If you’re still reeling from the brutal intensity and social commentary of Squid Game, you’re not alone. The show’s deadly games, desperate characters, and dystopian themes struck a chord with audiences worldwide. Thankfully, there are plenty of shows like Squid Game that tap into that same mix of tension, high-stakes survival, and psychological drama. Whether you’re into twisted competition or moral ambiguity, these picks will keep your heart racing. Here are 10 of the best shows like Squid Game to binge next.
10. Black Mirror
Though not a survival game show, Black Mirror shares Squid Game‘s fascination with dystopian societies, human behavior under pressure, and the dark side of technology. Episodes like “Fifteen Million Merits” feel especially relevant, and the format allows for a exploration of moral and ethical dilemmas.
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9. Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
This anime dives headfirst into debt, desperation, and psychological manipulation. In Kaiji, the titular character is forced into bizarre, high-stakes gambling scenarios that risk life. With its intense emotional stakes and strategic gameplay, it’s one of the most intense and underrated shows like Squid Game in animated form.
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8. Panic
Amazon Prime’s Panic follows high school graduates in a rural Texas town who compete in a secret, dangerous game for a life-changing cash prize. The show touches on themes of risk, desperation, and social pressure, which makes it a lighter but still thrilling option.
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7. Battle Royale
While Battle Royale is primarily known as a film, its influence can be felt across many survival-based shows. Several unofficial adaptations and inspired series have popped up, especially in Japan and anime circles. Any show echoing its premise of students forced into deadly combat is bound to resonate with Squid Game fans looking for ruthless competition.
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6. The Purge (TV Series)
This small-screen adaptation of the infamous movie franchise explores a night when all crime is legal, diving deeper into the social structures and psychological terror behind the concept. If you’re drawn to the moral collapse and high-stakes choices seen in Squid Game, this show offers a similarly chilling experience.
5. Kingdom
Also hailing from South Korea, Kingdom mixes historical drama with zombie horror in a political survival saga. While it’s less game-based, the pacing, intensity, and life-or-death stakes mirror the tension that draw people to shows like Squid Game. It’s absolutely worth the watch.
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4. The Hunger Games
While technically a film franchise, the structure and societal themes of The Hunger Games make it highly relevant for fans of Squid Game. The televised death matches, economic inequality, and resistance arcs align closely with what made the Korean series so powerful.
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3. Liar Game
Based on a manga, this Japanese series centers around a naive young woman who gets dragged into a game where players must deceive and outsmart each other to win millions. With twists, betrayals, and ethical quandaries galore, Liar Game delivers thrill and high-stakes mind games that make it one of the most best shows like Squid Game.
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2. 3%
Set in a dystopian future Brazil, 3% imagines a world where only a select few are allowed to escape poverty and live in paradise, if they can survive a brutal selection process. This sci-fi thriller leans into themes of inequality and social division, much like Squid Game, and the tests each character faces are both physically grueling and psychologically complex.
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1. Alice in Borderland
This Japanese thriller is often cited as one of the best shows like Squid Game for a reason. Alice in Borderland follows a group of people mysteriously transported to a parallel Tokyo where they must compete in deadly games to survive. With wild visuals, high stakes, and deep emotional arcs, it’s just as intense and existentially unnerving as its Korean counterpart.
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