Squid Game: The Challenge

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Squid Game: The Challenge
Squid Game The Challenge Promo.png
Promotional poster
Genre Reality competition
Based on Squid Game
by Hwang Dong-hyuk
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes14
Production
Executive producer
Running time40–57 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Netflix
Release22 November 2023 (2023-11-22) –
present

Squid Game: The Challenge is a British reality competition television series based on the South Korean drama series Squid Game . The show features 456 players (the second largest cast in reality TV history) competing for US$4.56 million, the second largest single cash prize in reality television history.

Contents

The Netflix original was produced as a collaboration between independent television production companies Studio Lambert and the Garden, with Studio Lambert leading physical production in the UK. [1] Season one's first five episodes were released on 22 November 2023, [2] [3] episodes 6–9 were released on 29 November, and episode 10, the season's finale, was released on 6 December. [4] Season two's first four episodes were released on 4 November 2025, episodes 5–8 will be released on 11 November and the season's finale, episode 9, will be released on 18 November. [5]

The show was No. 1 on Netflix's list of Top 10 English-language shows for the first two weeks after its release. It had 20.5 million views in its first week, 11.4 million in its second, and 6.6 million in its third, with a total of over 224 million hours watched within the first 21 days. [6] [7] [8] On 10 July 2025, the show was renewed for a third season. [9]

Series overview

SeriesContestantsEpisodesOriginally releasedWinner
First releasedLast released
1 4561022 November 2023 (2023-11-22)6 December 2023 (2023-12-06)Mai Whelan (287)
2 94 November 2025 (2025-11-04)18 November 2025 (2025-11-18)TBA

Season 1

Episodes

The first five were released on 22 November 2023. [3] Episodes 6–9 were released on 29 November, while episode 10, the finale, was released on 6 December. [4] [10]

No.TitleOriginal release date
1"Green Light, Red Light"22 November 2023 (2023-11-22)

456 players compete to win US$4.56 million (about £3.6 million), the largest cast and second largest cash prize in reality competition history. Players participate in eliminatory games and "tests". [11]

In the initial activity, multiple players were eliminated in the first two rounds by getting "shot" (dye packs in their uniforms). [12] Then, in the game named "Red Light, Green Light", players had five minutes [13] to cross the arena without getting caught by the robotic girl. 259 players were eliminated.

In the "Decision test", while peeling carrots in between games, two players were given the option to eliminate one player.

Prior to the "Dalgona" game, players were asked to stand in four lines. One player from each line was asked to agree on which groups (including themselves) would be assigned the four dalgona shapes (circle, triangle, star, and umbrella). When the four players could not come to an agreement in two minutes, they were eliminated. The following four could also not agree.
2"The Man With the Umbrella"22 November 2023 (2023-11-22)

The last game continued in the second episode. The third set of four players were able to come to a decision. Players were then tasked to etch the shape in the Dalgona Candy with a needle. 69 players were eliminated in this game.

In the "Phone test", between games, a phone was provided in the dormitory. One player picked up the phone and received a special treat of burger and fries. The second time the phone rang, the same player picked up the phone again and was told that, to avoid elimination, he would need to convince another player to pick up the phone as well.
3"War"22 November 2023 (2023-11-22)
The episode starts by showing the "Phone test" player not succeeding in convincing another player to pick up the phone and being eliminated. In this episode's game, players were tasked to create eight evenly split teams. The teams then were faced off against another team to play the next game, a variant on Battleship. After identifying a captain and lieutenant, teams had to place boats on a game board and seat players in the boats. When all boats were placed, teams shot "rockets" at the other team's game board to sink the ships. The first team to sink two ships won the round. All players in sunk ships and the Captain and Lieutenant of the losing team were eliminated, while all other players (including players on the losing team in surviving boats) moved on. 45 players were eliminated.
4"Nowhere to Hide"22 November 2023 (2023-11-22)
This was followed by the "Vote test", in which players were told that they each would place a vote for one person to be eliminated. Once a vote was cast against a player, they would be displayed on the screen. The top three receivers of votes were eliminated.
5"Trick or Treat"22 November 2023 (2023-11-22)
In the "Jack-in-the-box test", five volunteers were provided with jack-in-the-boxes which included tasks for them to complete, to the effect of eliminating other players. In total, this test eliminated seven players.
6"Goodbye"29 November 2023 (2023-11-29)

In the "Marbles" game, for completing a chore successfully in the designated time, players were treated with a picnic where they sat in pairs. Hidden in the baskets were marbles, and players were told that their opponents for the Marbles game would be the person with whom they had their picnic. A player who had no partner was selected to be safe through the round. 32 players were eliminated.

