Squid Game surely superseded any expectations the creators had when the South Korean drama series premiered in 2021. Now the most popular show in the history of Netflix, the series follows a group of desperate contestants who will sacrifice anything to win a massive cash prize in a long line of lethal games and activities. The concept seems more like something that would be on reality TV than scripted, but the creators more than make everything work. Squid Game is able to grapple with a lot of thought-provoking issues while never shying away from addicting devices and unique episodes that beg to keep viewers hooked to the screen all night long.
There’s nothing exactly like Squid Game, or at least nothing that has equaled it in popularity. We’ve dove into the deepest parts of the TV landscape to find series that resemble the South Korean phenomenon in the way they create drama, the setting they take place in, or the genre elements they imitate. These are shows like Squid Game that you need to watch right away.
Alice in Borderland (2020)
Alice in Borderland is like Squid Game’s less popular little brother. There are a lot more sci-fi elements at play here as the contestants in the deadly games in this show are living inside of a parallel universe. Elements like alternate reality, hyperrealism, and dystopian reality are all at play here. A likeable cast starring Kento Yamazaki and others makes this one show one of the most underrated on Netflix. A third season is on the way in 2025.
All of Us Are Dead (2022)
All of Us Are Dead is like is Squid Game was one big zombie experiment. High school students in South Korea are victims of a zombie epidemic caused by the recklessness of their science teacher. As the undead cascade down on them, the kids have to use their creative instincts and intelligence to survive something that seems too crazy to be real. Think of this as The Last of Us meets Squid Game. It’s a lot of fun and has been renewed for season 2.
The Walking Dead (2010)
The Walking Dead doesn’t take place in an arena or within a game, but hardly any show creates the same sense of post-apocalyptic dread as this one. Stars such as Norman Reedus, Andrew Lincoln, Steven Yeun, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan are just some of the great actors who played important roles in this zombie drama about a radical mix of human survivors who must battle both the undead and the remnants of humanity in order to put society back together. Fans of Squid Game will love the cliffhangers, betrayal, teamwork, and special effects in this iconic AMC drama. The Walking Dead set a new standard for what was possible on TV when it comes to exploring non-traditional genres such as science-fiction, horror, apocalyptic dread, and so much more.
Extracurricular (2020)
Panic (2021)
Panic is like a Texas version of Squid Game. The contestants are high school graduates in a tiny southern town who can win a boatload of money if they win daring challenges. Most of the students are poor and need the money desperately. The series is a fun little diversion to sit down and binge in a weekend, but it didn’t do well enough to get renewed for a second season at Prime Video.
The Purge (2018)
The Purge is one of the most regurgitated horror stories in media between the movie franchise and TV series, but that’s because fans never get sick of seeing the way humans act when given permission to kill with no repercussions but their morals. This Hulu series is another entertaining version of The Purge as characters are pushed to the limit to survive during a night with no rules.
Sweet Home (2020)
Sweet Home combines the setting and aesthetic of Squid Game with the apocalyptic drama of The Walking Dead. The series features a set of young characters who must save their friends, families, and humanity itself when people start turning into monsters. It’s an interesting concept that originated in a webtoon published in 2017.
Black Mirror (2011)
