The Chronological Order of Squid Game Games: Origins & Interpretation Unveiled

Article Overview

The games of Squid Game are a grim take on traditional childhood activities, carrying profound implications beyond their surface level. Although Season 1 concludes with the eponymous game, there are additional perilous games interspersed throughout.

The Squid Game games, such as Red Light Green Light, Dalgona, Tug of War, Marbles, and Glass Tile, cleverly utilize nostalgia and childhood innocence to juxtapose the harsh reality of the competition. In Season 2, it is anticipated that new perilous variations of popular children's games will be introduced, further highlighting the theme of extravagant amusement for affluent VIPs. Anticipate a blend of both recognizable and innovative games.

The Squid Game games are twisted variations of classic children's pastimes, both Korean and international, with hidden depths of meaning. The first season of Squid Game concludes with the titular game explained in the opening scene, but there are other innocent games that turn deadly throughout the episodes. Gi-hun manages to survive all the Squid Game games in order to win a large sum of money. As Netflix greenlights Squid Game season 2, it will be fascinating to see what new dark twists on familiar children's games will provide gruesome entertainment for the VIPs.

The Squid Game games have sparked conversations for a reason, and they are likely to do so again when season 2 is released. In the first season, a significant source of terror for the audience is the contrast between the appearance and true nature of the games. Just like the vibrant red and green costumes in the show, each Squid Game game evokes feelings of happiness and childhood, only to be shattered by the grim reality faced by the contestants.

Recruiter’s Game: Ddakji

Ddakji is the inaugural game in the sequence of Squid Games. Prior to the commencement of the Squid Game gameshow, participants undergo an initial evaluation conducted by the recruiters of the organization. These recruiters target individuals burdened by significant debts, exploiting their desperation by offering them rewards for participating in a straightforward game. In the show, Gi-hun experiences this recruitment game firsthand, which involves playing ddakji (also known as ttakji). The Squid Game game draws inspiration from a traditional Korean game that shares similarities with the popular 1990s game called Pogs. The objective is simply to use your own folded paper tile to flip the opponent's tile on the ground.

Round 1: Red Light, Green Light

The example featuring Gi-hun playing with the Squid Game recruiter illustrates a clear disadvantage for Gi-hun. This is due to the recruiter having his own set of game pieces, which indicates greater skill and preparedness. Despite this, the recruiter pretends that both he and Gi-hun are on equal ground. Among all the Squid Game games, Ddakji is arguably the most unfair. This dynamic reflects the capitalist corruption criticized by Squid Game. Essentially, Squid Game centers around a society where the poor lack genuine opportunities to reach the same level as the rich. However, an illusion of equality is still perpetuated.

After arriving on the island, Gi-hun and the rest of the Squid Game participants kick off the games with one of the most brutal challenges: Red Light, Green Light. This particular game in Squid Game draws inspiration from a beloved playground pastime. Red Light, Green Light goes by various names, such as Statues, Grandmother’s Footsteps, and in Korea, “Mugunghwa kkochi pieotseumnida.” In the show, the eerie killer doll sings a song with the same Korean name, which roughly translates to “The Mugunghwa flower has bloomed.”

Symbolically, Red Light, Green Light serves as a profoundly traumatic initiation into the Squid Games, effectively demonstrating to contestants that even the slightest deviation from the rules can result in their untimely demise. This game reinforces the overarching theme of control, and acts as a brutally efficient means of narrowing down the player pool, with over half of the participants being eliminated before the initial round concludes. Among all the games in Squid Game, Red Light, Green Light stands out as the most memorable and influential.

Round 2: Dalgona/Ppopgi

In the second game of Squid Game, the contestants participate in a competition that revolves around ppopgi, also known as dalgona. This particular game's inspiration can be traced back to the honeycomb toffee candy from Korean street food culture. The origins of Squid Game can be attributed to a deal involving ppopgi. Tradition dictates that if a person buying dalgona successfully consumes the candy without breaking the shape in the middle, they are rewarded with an additional free candy.

Round 3: Tug Of War

That is the ultimate test presented to the participants in Squid Game, where survival is the only reward for successfully completing the task, while failure leads to certain death. The alarming blend of delicacy and vulnerability in this game perfectly encapsulates the mental state of the Squid Game players at that moment, having witnessed numerous fatalities during the Red Light, Green Light challenge. Similar to dangling candies, they teeter on the edge of destruction, knowing that even the smallest misstep could seal their doom.