The remaining players were tasked to decide on a captain, which they did. The "captain" was then informed that he alongside 19 others would move on to play in Game 5, and that the next test would be an "Allegiance test". He was told to select one ally from the group to advance alongside him. This selection set off a domino effect, where each chosen player picked another, creating a chain of allegiances. The test would conclude in the following episode
7"Friend and Foe"29 November 2023 (2023-11-29)

The episode begins with the conclusion of the Allegiance test. The eleven players not selected were eliminated.

After this came "Glass Bridge", featuring a bridge containing seventeen pairs of glass tiles. Each pair had one safe tile and one unsafe tile. Players, each assigned a unique number from 1 to 20, crossed the bridge in sequence within 30 minutes. Wrong choices led to elimination. To add a layer of unpredictability to the game, players were instructed to select a teddy bear from a claw machine. Each bear was associated with a hidden specific number, which they then needed to assign to another player, establishing the sequence in which the contestants would participate in the game.
8"One Step Closer"29 November 2023 (2023-11-29)

The episode begins with the conclusion of the Glass Bridge game, with twelve players remaining.

In the "Die test", players took turns rolling dice. Before rolling, they nominated their own name or another player's. If a '6' was rolled, the nominated person was eliminated. The game stopped after three players were eliminated.
9"Circle of Trust"29 November 2023 (2023-11-29)
In the penultimate episode, players were presented with an altered version of heads up, seven up. They were blindfolded and seated at desks in a circle with a gift box on a central podium. When tapped, a player would secretly remove their blindfold, pick up the gift box, place it on another player's desk, then replace their blindfold. All would remove their blindfolds and the player with the box would guess who placed it. Were they to guess correctly, the gifter would be eliminated; if not, they would be eliminated. Six players were eliminated in this way.
10"One Lucky Day"6 December 2023 (2023-12-06)

In the "Button test", the three players were treated to a feast at a triangle-shaped table. A podium in the middle displayed three buttons. Each was to press a button. If it glowed green, that player would move on and choose another player to join them. If it glowed gray, nothing would happen. If it glowed red, the player would be eliminated.

In the finals, the two players stood on the eyes of a squid-shaped grid. At the top and bottom of the grid were a safe and a box of keys. Both players drew a move in rock paper scissors. The winner selected a key from the box and tried to open the safe. If unsuccessful, the game continued. The player who picked a key and unlocked the safe would win. Mai (287) won the competition.

Game summary

Due to size constraints, this table only includes the top 20 contestants.

Color key:

