Netflix's Squid Game is a dark survival Korean drama series that not only fascinates viewers with its stunning visuals and gripping action but also with its commentary on human morality. Harping on the staggeringly popular "Battle Royale" format, it snags viewers' attention with its harrowing dystopian visuals of a desolate island, captivates them with its strong performances, and leaves them wanting for more of its intriguing survival games.
The show has taken the streaming service by storm and is being touted in publications like Cnet as the "biggest non-English language show in the world." Owing to this, it comes as no surprise that after watching it, many viewers are looking for similar shows that feature demented survival games and unhinged dystopian drama.
Snowpiercer (2020 - ) Available On HBO Max
Set in the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world, Snowpiercer unfolds in a moving train that circles the globe. While the world outside the train remains uninhabitable following a failed climate-change experiment, gruesome class warfare ensues inside it. Serving as a loose follow-up to Bong Joon-ho's take on the graphic novel Le Transperceneige, the series stays true to the dystopian steampunk aesthetic and innovative worldbuilding of the auteur's film.
However, unlike the film, instead of solely revolving around violent class revolutions of the poor against the rich, it unfolds more like a noir-esque mystery drama that gradually delves deep into the meaty underbelly of the train. Similar to Squid Game, the series also features white-knuckled survival action, which is all the more thrilling because of its socio-economic undertones.
The Purge (2018 - 2019) Available On Hulu
Further cementing the mythology and world-building of the original movie series, The Purge season 1 received mixed reviews from both viewers and critics. Even so, its edge-of-the-seat survival action and unflinching view of human values in crisis were appreciated by many.
Akin to Squid Game, The Purge does not confine its drama to a brutal game of survival. Instead, it goes beyond that, highlighting the inner workings of its characters, whilst exploring the consequences of their actions in times of extreme peril. While at it, it rarely leaves a dull moment and forces viewers to think about their own values and beliefs.
Danganronpa (2013 - ) Available On Hulu & Funimation
Adapted from an eponymous video game, Danganronpa unfolds in a prestigious school where the nation's top students gather for higher studies. Little do they realize that they'll soon be trapped in its harrowing classrooms, forced to survive a deathmatch against each other.
While the premise of Dranganronpa has a lot in common with Squid Game, the anime series has more of a fantastical appeal and less psychological drama. Moreover, due to its limited runtime, the anime leaves several stones unturned, but still features enough shock-and-awe action scenes to satiate most viewers.
Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor (2007 - 2011) Available On Crunchyroll
Just like Squid Game, Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor features a slacking protagonist who's deep in debt and struggling to stay afloat. That's when he learns of an underground gamble that seems like a ray of hope but throws him further down the hole.
It's fair to say that Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor is almost like an anime version of Squid Game. Just like the Netflix show, the anime uses a series of games as its narrative device, wherein each is mired with lies, slander, politics, and the murky waters of the human survival instinct. With each episode, the main characters of both shows struggle to choose between survival vs sanity and struggle to hold onto their morals.
Alice In Borderland (2020 - ) Available On Netflix
While Squid Game takes place on an isolated island, Alice in Borderland takes its lethal game setup to another level and unwinds in an abandoned version of Tokyo. For gamer Arisu and his friends, it's this ghost city that becomes a playground for a plethora of dangerous games that they must somehow survive.
Identical to the ones in Squid Game, the central characters of Alice in Borderland are ordinary folks who possess no special abilities. It's this lack of power that makes them more relatable and their adventures more gripping. Along with that, the show also entertains viewers with its well-thought-out survival games, impressive CGI, and tongue-in-cheek humor.
3% (2016 - 2020) Available On Netflix
Brazilian series 3% shares many narrative parallels with Squid Game. For starters, it's set in a world where hefty class divides exist and the poor are forced to compete in a series of tests to get a chance to find a place amongst the elite. The show also features a protagonist, who, despite dire circumstances, holds onto her strong sense of justice, even during the grimmest of tests.
With a whole lot of intense survival games at its fore, 3% is jam-packed with social commentary and high-octane action scenes. And although its production, at times, may not be on par with that of Squid Game, it makes up for it with its compelling twists and strong characterizations.
Liar Game (2009 - 2010) Available On Youtube
As the name suggests, Liar Game focuses on a competition of deceit where contestants must lie their way to winning a hundred million yen or lose and have the same amount in debt. Unlike Squid Game, which features games that combine both brain and brawn, this series focuses more on logic and reasoning. For the players, their lives aren't on the line, but the stakes are still high and they must use ingenious means to win the grand prize.
Instead of using action scenes to stimulate viewers, Liar Game thrives on its meticulous premise and clever mind games. Perhaps, that's why it may not be as relatable as Squid Game, but it will still prove to be scintillating for first-time viewers.
Gantz (2004) Available On Amazon
Hiroya Oku's manga, Gantz, has received several adaptations over the years, including several films and an anime series. Although not critically acclaimed, the anime has all the right ingredients to please fans of the battle royale sub-genre. The series centers on Kei Kurono, who dies in an accident and soon after finds himself in a posthumous game along with several others.
As disturbing as Squid Game may seem, its violence pales compared to what's seen in Gantz. And unlike the Korean Netflix drama, the anime rarely tries to justify the actions of its characters. Instead, it focuses on depicting a rather sadistic side of humanity. So this one fits the bill only for the viewers who are not faint of heart.
Sweet Home (2020 - ) Available On Netflix
From a storyline standpoint, Sweet Home is simple: most humans turn into monsters while the remaining try to survive. However, what makes it such a compelling drama is its philosophical underpinnings. Highlighting the battle between good and evil, the show makes viewers wonder what it truly means to be human.
It has a huge roster of characters like Squid Game, but despite its limited runtime of 10 episodes, it manages to divide its time between all of them and give satisfying developments to all. It's this emphasis on the human element that makes it a poignant drama and memorable enough to be remembered, even after the credits start rolling.
Lost (2004 - 2010) Available On Hulu
Because of its rabid popularity in the mid-aughts, Lost is one dystopian survival drama that needs no introduction. It doesn't exactly revolve around a series of battle royale games. However, similar to Squid Game, it unfolds on an island where a group of humans is confronted with mysterious challenges that force them to question their virtues.
Since the runtime of Lost spans over 100 episodes, its mythology is vast and exceedingly deep. Adding to that, like most long-running series, its plot, at times, meanders into many twists. But it's these inventive twists and turns that ultimately add to its overall appeal, making it worthy of several rewatches.