially premiered on Netflix in 2021, and despite all odds, the South Korean thriller broke records for the streamer. The show's unique visual style, intense, dramatic plot, and 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, the second season leaves the story with immense hurdles, which could leave audiences desperate to indulge in another death-defying dystopian series. Or perhaps something that offers a similar level of tension, intensity and a unique narrative. Below are some of the best shows worth watching while you wait squid game Season 3 to finally drop.
10
Snowpiercer
Snowpiercer is a TV series that expands and develops the concept of the 2013 film starring Chris Evans. Although the show entered development shortly after the film's release, there were many delays, which meant that the series did not begin airing until 2020. However, when the show began airing, it was a hit with audiences and managed to release four seasons earlier. the show ended in 2024.
Snowpiercer examines a futuristic dystopian world where humans have been forced to travel on incredibly large, constantly moving trains. With the rest of the world being turned into a frozen wasteland, humanity now resides in and depends on Snowpiercer for its survival. As squid gameThe 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 and turns.
9
Strangers from Hell
One of the highlights of squid game it was incredible acting from a great cast as the contestants were all closely held together and forced to play together. This leads to incredible tension and the actors are given ample opportunities to shine. Another show where actors deliver compelling performances while confined indoors is another South Korean psychological thriller, Strangers from Hell.
The show features an extraordinary cast while focusing on a 20-year-old. The series also hides a deep, dark mystery that unfolds over an intense 10-episode run and culminates in an incredibly satisfying finale that subverts expectations. The tone and intensity of the series have a lot in common with squid gamealthough it is, in some ways, a darker series.
8
Alice on the border
Alice on the Border is a Japanese science fiction thriller that also premiered on Netflix. The series is adapted from a manga comic of the same name. The story follows a group of three young people who are suddenly and mysteriously transported to an empty version of the city of Tokyo, with mysterious guides and instructions that lead them to participate in a series of death-defying games. The series is full of mystery, and throughout the first two seasons, the series has continued to intensify and explore mystery games.
The show is also expected to launch a third season in 2025. With a set of games that force people to put their lives at risk and a mystery about who is pulling the strings and forcing everyone to participate, the similarities are clear between Alice on the Border and squid game. However, the distinct styles in each series, from science fiction futurism to Alice on the Borderto the childlike simplicity of squid game ensure that each program has its own clear identity.
7
We are all dead
Another South Korean Netflix series that could hit the spot squid game fans is We are all dead. The first season premiered in 2022, and has since been renewed for a second season, which is expected to hit the streaming platform in 2026. The series also offers an incredible dystopian story featuring young students who must work together to prevent certain deaths.
However, the differences in the series make it interesting. On the one hand, We are all dead follows a group of teenagers in a coming-of-age story, while squid game sees people from all demographics participating in the games. Instead of a set of rigid games where competitors must play to survive, We are all dead sees kids trying to survive a zombie outbreak. It's a tense, action-packed show, with a solid group of young actors in the lead roles.
6
Hell
Hell is also a South Korean series, but one that takes a distinctly more supernatural approach to the story. In a near-future society, strange occurrences begin to wreak havoc, when large disembodied faces appear and declare individuals to be destined 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, the tension takes it to another level.
The series began with a six-episode season, split down the middle, with each set of three episodes following a different main character. However, the show also had a second season that expanded on the central premise. As squid gameIt's tense, action-packed and sees people pushed out of their comfort zone as they strive to overcome impending doom.
5
Sweet home
Sweet home in fact, it came out several months before squid game in 2020. Another South Korean series, this time set in the horror and apocalyptic genres. The series lasted three seasons and explores a world where many people turn into terrible monsters due to some kind of supernatural virus.
The show is incredibly dark, with intense themes and visuals that reflect this dark narrative. However, it also includes an incredible story, as scientists and the government struggle to find out what happened and whether these things can be reversed. Meanwhile, one character becomes a potential exception, who can transform into a monster at will and retain his humanity.
4
Black Mirror
Black Mirror is a British anthology series by Charlie Brooker. The show is also found on Netflix, but with each new episode exploring a new concept, what unites the series is the focus on dystopian technology that can reshape and reform the entire world. Surprisingly, many of the episodes include concepts about technology that are familiar today, although only slightly tweaked to a level that makes them seem more science fiction.
The series is thought-provoking and willing to go to dark places to tell a powerful story. Like Squid Game, there are several episodes that revolve around the accumulation of money, but the actions required are often seen as morally unacceptable. The concept of taking people out of their comfort zone and then seeing what choices they are willing to make to stay alive is common to both shows, and particularly well executed in Black Mirror.
3
Money theft
Money theft is a Spanish heist crime drama series and apparently the connections to squid game it may appear purely aesthetic. Yes, they both have characters who wear pink jumpsuits and wear masks that hide their identity, but both shows explore a sharp separation between classes. In squid gamethe masked men work for the elites, eliminating those who lose games, but Money theft has people masquerading as criminals who steal a vast fortune and share some of that wealth with those less fortunate.
Both shows explore class distinctions, both see a group of those struggling to survive being placed in difficult circumstances, but there are also clear differences. In Money theftthe thieves work against the government to carry out a major robbery and manage to conquer the nation thanks to the symbols they become. The show is a fascinating exploration of class disparity and is worth watching afterwards squid game.
2
The 8 Show
The 8 Show is another South Korean thriller series, with a premise much closer to squid game. The show premieres in 2024 and is expected to have a sequel, although nothing has been officially confirmed yet. Although the show also features a game show format where contestants can win extraordinary amounts of money, The 8 Show is much darker and more psychological in nature compared to squid game.
The show follows eight contestants who participate in a game show where everyone is placed in a shared space. Each competitor resides on a different floor and ends up being designated by the name of that floor. As they stay longer, the money they earn increases dramatically, but along the way they discover dark secrets and shocking surprises about how the game works, which makes this series an exciting and tense experience from start to finish.
1
Kaiji
Kaiji is a Japanese anime series adapted from the manga of the same name. This comic series was actually one of the inspirations behind Squid Game, which the show's creator referred to as having influenced his work. While the anime style may reduce the series' level of realism, the violence and intensity are incredibly high, with the brutal nature of the games in Kaiji being significantly more deadly than squid game.
Although the losers in both squid game and Kaiji are literally eliminated through death, murders in squid game they tend to be straightforward, with one bullet ending their lives. In Kaijithe losers' deaths tend to be much more violent and increasingly creative. However, the central character, premise, and tension of the series feel very similar to squid gamemaking it another great option for fans of the hit Netflix series.