  WINNER The winner of Squid Game
  RUNNER-UP The runner-up of Squid Game
  WIN Successfully passed the game
  RISK At risk of getting eliminated
  OUT Eliminated from Squid Game via failing a game or test
  OUT Eliminated from Squid Game via being voted out
  LOSE Failed Game 3: Warships, but continued on in the competition
   Elected Captain of their group in Game 3: Warships, or in the Allegiance test
   Elected Lieutenant of their group in Game 3: Warships
Season 1 Contestant Episode Progress
ContestantsEpisodes
NumberName123678910
1. Red Light,
Green Light		2. Dalgona3. Warships4. MarblesAllegiance Test5. Glass BridgeDie Test6. Circle
of Trust		Button Test7. Rock Paper
Scissors
287MaiWINStarWINGroup 2LOSE097: JadaWIN286: Chad20 (by 182)WIN278 4RISK418, 429WINTriangleWINNER
451PhillStarGroup 7LOSE337: BradfordWIN278: Ashley10 (by 418)WIN451 2051, 278, 355WINRUNNER-UP
016SamStarGroup 5RISK344: CharlieWIN023: Siobhan17 (by 286)WIN016 4WINOUT
355HallieCircleGroup 8LOSE410: DemiWIN429: Elliott18 (by 429)WIN355 2019, 287OUT
278AshleyCircleGroup 3WIN229: PhalisiaWIN016: Sam05 (by 031)WINRISK287 5451OUT
051Rose MaryTriangleGroup 3RISK080: RachelleWIN221: Charles12 (by 269)WIN451OUT
429ElliottCircleGroup 8LOSE427: TrudyWIN418: Roland09 (by 016)WIN429 3287OUT
019AmandaCircleGroup 6WIN336: BrianWIN393: Jackie19 (by 023)WIN019 3451OUT
418RolandUmbrellaGroup 8LOSE202: ElliottWIN301: Trey08 (by 451)WIN418 3051OUT
286ChadCircleGroup 7LOSE334: RobertWIN254: Mikie11WIN286 6OUT
031PurnaCircleGroup 4WIN339: RobWINSAFE06 (by 278)WIN031 6OUT
018BeeCircleGroup 6WIN361: MelissaWIN019: Amanda16 (by 051)WIN018 6OUT
269JamesCircleGroup 4WIN312: AlexisWIN031: Purna15 (by 301)OUT
254MikieTriangleGroup 2LOSE087: KyleWIN077: Marina14 (by 355)OUT
023SiobhanTriangleGroup 5RISK054: LuciaWIN051: Rose Mary13 (by 077)OUT
393JackieStarGroup 6WIN382: TimWIN451: Phill07 (by 254)OUT
301TreyCircleGroup 5WIN302: LeAnnWIN269: James03 (by 221)OUT
077MarinaCircleGroup 5WIN083: ChristianWIN018: Bee04 (by 287)OUT
221CharlesStarGroup 5WIN179: ChaneyWIN355: Hallie02 (by 019)OUT
182TJStarGroup 5WIN183: JesseWIN287: Mai01 (by 393)OUT

Season 2

Episodes

Season 2 premiered as a three-week event; the episodes were released in batches with the first four episodes being released on 4 November 2025, episodes 5 through 8 were released on 11 November and the finale, episode 9, will be released on 18 November. [14]

No.TitleOriginal release date

Filming for the first season began in January 2023 across two studios in the UK, Cardington Studios in Bedford and on six giant sound stages in The Wharf Studios, Barking, London. [20] [21] [22]

Reports emerged that ambulances had been called to treat real-life injuries sustained while filming the first season. Several players claimed in an interview that "Red Light, Green Light" had actually lasted for 7 hours, where players had to hold poses for up to 30 minutes. Netflix denied the severity of the reports, stating that the injuries were mild medical conditions and that they care about the health and safety of the cast and crew. [23] The local ambulance service also stated it had not been called out to the studios. Britain's Health and Safety Executive evaluated the production after these complaints and found no actionable issues. [24] Two unnamed players from the show threatened to sue Netflix after claiming that they had hypothermia during filming. [25]

Game fairness and conditions

Four contestants of the first season of Squid Game: The Challenge made claims that the games were "rigged" and that filming conditions were poor. For example, for the game "Red Light, Green Light", players were forced to play in an unheated hangar for over nine hours, while medics tended to those who were unable to handle the low temperatures. In addition, in this game there were players who reached the finish line, but were still eliminated. [26] One player also claimed to have seen another player who was eliminated but still able to rejoin the game. [27]

Reception

Viewership

In its release week (20–26 November 2023), Squid Game: The Challenge was the most-watched show globally on Netflix, with 85.7 million hours. It reached number one in 74 countries that same week, including the US and UK – and was Top 10 in a further 19 countries. [6]

The series stayed at number one globally on Netflix into a second week (27 November – 3 December 2023), with 11.4 million views and 85 million hours watched. It was Top 10 in TV in 91 different countries that week. [7] The reality competition series also boosted the original drama series Squid Game to number seven on the Non-English TV list with 1.5 million views that week. [28]

In its third week post-release, Squid Game: The Challenge came in third place globally. It added 6.6 million views and 54.1 million hours viewed. [8]

Critical response

The show received a mixed reception from critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 45% based on 44 reviews, with an average score of 5.8/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "The Challenge can be an addictive binge thanks to the sheer ingenuity of Squid Games' set pieces, but playing the original series' barbed satire completely straight gives this spinoff a soulless aftertaste." [29] Metacritic gave a weighted average score of 52 out of 100 based on 22 critics reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [30]

