Every Game in Squid Game Ranked by How Easy It Is

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One key query that keeps drawing viewers deep into the Squid Game’s grasp is: how would I fare in these lethal contests? Over three series, this Korean television production immerses us into a grim realm where ordinary games assume life-or-death importance for participants seeking fortune, while sacrificing others’ lives. The show skillfully crafted intricate stage settings to vividly portray the deadly games, revealing subtle details and factors affecting each game’s results and player’s fate.

Today, I’ll be sharing my perspective on ranking the 11 primary games played throughout three seasons in Squid Game, based on their potential winnability or survivability. What makes these games particularly chilling is that they demand a blend of diverse skills and an element of unpredictable luck to thrive. While we can structure our rankings using data about winning or surviving, it’s essential to keep in mind that factors such as the roll of the dice (or significant psychological turns) can drastically alter the odds.

I’m going to help you understand which Squid Game games are easier to win or survive in, but remember, these games require a combination of skills and luck to succeed. The outcome can be influenced by factors like the roll of a dice or unexpected psychological twists.

Reminder: This ranking pertains to the primary games featured across Squid Game Seasons 1-3, excluding impromptu events such as the “Lights Out” incident in Season 1 or the “Bathroom Brawl” in Season 2. These irregular occurrences were not part of the structured competitions and thus are not included on this list.

11) Tug of War

In our past experiences at school or camps, we’ve all tried our hands at “Tug of War”. It’s not a game that requires immense skill to master, but rather, you either need more raw power or clever physics tactics than your opponents. Interestingly, even the popular series “Squid Game” Season 1 emphasized that Tug of War can be won by the least expected teams, if played intelligently. Therefore, in terms of survival, this might be your most promising opportunity.

10) Sugar Honeycombs

The game of cookies is considered more challenging than Tug of War primarily due to its individual nature and the unpredictability factor it brings, often referred to as “the luck of the draw.” If you pick a cookie with a basic shape such as a triangle or circle, it’s relatively straightforward to come out on top. However, as depicted in Squid Game Season 1, those with star-shaped or particularly umbrella-shaped cookies had a significantly lower survival rate. Nevertheless, if Player #456 (Song Gi-hun) could decipher that moistening the cookie (no pun intended) was the key to victory, it’s plausible that you could also master this technique.

9) Marbles

In this season of “Squid Game”, we delve into the psychological aspects, and one particularly poignant episode from Season 1, titled “Gganbu”, features a marble game with a profound impact. Unlike other games, the marble game appears less challenging because players only need to beat one opponent and can choose their preferred format of play. However, the real challenge lies in the pairing process, which is strategically designed to encourage players to team up with those they have strong emotional ties to. This creates a dilemma: killing someone you care about. The marble game forces players to confront this guilt, making it exceptionally difficult. Pairing strangers proves even more challenging as both players are at risk of self-destruction while trying to outsmart or manipulate each other before time runs out. Essentially, winning the marble game means admitting to being selfish and ruthless, which for some, is a shame they would rather endure than face death.

8) Red Light, Green Light

As a seasoned movie critic, I must confess that the nail-biting suspense in Squid Game never fails to leave me spellbound, and it’s particularly pronounced during the opening act – “Red Light, Green Light.” This seemingly innocuous childhood game takes on an entirely new dimension when lives are at stake. The chilling moment when the first bodies hit the ground sends a shiver down your spine, and the ensuing panic among the players is palpable, foreshadowing their impending doom.

However, as we learned in Season 2, having prior knowledge of these deadly games or a trusted ally to guide you can significantly boost your chances of survival. In essence, all one has to do is freeze when the robot calls out “Stop.” Sounds simple enough, right? But staying calm and composed amidst such high-stakes tension is easier said than done.

7) Squid Game

The final match in this game is one-on-one, and reaching it can be grueling. To win, you need to have more determination than your opponent. All players have skills to overcome and vulnerabilities to watch out for. Speed and agility may counteract size and strength, while raw power and ruthlessness could end the game swiftly. The real challenge in Squid Game is summoning a primal instinct towards other players that cannot be dismissed once the game ends, similar to the marbles game.

