Games are supposed to be fun, and indeed, when depicted on television shows, they usually are. That wasn't necessarily the case, however, with hit Netflix sensation Squid Game, which took classic childhood games and made them violent and murderous.
As fans continue to guess what games might be featured in a second season of the show, many other game shows on television continue to put players in fake danger in a way that is somewhat reminiscent of Squid Game. Chances of actually getting hurt are minimal, but any of these game shows could easily turn deadly in a fictional world.
Floor Is Lava (2020, Netflix)
A well-known childhood game where kids attempt to get from one end of an obstacle course to another without ever touching the floor (because it's supposedly made of lava), the concept was turned into one of many game shows that can be found on Netflix.
The various obstacle courses on Floor is Lava appear in elaborate themed set-ups where contestants need to work together to get everyone through to the end. The "lava" in the game is not actually deadly, though it makes a mess. Nonetheless, fans of Squid Game will love the tension as the teams must think ahead and work together to not only save themselves, but others as well, if they want to win the big prize
American Ninja Warrior (2009-Present, NBC)
Contestants demonstrate incredible feats of strength after training all year to master the intense obstacles courses in American Ninja Warrior, which range from balancing along a rotating beam to jumping across wooden structures using nothing but arm and core body strength.
The idea of watching players trying their hardest not to fall while doing different obstacles (it's just water in ANW) to make it to the next round is reminiscent of the games from the Netflix show.
The Wall (2016-Present, NBC)
It's mainly trivia-based, but what makes The Wall interesting for Squid Game fans is that the outcome of the game can change at the drop of a hat. Players drop balls through a giant Plinko board, and where it ends up is largely down to chance. Some strategy plays into the odds as they have to decide where to drop the ball from, which can be closer to larger numbers with more risk or smaller ones with less.
Players can also gain more chances at money by answering trivia questions. In the end, a decision has to be made that either leaves the pair with winnings big or small, or potentially nothing. In Squid Game, nothing would likely mean death.
Ultimate Tag (2020, Fox)
Based on the concept of parkour as well as the childhood game of tag, Ultimate Tag is one Squid Game fans would love. Players run around an obstacle course with a tag on their backs while professionals chase after them, trying to pull the tag off. If they are caught, they aren't "it" like in the real game, but out.
Indeed, Reddit users named tag as one of the nmany games that could work in Squid Game. So it makes sense that fans of the show would find this game show appealing.
Awake: The Million Dollar Game (2019, Netflix)
Imagine having to compete in a series of complex challenges after being awake for a full 24-hour period. That's the premise of this game, which sort of mirrors what happens in Squid Game since the players generally don't get much sleep at all as they become anxious about their potential fate the following day.
The challenges include both physical and mental games, just like Squid Game, like counting quarters one by one for the full 24 hours then guessing how much money they have.
The Misery Index (2019-Present, TBS)
Despite the name, which is based on the card game S*** Happens, this game is actually funny. Each team includes a celebrity and non-celebrity who must work together to rank miserable and hypothetical events, like accidentally sending a sext to a family member or getting fired, on a scale of 1-100.
Considering a TBS executive called the show a way to "hilariously gamify embarrassment, humiliation, and total misery," according to Laughspin, it's an ideal match for Squid Game fans.
Ellen's Game Of Games (2017-Present, NBC)
Full of fun party games with elaborate set-ups, the players are all very excitable and hilarious, which makes this game the anti-thesis of Squid Game. But if such games appeared in Squid Game, it would give them a far more ominous feel. And Squid Game fans might want to imagine them in the show.
From playing a blindfolded game of musical chairs to answering trivia questions only to fall through a tube when the floor opens up if the answer is incorrect, every game could be interpreted in a much darker way. Many games from this show could be ranked among the most difficult games in Squid Game.
Mental Samurai (2019-Present, Fox)
Hosted by Rob Lowe in one of many examples of actors who ended up hosting game shows, Ava, a robotic arm and AI voice, is at the heart of this show. Players are whipped from one spot to another on the massive game board where they view screens and must answer different brain teaser-type questions.
The clincher, however, is that not only does being moved around abruptly as if on a roller coaster throw people off, but the clock is also ticking as there's a time limit, It's a high-pressure situation that fans of Squid Game would love.
Wipeout (2008-2014, ABC, Rebooted 2021 on TBS)
Fans who love to see people bump, fall, and get whacked in the face as they try to navigate obstacle courses love Wipeout. In the Squid Game world, it would be much darker. But the idea of players trying to navigate through elaborate and bright settings that look like they might be found in a child's amusement park is where there are similarities.
There's a childlike innocence to the game, just like there is in Squid Game, until things take a turn. The series was rebooted in 2021 with John Cena, Nicole Byer, and Camille Kostek as hosts.
The Cube (2009-Present, ITV, 2021, TBS)
Hailing from Britain and introduced in the U.S. via a version on TBS, players are confined to a 13 x 13 x 13-foot Perspex cube where they must complete what would otherwise be considered straightforward tasks. However, when being stuck in a small space and put under pressure, the mind works in mysterious ways and these seemingly simple tasks become more difficult.
Adding to the ominous nature of the game, a disembodied voice tells players about the rules while they struggle the complete the tasks while feeling anxious, claustrophobic, and disoriented.