Ryan Smith wrote in Newsweek , "Netflix's new spin-off of the thrilling Korean drama not only succeeds but triumphs in bringing to screens one of the most compelling TV competitions of the decade". [31] In the Financial Times , Dan Einav proclaimed the "Netflix megahit becomes an irresistible reality show", [32] while the Radio Times stated that Squid Game: The Challenge "not only lives up to the original, but with the new twists, challenges, and the real-life prize fund at stake, it's even more intense than the hit show". [33] In Vulture, Nicholas Quah said "not only does Squid Game: The Challenge qualify as damn good reality television, it even serves as an unexpectedly effective adaptation of the original K-drama. The game show uses the language of modern reality television to realize, in its own strange way, the themes in Dong-hyuk's parable of capitalism grinding human beings into dust". Quah concluded "Squid Game: The Challenge isn't just a good reality show. It's a morally righteous one". [34] Writing in The Guardian , critic Rebecca Nicholson said, "The real-life version of the Netflix drama is a grandiose, addictive spectacle that will have you shouting at your TV before the end of episode one." [35]

Some critics have suggested the unscripted version misses the point of the drama. The Hollywood Reporter called it "a brand extension that fundamentally misunderstands what the brand was meant to represent in the first place", continuing "you can take the anti-capitalism out of Squid Game – but capitalism will always find a way to rear its ugly head". [36] In The Telegraph, Jasper Rees said "the reality remake loses none of the tension or intrigue" of the drama, continuing "I…am agog to discover how ruthless the last dollar-driven survivors can be". [37] Chase Hutchinson for Collider found it "shameless and opportunistic" and concluded "if the corrupt forces of capitalism could be made into a shambling corpse of television, it would look like Squid Game: The Challenge". [38]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2024
 Art Directors Guild Awards Excellence in Production Design for a Variety, Reality, or Competition SeriesMathieu Weekes and Benjamin Norman (for "War")Won [39]
BPG Awards Best EntertainmentSquid Game: The ChallengeWon [40]
RTS Awards EntertainmentWon [41]
British Academy Television Awards Best Reality Won [42]
People's Choice Awards The Competition Show of the YearNominated [43]
Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition TelevisionNominated [44] [45]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program Rachael Stubbins, Emma Shearer, Robyn Kass and Erika DobrinNominated [46]
Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program Diccon Ramsay (for "Red Light, Green Light")Nominated
Outstanding Production Design for a Variety, Reality or Competition Series Mathieu Weekes, Ben Norman and Lizzie Chambers (for "War")Nominated
2025
 Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Reality Series (Competition)Erika Dobrin, Robyn Kass, Christopher Burnley, Tony MirosNominated [47]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "'Squid Game' Reality Show Teaser Brings 'Red Light, Green Light' to Life on Netflix (Video)". TheWrap . 17 June 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "'Squid Game: The Challenge': Controversial Netflix Competition Series Gets Release Date and First Look". Variety . 17 June 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 Goldbart, Max (22 September 2023). "'Squid Game: The Challenge': Netflix Unveils Trailer & Launch Date for Reality Series with $4.56M Prize Fund". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 Starkey, Adam (21 November 2023). "What time is 'Squid Game: The Challenge' on Netflix?". NME . Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "Who Will Win 'Squid Game: The Challenge' Season 2?". Esquire. 3 November 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Netflix Global Top 10 TV (November 20-26, 2023)". Tudum . Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Netflix Global Top 10 TV (November 27 - December 3, 2023)". Tudum . Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Netflix Global Top 10 TV (December 4-10, 2023)". Tudum . Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  9. ↑ Porter, Rick (10 July 2025). "'Squid Game: The Challenge' Renewed for Season 3 at Netflix". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  10. ↑ "Watch Episode list". Netflix. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 Richards, Amanda; Delbyck, Cole (1 December 2023). "Zip Up Your Tracksuits Because 'Squid Game: The Challenge' Is Here". Tudum . Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  12. ↑ "Episode list". Tudum .
  13. ↑ Adekaiyero, Ayomikun. "I was on 'Episode list.' The 'Red Light, Green Light' game took hours to film, and I knew karma would get me after I eliminated someone". Insider.
