When Squid Game first arrived on Netflix, it didn’t just break records – it broke the internet. The Korean survival thriller turned a simple concept of deadly children’s games into a global cultural phenomenon, becoming Netflix’s most-watched series and inspiring memes, debates, and Halloween costumes around the world. Now, with season three officially released, the big question is: where does the franchise go from here?
With the launch of season three and the recent success of The Challenge – Netflix’s reality show reimagining the original’s deadly games in a high-stakes, but safe, environment – the franchise is clearly far from over. The big question now: where does Squid Game go next?
One major possibility is a US spin-off. Rumors are swirling about an American version of the scripted series, adapting Squid Game’s cutthroat competitions to a new cultural backdrop. That might mean exploring America’s unique obsession with competition, spectacle, and the pursuit of the American Dream, all through the franchise’s brutal lens. Could it work? If The Hunger Games and countless reality shows have taught us anything, it’s that US audiences love a deadly competition – fictional or not.
Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has teased plans for expanding Squid Game into a global anthology. That could mean future seasons or spin-offs set in different countries, each with their own culturally specific takes on the games – and unique social critiques on things like wealth and poverty. Imagine a season set in Europe using dark fairytales as inspiration, or a South American edition turning local legends into twisted trials. This approach could keep the franchise fresh for years while exploring what “squid games” look like around the world.
On top of the scripted series, the reality competition The Challenge has given fans a chance to experience the tension of the games themselves (without the life-or-death consequences). The first season saw hundreds of contestants facing off in oversized playground games for a cash prize, and with season two of The Challenge now confirmed (although no further news of when we can expect it to drop), speculation has already begun on what new tests await the players.
The premise may also provide the game-show genre itself with a vital boost. Long considered a TV genre kept for day-time TV, The Challenge provides a new format and injection of innovation which could engage new audiences. That’s not to say that the genre has been without updates. In recent years, global iGaming platforms have launched live casino games that riff off or directly relate to existing brands. While each platform’s jurisdiction caters to players of that locale – for instance, what may be available at an online casino NZ may not be at one in Brazil – enduring options like Monopoly and Deal or No Deal are possible. What The Challenge continues is this vein: recognisable brands being adapted into game shows.
Whether the future of Squid Game means deeper dives into the Korean story, a US-set spin-off, or entirely new cultural perspectives on its twisted competition, it’s clear the franchise isn’t finished. With a concept this compelling — one that taps into humanity’s darkest instincts and our obsession with high-stakes games — there’s endless room for the franchise to keep evolving and haunting our screens for years to come.
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