10 TV Shows Like Squid Game to Watch Next
These riveting TV series feature high-stakes drama and thrilling elements similar to Squid Game.
Squid Game began as a typical emotional drama about a man struggling to survive life’s difficulties, only to later evolve into a gripping survival thriller that captivated billions of viewers when it premiered on Netflix in 2021. Evolving into a viral sensation, the series captivated audiences with its dystopian setting, in which 456 contestants play perilous games inspired by Korean children's games in an effort to win the prize money that would solve their financial issues. The show's first season had so many unforgettable moments, ranging from heartfelt and humorous to gruesome and devastating.
Squid Game remains one of Netflix’s most intriguing and distinctive Korean series. It claimed the title of most-watched series on Netflix in 2021, accumulating over 1 billion views within the first 28 days of its release — an accomplishment very few shows achieve. Even after three years since its debut, viewers continue to crave series centered around lethal games and thrilling narratives that keep them on the edge of their seats, much like Squid Game. While awaiting a second season, these shows will assuage that desire for now.
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10. Alice in Borderland (2020-Present)
Often hailed as a faithful adaptation of Haro Aso’s Manga, Alice in Borderland unfolds in a parallel Tokyo where a gamer and his friends find themselves trapped in a survival game. In this deadly scenario, characters must confront their fears, make tough decisions, and form alliances in order to survive.
How It’s Like Squid Game
Though it didn’t reach the same level of fame as Squid Game, Alice in Borderland stands as an impressive trapped-in-a-deadly-game series filled with elements of fun, mystery, and thrills that will have hearts pounding from start to finish. Just as gruesome and exciting as Squid Game, it delves into the psychological toll the game takes on its players, while also exploring themes of friendship, trust, and self-discovery in the face of extreme challenges. Despite occasional plot holes and unrealistic moments, if there’s any show just like Squid Game, it’s this one.
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9. Red Rose (2022)
Centered around a group of teenage friends, Red Rose depicts the horror that ensues after they stumble upon a terrifying game that forces them to comply with its demands or risk losing their lives. This coming-of-age horror, set in Bolton, England, will keep many invested as these friends try to survive the deadly challenges.
How It’s Like Squid Game
Red Rose is dark, twisted, and mysterious like Squid Game, centering around characters drawn into playing lethal games where the stakes are play-or-die. While it may occasionally seem predictable, it will certainly appeal to younger audiences or fans of horror. Serving as a cautionary tale, it illuminates the dark side of social media and the impact of technology on teenagers’ mental health. The combination of an intriguing premise, a great cast, and the Bolton landscape adds to its overall appeal.
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8. 3% (2016-2020)
Created by Pedro Aguilera, the dystopian series, 3%, is set in a distant future where society is divided between Inland and Offshore. In this world, people undergo a process that determines whether those from the Inland can secure a chance for a better life on the Offshore.
How It’s Like Squid Game
The Netflix series features a series of rigorous processes in which characters face moral dilemmas and betrayals while completing challenging tasks to test their ability to survive on the Offshore. Like Squid Game, it showcases characters who are desperate for a better life and are willing to participate in intense and often life-threatening competitions to achieve their goals. Both shows succeed in providing a thought-provoking exploration of societal issues through the lens of high-stakes competition. With rich characters and a thrilling plot, it is a riveting must-watch.
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7. Hellbound (2021-Present)
Following Squid Game’s global success, Netflix introduced yet another K-drama sensation, Hellbound, by Yeon Sang-ho, the director of Train to Busan. This gory thriller is built on the premise that supernatural entities hold the power to determine humans' fates. These beings, known as angels, announce the time of each individual’s death and eventually drag them to hell when that time comes.
How It’s Like Squid Game
Both shows fall into the South Korean thriller genre, involving high-stakes situations where characters face dire consequences for their actions. In Squid Game, characters are faced with two options of either winning or dying, while in Hellbound, individuals face supernatural punishment for their deeds. In either case, there is no middle ground. Viewers who liked the thought-provoking and intense nature of Squid Game are likely to enjoy Hellbound for its pacing, storytelling, and drama.
Stream on Netflix
6. Sweet Home (2020-Present)
If you’re searching for a South Korean series that delivers the same edge-of-your-seat experience as Squid Game, then Sweet Home is the next survival thriller to delve into. Based on a webtoon, it follows a high school student who, after moving into an apartment complex, discovers that strange and supernatural events are happening around him, with people transforming into monsters.