  14. 1 2 Delbyck, Cole (25 October 2025). ""It's Time to Play: Watch the Trailer for Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2"". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  15. 1 2 Hudspeth, Christopher (28 October 2025). ""A Guide to All the Games in Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2"". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  16. 1 2 "Will Squid Game: The Challenge be the darkest reality show ever?". The Guardian . 15 June 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  17. ↑ "Squid Game: The Challenge – Announcement – Netflix" (video). Netflix. 14 June 2022 – via YouTube.
  18. ↑ "Squid Game: The Challenge – Final Casting Call – Netflix" (video). Netflix. 17 September 2022 – via YouTube.
  19. ↑ "Squid Game Casting". squidgamecasting.com. Netflix.
  20. ↑ "'Squid Game' Reality Show Sees Medics Called for Frozen Players Affected by U.K. Cold Snap". Variety . 25 January 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  21. ↑ "'It's like the Stanford Prison Experiment': The British studio turning Squid Game into reality". The Daily Telegraph . 30 July 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  22. ↑ Venn, Lydia (21 November 2023). "Where was Netflix's Squid Game: The Challenge filmed?". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  23. ↑ "Squid Game: Three receive treatment during Netflix show". BBC News . 25 January 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  24. ↑ "'Squid Game: The Challenge' Faced Safety Watchdog Review After Medical Incidents On Netflix Series". Deadline . 10 February 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  25. ↑ Kanter, Jake (23 November 2023). "'Squid Game: The Challenge' Contestants Threaten Lawsuit After Claiming They Suffered Hypothermia & Nerve Damage During Filming". Deadline. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  26. ↑ Roundtree, Cheyenne (2 February 2023). "Netflix's 'Squid Game' Reality Show Was 'Cruel' and 'Rigged,' Say Contestants". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  27. ↑ "'Squid Game: The Challenge': Unpacking all the reality show's controversies". TODAY.com. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  28. ↑ Campione, Katie (5 December 2023). "'Leo' & 'Squid Game: The Challenge' Dominate Netflix Top 10 For Second Week". Deadline. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  29. ↑ "Squid Game: The Challenge: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  30. ↑ "Squid Game: The Challenge". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  31. ↑ Smith, Ryan (22 November 2023). "Netflix's 'Squid Game: The Challenge' Breaks All the Rules of Reality TV". Newsweek. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  32. ↑ Einav, Dan (21 November 2023). "Squid Game: The Challenge TV review — Netflix megahit becomes an irresistible reality show". Financial Times. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  33. ↑ Henry, Grace (21 November 2023). "Squid Game: The Challenge review - More intense than drama series with new twists". Radio Times. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  34. ↑ Quah, Nicholas (20 November 2023). "Oh No, Is Squid Game: The Challenge … Good?". Vulture. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  35. ↑ Nicholson, Rebecca (20 November 2023). "Squid Game: The Challenge review – the most gripping reality TV since The Traitors". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  36. ↑ Han, Angie (21 November 2023). "'Squid Game: The Challenge' Review: Netflix Cashes in, and It's Not Pretty". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  37. ↑ Rees, Jasper (20 November 2023). "Squid Game: The Challenge, Netflix, review: reality remake loses none of the tension or intrigue". The Telegraph. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  38. ↑ Hutchinson, Chase (20 November 2023). "'Squid Game: The Challenge' Review: Netflix's Reality Show Needs to Be Eliminated". Collider. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  39. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (9 January 2024). "Saltburn, Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon Lead Art Directors Guild 2024 Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  40. ↑ Goldbart, Max (21 March 2024). "'Happy Valley' Wins Big At UK Broadcasting Press Guild Awards; 'The Crown's Andy Harries Honored". Deadline . Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  41. ↑ Rufo, Yasmin (27 March 2024). "RTS Awards 2024: Stacey Solomon and Hannah Waddingham among winners". BBC News . Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  42. ↑ "BAFTA Television 2024: The Winners and Nominations". www.bafta.org. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  43. ↑ Malec, Brett (11 January 2024). "2024 People's Choice Awards: Complete List of Nominees". E! Online . Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  44. ↑ Bergeson, Samantha (12 January 2024). "PGA Awards 2024 Nominations: Maestro, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Past Lives Among Contenders". IndieWire . Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  45. ↑ "PGA Awards (2024)". IMDb.
  46. ↑ "2024 Primetime Emmy Awards – Nomination Press Release" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  47. ↑ Rice, Lynette (1 November 2024). "Artios Awards Nominees Revealed: Netflix Leads With 17 Nominations, HBO/Max With 6". Deadline . Retrieved 2 November 2024.
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