In the third round of Squid Games, the competition shifts to a team-based tug of war. This particular game holds significant cultural value in Korea, where variations of tug of war have been enjoyed during festivals and community gatherings for many years, especially in rural areas focused on agriculture. Known as juldarigi, these tug-of-war style games are often played between the eastern and western sections of villages, with the victors believed to be rewarded with a bountiful harvest that season.

The Squid Game winners, without a doubt, acquire a unique form of good fortune. Thematically, the round of tug-of-war marks a turning point in Squid Game, shifting the competition from being primarily between the players and the organization to a direct confrontation among the players themselves. This transition sets the stage for the rise of factionalism and betrayal that permeate the later episodes of the show. Undeniably, following each of the Squid Game games, the players find themselves caught in an increasingly unpredictable and intense tug of war between their own morals and internal emotions.

Round 4: Marbles

Marbles, a popular game in Round 4 of the Squid Game, offers various playing styles chosen by different participants. Competitors are paired off, such as Gi-hun and the elderly Oh Il-nam, and the objective is for one player to acquire all the marbles of their opponent before the given time runs out. It is crucial to note that the player who loses all their marbles at the end of the game will face a fatal outcome. The roots of this particular game extend far back in history, with evidence of its existence dating back thousands of years to ancient civilizations like the Roman Empire. The sixth episode of Squid Game unveils a multitude of distinctive methods in which marbles can be played.

The Squid Game serves as a crucial moment in the show, allowing the action to slow down and giving room for character development in a tense environment. It also manipulates the remaining players into becoming active participants in the violent games, deciding which contestants will survive and which will die. This deceitful game initially tricks players into believing they will be teamed up with their chosen partners, adding to the deception. Furthermore, the nostalgic urban neighborhood setting intensifies the psychological impact on both the players and the audience.

Among all the games in Squid Game, Marbles proves to be the most heart-wrenching, leading to significant character deaths. For instance, Abdul Ali and Sang-woo form a pair for this game. While Abdul Ali wins favor from fans with his selflessness and dedication to ensuring others' survival, Sang-woo reveals his true colors as his complete opposite. He manipulates Abdul Ali into helping him and then betrays him during the Marbles game, resulting in the death of someone who considered him a friend. Similarly, the game subverts expectations when players are instructed to choose partners they trust, forcing them to compete against each other. In one tragic instance, a husband and wife are pitted against each other in the Marbles round, leading to the loss of one life and the other taking their own life afterwards.

Round 5: The Glass Tile Game

Round 5 of Squid Game season 1 is unique as it does not have direct real-world origins. In this round, contestants navigate a dangerous path of glass platforms that are unpredictable in terms of safety. However, this game draws inspiration from hopscotch and similar hopping games that have been around for centuries, originating from ancient India and Rome. Within the show, the game symbolizes the extreme bias against the players, as the Squid Game Front Man swiftly extinguishes the lights when he identifies a contestant who can distinguish between tempered and untempered glass.

In contrast to the other games in Squid Game that evoke nostalgia for the audience through familiar settings, the glass tile game stands out by resembling a fully produced, high-budget game show. Nevertheless, its intention remains the same - to elicit horror by incorporating elements from childhood experiences, as both viewers and players have grown up watching game shows on television. Furthermore, the grandeur of this almost final death game acts as a preview for the ultimate titular event. The nature of this specific game level also fuels the desire for inter-game violence, as players are driven to eliminate one another. While some may fall due to the shattering glass, others willingly jump from the platform, often taking others down with them.

Final Round: Squid Game

The series takes its name from the final game of Squid Game, a fierce battle between Gi-hun and Sang-woo for the ultimate prize. The origins of Squid Game are similar to tag but with more complex rules. The game consists of two teams—the offense, whose goal is to reach a specific area at the end of the playing field, and the defense, tasked with preventing them from doing so. The game gained immense popularity in Korea during the 1970s and 1980s, a time when many of the main characters of Squid Game would have been children.

According to Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, he chose the game as the final challenge and the series title because of its underlying violence. This resonated with the aspects of modern society that he wanted to emphasize, as explained by Squid Game's Front Man in the show. The final event stands out from the other games in Squid Game, as it is inherently more physically confrontational.

Why Squid Game Uses Children's Games

Squid Game utilizes children's games for a straightforward reason - to entertain the mega-rich. In episode 9, Gi-hun questions Il-nam about the creation of the death games, with Il-nam explaining how his childhood experiences inspired him. As a wealthy individual who can afford anything, Il-nam derives little pleasure from his life. Thus, the games serve as a nostalgic form of entertainment for him and other billionaires.

However, a deeper analysis reveals a more complex and unsettling motive behind the use of children's games. The ultra-wealthy view the less fortunate as less than human, leading them to select lethal variations of these games as a means to mock the participants. This choice also deceives the contestants, creating a false sense of security, as exemplified by the Red Light Green Light game.

