By now, just about everybody has seen Squid Game [1]. The nine-episode series, which has amassed 111 million viewers [2] since its premiere, revolves around 456 debt-ridden people who participate in deadly games for a hefty cash prize. While the battle-royal format has been seen in various media, like the 2000 Japanese film Battle Royale and the Hunger Games book and movie franchise, what makes Squid Game unique is that participants compete in a variety of children's games. From Red Light, Green Light [3], to the dalgona-candy challenge [4], these once-innocent games from childhood take on a sinister vibe in the show.
If you loved the exhilarating competitive action of Squid Game, there are plenty of shows available on a variety of streaming platforms that are similar to this Netflix original. While some of these shows are straight-up deadly arena battles with a cash prize, others on this list also touch on wealth, poverty, and the complexity of human nature — themes that are prevalent in Squid Game. While you wait to hear whether or not there will be a second season of Squid Game [5], check out the gallery for 12 equally thrilling shows to watch until then.
Alice in Borderland
Alice in Borderland is similar to Squid Game [6] in that characters have to play a series of deadly games in order to survive. The difference is that Alice in Borderland takes place in a dystopian Tokyo and centres around three friends (rather than strangers) — Ryōhei, Chōta, and Daikichi — who have no idea what brought them to this mysterious world, and are just trying to make it home alive.
Watch Alice in Borderland on Netflix [7].
Darwin's Game
If you liked the action in Squid Game [8] but are craving more, try Darwin's Game. The 11-episode anime series is based on the manga of the same name and centres around 17-year-old high school student Kaname Sudō, who's invited by a friend to play a mobile game called Darwin's Game. Things take a turn for the worse when Kaname realises the app teleports players into the game, where they can actually die. In order to fight and defend themselves from others, each participant is given a special ability called a Sigil. Since everybody's Sigil is unique, battles among players are exciting to watch, especially since viewers can never quite predict the outcome.
Watch Darwin's Game on Netflix [9].
3%
3% is another Netflix survival series that will have you on the edge of your seat. The Brazilian series is set in a dystopian future where the population is divided in two. There's the rich, who live in a paradise called the Offshore, and the poor, who live on the Inland but have a chance to compete in The Process for a chance to join the wealthy. The catch? Only three percent of participants actually succeed and join the elite.
Watch 3% on Netflix [10].
Black Mirror
Black Mirror is a dystopian sci-fi series that's just as dark and thought-provoking as Squid Game [11]. Each episode deals with different characters and scenarios, so it can be watched in any order, but what they all have in common is that they show the dangers of technology and its harmful effect on society. Just like how Gi-hun, Sang-woo, Sae-byeok, and the others join Squid Game for money, the characters in Black Mirror commit unspeakable acts for their own gain.
Watch Black Mirror on Netflix [12].
Sword Art Online
Characters are trapped inside a literal game in Sword Art Online. If a player dies in the virtual world, then they also die in real life. The objective is to reach the 100th floor of the game and defeat the final boss. Similar to Squid Game [13], Sword Art Online also has lots of drama, action, and suspense throughout the series as the main character, Kirito, tries to make it to the top with his friends.
Watch Sword Art Online on Netflix [14].
The Purge
The Purge, a TV series based on the movie franchise of the same name, is a survival story like Squid Game [15]. It takes place in a dystopian future where, once a year, the United States holds a 12-hour Purge, during which all crime is legal. The show follows various characters as they try and survive the night. However, unlike the films, it also shows how the characters deal with the consequences of their actions following the Purge.
Watch The Purge on Hulu [16].
Lost
Just like Squid Game [17], Lost follows a group of strangers on an island where they're faced with unexpected challenges that force them to question their humanity. However, unlike the Netflix series, the characters in Lost find themselves on the island accidentally after a plane crash. The survivors then have to learn to adapt to the island's mysterious surroundings, which include the dangerous wildlife in the jungle.
Watch Lost on Hulu [18].
Snowpiercer
Snowpiercer is set in an apocalyptic future in which Earth has become uninhabitable, causing the remaining survivors to live on a massive train called the Snowpiercer. The passengers are segregated depending on their class and wealth. Similar to Squid Game [19], this series provides some deep commentary about class and wealth through some thrilling action.
Watch Snowpiercer on HBO Max [20].
Most Dangerous Game
Most Dangerous Game is about a bankrupt real-estate developer named Dodge (played by Liam Hemsworth) who finds out he has a terminal illness and is forced to participate in a hunting game to try and win money for his pregnant wife, Val. However, Dodge soon makes a horrifying discovery: he isn't the hunter, but the prey. Since he's desperate to give his family financial security, Dodge proceeds with the game and does everything he can to survive. Dodge's willingness to put everything on the line for the sake of his family will remind viewers of Gi-hun's resilience to do the same in Squid Game [21].
Watch Most Dangerous Game on Roku [22].
Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
Based on the famous manga Gambling Apocalypse: Kaiji, the 2007 anime series Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor centres around the protagonist Kaiji Itō, a compulsive gambler who owes money to loan sharks (sounds like Gi-hun, right?). In an effort to pay off his debt, he participates in a mysterious gambling event on a cruise ship. When he regrets his decision, it's too late to turn back because he's already wrapped up in a series of deadly mind games where it's every man for himself.
Watch Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor on Crunchyroll [23].