How It's Like Squid Game
While characters in Squid Game must survive the life-or-death game they're thrust in, those in Sweet Home must contend with monstrous creatures and other external threats. The shared survival theme and intense situations make both shows highly intriguing. Like in Squid Game, the characters’ backgrounds and motivations play significant roles in the unfolding narrative of Sweet Home, adding emotional depth and character development to the narrative. Thus, it goes beyond thrills, ensuring an emotional connection with viewers.
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5. All of Us Are Dead (2022-Present)
Based on a webtoon, this zombie thriller series follows a group of high school students trapped in their high school during a zombie outbreak. To survive this deadly situation, they must fight together or risk becoming infected.
How It’s Like Squid Game
All of Us Are Dead is yet another gripping South Korean series that is a must-watch for anyone who enjoyed the high-stakes situations characters faced in Squid Game and its well-paced plot. Beginning like a normal high school drama, with love stories, unrequited love, and bullies, it later transforms into an intense zombie thriller that grabs ahold of viewers and never loosens its grip until the end. While maintaining its intensity and gore, the show successfully incorporates emotional elements to ensure viewers care deeply for its characters, mirroring the impact Squid Game had, too.
Stream on Netflix
4. Liar Game (2014)
Similar to Seong Gi-hun in Squid Game, Nam Da Jung, the protagonist in Liar Game, is riddled with debt and becomes a participant in a reality show known as Liar Game. In this show, contestants acquire money by cheating others, creating an interesting high-stakes drama adapted from a Japanese Manga.
How It’s Like Squid Game
Much like Squid Game, Liar Game unveils the unsettling truth about the lengths people will go for money. Characters use wit and strategy to outsmart others, contributing to an intense and suspenseful atmosphere. Although Liar Game starts out slowly, it gradually builds suspense, capturing viewers with its unfolding mysteries. While it shares certain similarities with Squid Game, it focuses more on psychological manipulation and strategic thinking, diverging from Squid Game’s emphasis on physical challenges and the life-or-death consequences of the games.
3. Snowpiercer (2020-2023)
Adapted from a French graphic novel and inspired by the 2013 film of the same name, Snowpiercer is set on a post-apocalyptic Earth, where the remnants of humanity reside on a perpetually moving train. Within this train, called Snowpiercer, characters become entangled in a complex web of political intrigue, class warfare, and struggles for power.
How It’s Like Squid Game
Characters in both shows are desperate for survival and also yearn for a better life. Due to the dire circumstances characters find themselves in, they are often faced with moral dilemmas, forcing them to make tough choices between their survival and the greater good. Like Squid Game, Snowpiercer delves into the tensions and conflict that arise when there is social inequality. Their dystopian setting enhances their thought-provoking natures and intriguing plot elements.
2. Kaiji (2007-2011)
A Japanese anime, Kaiji follows the story of Kaiji Itou, a perpetual loser who often finds himself in dire financial situations due to his own actions and decisions. Invited on a mysterious gambling cruise with other debt-ridden individuals, he finally gets a chance to clear his debt by participating in a high-stakes game.
How It’s Like Squid Game
From its plot, it is quite obvious that both shows share numerous similarities. In both series, the protagonists are driven by financial desperation and are willing to take any risk to become debt-free. The consequences of losing games in both shows are very severe, and the challenging games take a psychological toll on the characters. Despite being an anime, fans of Squid Game may find the intense, high-stakes psychological drama of Kaiji quite engaging.
1. Tomodachi Game (2022-Present)
This psychological thriller revolves around high-school student, Yuichi Katakiri, and his close-knit friends. When their fund for their high school trip is stolen, they are forced to participate in a series of games that are initially harmless but escalate in intensity and danger. As the challenges escalate, the bond between these friends is put to the test.
How It’s Like Squid Game
Like the characters in Squid Game, Yuichi and his friends are isolated from the rest of the world and have no choice but to participate in social games that test their bond and thrust them into difficult situations. Tomodachi Game excels in exploring the characters’ minds and motivations, reflecting the psychological elements in Squid Game. It is entertaining, clever, and chaotic throughout. Undoubtedly, it is an incredible anime series with a twisty plot and an intelligent main character.
Keywords: TV Shows | Cinema | Kdrama | Korean cinema | Movies | Netflix | Squid Game | Action movies