Another reason for the disbelief in escapees' stories is the organization's focus on security. The unusual nature of the games presents a challenge in gaining credibility. When players adhere to the third clause and exit the game, the police disregard their narratives due to the association with children's games. The Squid Games serve as a manipulative tool, pitting players against each other for the entertainment of the VIPs and showcasing the disdain the wealthy have for their mere playthings. The ninth episode of Squid Game concludes the series on a somber note, sending Gi-hun back home with 45.6 billion Korean won (equivalent to roughly $38 million) that remains untouched.

What The Season 1 Squid Game Games Suggest About Season 2

With the confirmation of Squid Game season 2 by Netflix, it becomes essential to consider how the upcoming season will expand upon the premise and themes established in the first season. Undoubtedly, Squid Game season 2 will prominently feature another version of the games, but it is unlikely that they will be identical to those in season 1. The inaugural season revolved around the games of the creator's childhood, which were deceptively simple yet profoundly impactful, serving as a visual representation of the profound concepts of morality and camaraderie.

It's highly probable that Squid Game Season 2 will incorporate a combination of fresh games and imaginative adaptations of certain classic Squid Games from Season 1. Maintaining the show's essence, it would be fitting for the games in Squid Game Season 2 to be inspired by beloved childhood games, ensuring their integrity remains intact. Nevertheless, in order to set itself apart from the first season, the upcoming season may need to introduce a unique element to the games. This could involve increasing the complexity and sophistication of the games or even creating entirely new challenges that do not exist in reality.

Have Any New Squid Games Been Confirmed For Season 2?

Netflix has officially started working on Squid Game season 2, which was announced on June 12, 2022. Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of the series, has confirmed the return of Seong Gi-Hun and the Front Man (Hwang In-ho) for another deadly round of games. While this news is thrilling, Hwang has cautioned that fans shouldn't expect a quick release date, as it took him twelve years to bring the first season of Squid Game to life. However, he has assured fans that he's already begun writing the script and that "Humanity is going to be put to a test through those games once again," according to Entertainment Weekly.

The next season of Squid Game is shrouded in mystery as the series creator has not revealed any hints about the new games that will be featured. However, he has posed an important question: "Is true solidarity between humans possible?" As for the release date, the earliest we can expect Squid Game season 2 is late 2023 or 2024. Fans can be reassured that the upcoming season will maintain Hwang Dong-hyuk's trademark combination of spectacle and incisive socio-cultural commentary. Moreover, discussions are underway between Hwang and Netflix to potentially extend the series to a third season. As of now, the storyline and cast of Squid Game season 2, apart from Gi-Hun's vengeful return, remain a mystery.

What Games To Expect In Squid Game: The Challenge

When Netflix announced Squid Game: The Challenge, a reality show based on the popular series, fans were skeptical about its potential success. The original Squid Game captivated audiences with the stakes and consequences faced by the players, not just their desire to win. In Squid Game: The Challenge, participants compete in modified versions of the original games, as well as new games unique to the series.

The reality show will include the confirmed Squid Game games such as Red Light Green Light, Dalgona Sugar Honeycombs, Marbles, and Hopscotch. However, these games will not be as deadly as their counterparts in the original series. The trailer for Squid Game: The Challenge showcases some of the modified gameplay. For instance, Red Light Green Light now utilizes bursting ink packs to indicate elimination instead of players being shot. Similarly, Hopscotch incorporates dropping tiles instead of shattering glass.

Apart from the confirmed four Squid Game games for the reality show, there will be additional challenges based on children's games. One of such challenges, as seen in the trailer, is an enlarged version of Battleship—a game where two players try to sink each other's ships. However, in this case, it involves more than just two players, although it's unclear at which point of the game sequence it occurs. It is unlikely that the new games introduced in the reality show will be featured in Squid Game season 2.

Editor's P/S

Squid Game is a captivating and thought-provoking series that has captured the attention of audiences worldwide. The show's unique blend of childhood nostalgia and brutal violence creates a compelling and unsettling viewing experience. The games in Squid Game are a central part of the show's appeal, and they serve as a powerful metaphor for the cutthroat nature of modern society.

The games in Squid Game are all based on traditional children's games, but they have been twisted and perverted to create a sense of danger and urgency. For example, the game of Red Light, Green Light, which is typically played as a harmless game of tag, is transformed into a deadly game of life and death. This transformation of innocent games into violent and deadly contests reflects the way that society often corrupts and destroys the things that are meant to bring us joy.