The Latest Season: Season 3 Highlights
Premiere and Finale
Squid Game’s third and final season dropped on Netflix on June 27, 2025. This marks the conclusion of the saga that began in 2021.
Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk confirmed at Season 2’s premiere that the story would wrap with Season 3. This final season closes Gi-hun’s arc once and for all.
Record-Shattering Debut
Season 3 achieved incredible viewership numbers in its first three days. It amassed 60.1 million views and over 368.4 million hours watched.
These numbers make it Netflix’s biggest-ever TV launch. It’s also the ninth largest non-English-language season on the platform.
Critical Reception and Rumors
While fans celebrated its return, reviews have been mixed. Some praise the fresh arenas and emotional stakes.
Others critique the pacing and darker tone. The divided reception hasn’t dampened enthusiasm for the finale.
Rumors abound of director David Fincher leading an English-language remake. Hwang says he’d contribute ideas without helming it.
Thematic Finale and Cameo
In a Vanity Fair interview, Hwang revealed he scrapped an originally optimistic ending. The original would have shown Gi-hun reuniting with his daughter.
Instead, he chose a darker, more symbolic conclusion. Gi-hun sacrifices himself for a newborn, underlining themes of generational responsibility and systemic failure.
1. Originally Meant to Be a Movie
Hwang Dong-hyuk first wrote Squid Game as a 120-minute film script in 2009. He couldn’t find backing for the project.
Studios balked at the extreme violence and bleak premise. The script sat untouched for nearly a decade.
After Netflix’s global success with Korean originals, he revisited his decade-old script. He expanded it into a nine-episode series with detailed character arcs and new subplots.
2. The Red Light, Green Light Doll Is Real
The unsettling giant animatronic “Young-hee” comes from Macha Land. This horse-and-carriage museum is located in Jincheon County, three hours north of Seoul.
Production borrowed the 2016-built figure for filming. They filmed the deadly game and then returned her.
Today she still stands at the museum entrance. Visitors can see the iconic doll in person.
3. Dormitory Walls Contain Clues
Those pastel walls aren’t mere decoration. Each dorm mural contains hidden meanings.
The walls feature stick figures swinging ropes, marble layouts, and even Latin inscriptions in Season 3. These images foreshadow upcoming games and themes.
Alert viewers spot the marble pairing and tug-of-war pits early. In Season 3, the checkerboard “graveyard” motif appears long before characters arrive.
4. Jung Ho-yeon’s Acting Debut
Before Squid Game, Jung Ho-yeon was a top international model. She had zero acting credits to her name.
Cast as Kang Sae-byeok, a North Korean defector, her raw performance impressed audiences worldwide. She earned a SAG Award and a Golden Globe nomination.
Her preparation was intense. She learned the dialect from defectors and kept a character diary throughout filming.
5. The Dalgona Candy Challenge Went Viral
The honeycomb-toffee game spurred a global DIY craze. TikTok #dalgonacandy surpassed a billion views.
Home chefs tried piping needles through sugar-and-baking-soda shapes. They raced against the clock just like the characters.
The trend inspired ASMR tutorials and recipe recreations. Even limited-time café pop-ups featured the candy.
6. A Stark Commentary on Wealth Inequality
The series was conceived amid South Korea’s 2008–09 financial crisis. It uses children’s games to underscore crushing debt and class divides.
Hwang drew on real layoffs and his own family’s loan struggles. He framed the deadly competition as an extreme allegory.
The show serves as a critique of capitalist desperation and social neglect. It resonates with audiences facing similar economic pressures worldwide.
7. Organ-Harvesting Subplot Inspired by Reality
Episode 4’s illicit organ-trading ring has real-world parallels. It echoes documented black market schemes targeting debt-ridden patients.
By weaving this subplot into the narrative, Hwang adds a harrowing layer of authenticity. It underscores the show’s critique of vulnerable populations’ exploitation.
8. Spin-offs and Controversies
Squid Game: The Challenge is a reality competition spin-off with 456 contestants. It returns for Season 2 on Netflix.
There’s also an anime prequel in development. A mobile game and an immersive New York City experience have launched.
Rumors persist about David Fincher’s English remake. Fans debate whether spin-offs dilute the original’s gritty commentary.
9. The Show Was Initially Called “Round Six”
Netflix originally titled the project Round Six. This was a nod to the six traditional games featured.
Hwang pushed for Squid Game to capture the children’s playground imagery. He believed the cryptic name would intrigue global audiences.
The name change proved successful. It sparked curiosity and became instantly recognizable worldwide.
10. Real Large-Scale Sets Were Used
Production designer Chae Kyoung-sun built fully immersive, oversized sets. These included giant playground rigs and a Möbius-strip–inspired Hide-and-Seek arena.
Towering glass bridges were constructed for real. This allowed actors to undergo genuine physical challenges.
The authentic sets amplify the visceral tension. They contribute significantly to the show’s immersive atmosphere.