6) Six-Legged Pentathlon

At first glance, this game appears to be one of the simpler ones to conquer based on what we observe on the screen. However, the unique aspect of this pentathlon is that you must depend on your teammates to survive, which is a significant challenge given the high-stakes situation. Accurately determining which team members can handle specific tasks during the race is crucial; making incorrect assessments or being dishonest from the start could lead to failure. This game lies somewhere in the middle of our rankings due to its unique blend of teamwork and competition.

5) Mingle

Performing calculations spontaneously isn’t typically easy for anyone except mathematicians or frequent gamblers; however, when it comes to life-or-death situations and teamwork, it becomes a whole new branch of mathematics called calculus in real time. Mingle is an incredibly demanding blend of physical exertion and mental fortitude that players must endure. It pushes those who believe they are close or have formed strong alliances to make split-second decisions about dividing their groups and prioritizing whose survival truly matters. The game mirrors the pentathlon in requiring equal levels of skill and cooperation from your teammates (whoever they may be each round), making victory more challenging unless you have at least 2 to 3 people you’re absolutely certain you can trust.

4) Sky Squid Game

In the third season of “Squid Game,” they aimed to bring things back to the first season by ramping up the final game to an extreme version of the original Squid Game. The notorious “Sky Squid Game” transformed the familiar shapes from the Korean game (circle, square, and triangle) into deadly high-rise platforms filled with human conflict. The game creators dangle hope as a bait: all but three unfortunate players can survive the platforms and walk away with prize money. However, this process raises an age-old philosophical question: how do you decide who must be sacrificed to save the many? In Squid Game 3, it is suggested that we have reached a point where figuring out the answer peacefully is almost impossible. Although it’s a grim watch, it’s hard to argue against the deeper message. This game would certainly get messy, and even if you initially think your chances are good, the dynamics of human relationships could quickly change your fate in unexpected ways.

3) Hide and Seek

In the third season of Squid Game, the intricacies behind their unique twist on “Hide and Seek” were clearly demonstrated: it’s a chaotic battle to survive due to the complexity of team formation (both sides contain ruthless or violent individuals), and the unpredictable nature of the game that turns into endless gang conflicts and individual duels. This game, more than others, benefits those who are brutal and self-centered. If you lack a killer instinct (or exceptional ninja abilities), your chances of survival are slim.

2) Jump Rope

In this game of jump rope, I quickly realize it’s not for the faint-hearted. It demands both physical prowess, as you must leap skillfully across a precarious bridge without losing balance, and mental toughness to confront the sheer dread that comes with it. As we saw in episode 3 of Squid Game, any player can choose to break the rules, resorting to violence against fellow competitors during the crossing, or panic and become entangled when the line gets too crowded. This is a game where courage is your best asset – daring to go first – but even then, one misstep could end your life in an instant.

1) Glass Stepping Stones

In “Squid Game” Season 1, the episode known as “Glass Stepping Stones” solidified its status as an unprecedented phenomenon, leaving most viewers rattled and grappling with feelings similar to PTSD due to its haunting portrayal of the depicted scenario. This game accentuates the darkest aspects of the Squid Games: it requires no strategy or skill beyond playing the odds (being last increases your chances of success), and even that is decided without the players having any clue about the life-threatening consequences of their choices. By the time you stand on the bridge, all you see is fate and choice staring back at you. This apprehension fuels a multitude of despair and turmoil, including the intense compulsion for players to betray each other in an attempt to decipher the safe path through the elimination process. It’s impossible to find a game within “Squid Game” that is more challenging to endure; only three characters managed to survive – but even one of them sustained fatal injuries after reaching the finish line (Player #067, Kang Sae-byeok). Can you name a game that is tougher to survive than this one? Best of luck.

Squid Game Seasons 1-3 are streaming on Netflix.

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2025-07-10 19:16