Squid Game Fans Will Love These Death Game Manhwa for Their Next Binge

After an extended wait of three years, “Squid Game” has made a comeback with a sequel that has dominated Netflix’s viewership charts. However, since the release of “Squid Game” Season 3 is yet to be announced, enthusiasts of the show seeking something comparable might want to explore these death game manhwa in the interim.

Although Netflix’s “Squid Game” undeniably holds unique charm, other death game manhwa provide a remarkably comparable level of excitement. Many of these tales share a common thread as they often revolve around characters risking their lives or fortune.

Pyramid Game

The story “Pyramid Game” by Dalgonyak centers around a character named Seong Suji. When she transitions to Love High, she unknowingly becomes part of a harsh popularity contest among the group known as the “happy class.” On a monthly basis, this group convenes to vote, creating a social hierarchy within their ranks. Those with the fewest votes face continuous harassment, and remarkably, Suji, despite her best efforts, is placed at the lowest rung of this societal pyramid when she first enters the school.

Eager to shatter the established order, Suji embarks on a mission to forge alliances and uncover the hidden players behind this sordid contest. While the storyline might not be as brutal as “Squid Game”, its high school backdrop doesn’t diminish the excitement it offers from beginning to end.

Zombie X Slasher

In a world infested with zombies, Cheolsu, the main character in Zombie X Slasher, discovers that one of the most significant problems isn’t the zombies themselves, but rather the housing shortage. Regardless of having savings accumulated over seven lifetimes, finding a home remains an unattainable luxury for him.

Driven by his ambition of becoming a homeowner, Cheolsu decides to join the National Counter-Offensive Movement. Here, he’s given five million won for each zombie he eliminates, although it doesn’t quite fit the definition of a death game manhwa. The graphic novel “Zombie X Slasher” by NARACK and Hong Jun Ki provides an exhilarating survival tale that fans of “Squid Game” will find captivating, even if it doesn’t strictly fall under the category of a death game manhwa.

Death’s Game

The graphic novel titled “Death’s Game” was penned by Wonshik Lee and illustrated by GGulchan. The story revolves around the character Yijae Choi, who has struggled to find a job for years following his graduation and lost all his savings in a Bitcoin scam. The final blow comes when he discovers that his ex-girlfriend is getting remarried just three months after their breakup, leaving him at an all-time low.

Following his demise, Yijae discovers himself not in the hereafter, but on a flight accompanied by Death in the form of a young woman. She subjects him to a harsh game as punishment. Death reveals that Yijae will be reborn 13 times, with each new life being someone destined for immediate death. If Yijae manages to survive these lives, he gets to live out the entire span of that individual’s existence. Contrary to appearing as if he has been given a dozen second chances, evading death turns out to be far more difficult than Yijae ever imagined, setting the stage for this captivating series, which has also been adapted into a K-drama similar to Squid Game.

100

100, a series similar to Jungle Juice by creators Hyeong Eun and Yunyeol Choi, derives from the widely acclaimed battle royale game PUBG. This narrative centers around Hoyoung Cheon, an agent from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, who perpetrates various crimes and heists in a bid to enter Battlegrounds – a lethal game with 100 contestants. The winner of this game is granted their heart’s desire, whether that be freedom, wealth, a pardoned criminal record or any combination thereof.

Today, I’m on a quest to locate Naksu Kim, an assemblyman who seems to have stumbled into a perilous game unintentionally. The twist? Every other player in this game is a convicted felon, each one driven by an intense desire to emerge victorious. This only serves to amplify the difficulty of my mission.

Zero Game

In “Zero Game” by zelbasen, we follow the story of Hanna Yoo, who, at her lowest ebb, is given a chance to start anew. The narrative unfolds when Hanna’s life unravels after the passing of her parents, and as it seems her aunt has given up on her, Hanna receives a puzzling email from her deceased father, inviting her to join a survival challenge called the “Zero Game”.

Once Hanna decides to join, she’s whisked away into a realm resembling her own yet teeming with monsters and challenges she must overcome to reach the summit and re-establish her life. However, many others are also vying for the same prize, creating a limited pool of potential allies. To top it off, the stunning visuals make Zero Game an appealing twist on the standard death game manhwa genre, offering a captivating reading experience.

Escape Room

In keeping with its name, the thriller “Escape Room” by 10PARK revolves around Sean Baek, who finds himself inexplicably trapped within a horrifying escape room after a night of intoxication. The entire setting of this escape room is eerie, as danger lurks at every misstep.

Fortunately, Sean’s excessively analytical mindset, which has historically kept him apart from his fellow peers, appears ideally suited for the challenging puzzles presented in the escape room. With more than a hundred installments and a fully developed plotline, this suspenseful series offers an enthralling psychological experience that appeals to viewers who appreciate the darker themes of shows like Squid Game.

Money Game

Written and illustrated by Bae Jin-su, the graphic novel titled “Money Game” has unexpectedly led to a Netflix adaptation known as “The 8 Show.” This captivating story is bound to resonate with fans of “Squid Game,” given its similar theme. As its name suggests, the plot of “Money Game” revolves around a group of participants drawn into a life-or-death competition by the lure of money and wealth – in this instance, 44.8 billion won distributed among the eight contestants.

In a twist, eight competitors learn they’re part of a 100-day studio-based game. Each contestant gets their private room, but only a rulebook, clothing, and an empty wallet are provided. The twist? Anything else they require, like food or water, must be bought at a staggering 1,000 times its original price, with the expense deducted from their grand prize. While it may not be as physically brutal as Squid Game, Money Game delves deeply into societal issues such as structure, governance, democracy, and human nature, making it surprisingly dark yet thought-provoking.

All of these manhwa are available to read on Webtoon.

2025-01-09 01:09