According to Netflix, their top 10 Most Popular TV (Non-English) is led by the first season of Squid Game with 2,205,200,000 being the total number of hours the series has been viewed. That number can’t be easily comprehended but it also doesn’t come as a shock because when Squid Game was released, anyone and everyone was talking about it.
Lucky for fans, this Korean thriller is back again for another season, which will be released on December 26, 2024. Yes, there’s still some time left before you can stream Squid Game Season 2, which is why we’re here to give you a list of shows you can watch in the meantime!
1. Alice in Borderland
First released in 2020, Alice in Borderland was directed by Shinsuke Sato, and while it didn’t reach the extravagant viewership as Squid Game did, it gained a considerably large amount of fan following from all across the globe.
This series revolves around Arisu, an obsessed gamer who finds himself trapped in a strange version of Tokyo.
Some elements of Alice in Borderland resemble Squid Game, and the gruesomeness is a common link that can often be found in both. The former has some fantastic cast members like Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, Nijirō Murakami, Aya Asahina, and Ayame Misaki.
2. All of Us Are Dead
Released in 2022, All of Us Are Dead boasts an impressive cast with Park Solomon, Park Ji Hoo, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, Lee Yoo-mi, Ha Seung Ri, and Yoo In-soo amongst others.
This Netflix series is a thriller horror and if you can watch Squid Game unflinching, then Lee Jae-kyoo’s series is right up your alley!
The theme of being trapped and wanting to survive for as long as possible is witnessed in All of Us Are Dead, which follows a group of high school students who must escape after a ruthless zombie virus outbreak.
3. Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
Based on a popular Manga series, Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor is a Japanese anime television series, directed by Yuzo Sato. Although this series was first released in 2007, there are a few similarities between Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor and Squid Game, which makes the former a great watch for anyone who enjoys a gripping plot driven by financial desperation.
Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor has 26 episodes, which gives you plenty of content to look forward to as you follow the journey of Kaiji Itō, a gambler to finds himself in the middle of a high-stakes game to pay off his debts.
4. Hellbound
With an impressive 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, Hellbound was directed by Yeon Sang-ho and presents itself as the perfect thriller drama. If you are looking for your next binge after Squid Game, this might just be the perfect pick.
Hellbound was released shortly after the popular Korean thriller, and while the competition on Netflix was tough, Hellbound cemented a place for itself on the streaming platform.
Hellbound sees angels descend upon earth and hold the fate of humans in the palm of their hands. Morality plays a big role in this series, and while the story doesn’t resemble Squid Game, you will find similar elements when it comes to the genre!
5. Sweet Home
Sweet Home Season 3 was recently released in July, which makes it one of the freshest options on the list, especially if you’re looking for your next Korean watch after Squid Game.
Once again, survival themes are explored in all seasons of Sweet Home, which are often dark and can be equated to Squid Games in some ways.
Directed by Lee Eung-bok, Jang Young-woo, and Jang Young-woo, Sweet Home boasts an impressive cast of talented actors and actresses including Song Kang, Go Min-si, Go Yoon Jung, Lee Do-hyun, Lee Jin-wook, Park Gyu-young, Lee Si-young, and Jung Jin-young.
Conclusion
As you patiently wait for Squid Game Season 2, here’s our list of shows you can binge in the meantime which are all set to fill the void left by the first season. Do let us know in the comments if you have any recommendations to add to the list!