Let 'Squid Game' Go: 7 Even Better Shows to Watch After Season 3

The wait is over for Squid Game’s fans who have been dying to see the end of things in the final third season which, as many expected, wasn’t really about happy outcomes.

Now that the hit series is definitely gone, Squid Game’s director Hwang Dong-hyuk might not be ready to say goodbye to the entire story yet, currently considering a potential spinoff or a prequel to develop in the upcoming couple of years.

Whether that’s good news for Squid Game’s fans or another proof of Netflix’s attempts to get the show a longer life than it’s supposed to have, it might take a while before Squid Game’s new movie or TV series arrives on streaming.

Luckily, South Korea’s directors have been generous enough to offer more similar stories to the genre’s fans who will now have to wait for at least a couple of more years.

‘All Of Us Are Dead’ (2022 — )

• On Rotten Tomatoes, All Of Us Are Dead holds scores of 89% and 81% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the show is rated 7.6/10

Even though there’s no place for high-stakes deadly games here, everyone’s need to survive is still what takes the central stage in All Of Us Are Dead.

The show follows a group of high school students in the fictional South Korean city of Hyosan where a zombie virus outbreak forces them to seek ways to escape, in the meantime learning more about each other and themselves.

Like Squid Game, All Of Us Are Dead also relies on character-driven dynamics amidst the ongoing chaos, which is why it’s a great watch if you couldn’t get enough of the former’s complex and compelling characters.

‘3%’ (2016 — 2020)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, 3% has a score of 81% from viewers
• On IMDb, the series rates 7.3/10

A Brazilian dystopian thriller show, 3% is frequently left behind when it comes to survival-based TV series, though it definitely deserves to be on the list of those enjoying tense storylines set in the dystopian future.

The plot revolves around the society divided into two groups, with one of those living in the impoverished "Inland" and the other enjoying the benefits of living in the "Offshore" part.

However, upon reaching the age of 20, the individuals belonging to Inland get an opportunity to join those in Offshore; the problem is that only 3% of the entire community will reach this goal.

‘Hellbound’ (2021 — )

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Hellbound keeps scores of 97% and 70% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the show’s rating is 6.6/10

This time dealing with another type of threat, the show follows the unfolding battle between humans and supernatural monsters who appear out of nowhere and decide the fate of their victims by condemning them to go to Hell.

Released on Netflix at around the same time as Squid Game, Hellbound even surpassed Dong-hyuk’s hit series, becoming the streamer’s most watched project at the moment.

‘The 8 Show’ (2024)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The 8 Show has scores of 75% and 66% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the series is rated 7.2/10

With a premise similar to the one of Squid Game, the series makes it less visually violent and more psychologically profound.

The 8 Show follows eight individuals who get trapped in a mysterious building and are forced to participate in a dangerous game show where they earn money.

However, with time the greed takes over when everyone realises that those living on the building’s higher floors actually earn much more than those who live on the lower ones.

‘Sweet Home’ (2022 — 2024)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Sweet Home holds scores of 83% and 66% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the show’s rating is 7.2/10

Another story about monsters emerging from nowhere, the show kicks off on a pretty tragic note, following Cha Hyun-su who leaves his family home after his parents and sister were killed, with Cha becoming the only survivor.

However, when he finally gets a new home to start a new life in, the apartment complex known as Green Home is suddenly attacked by monsters, forcing Cha to team up with his new neighbours and seek ways to survive.

‘Death’s Game’ (2023 — 2024)

• On IMDb, Death’s Game is rated 8.5/10

Probably the most unhinged take on the theme of death on modern TV, the show centres on Choi Yee-jae, a young man who commits suicide after a series of failures in his professional life.

However, his suffering doesn’t end here, with Choi encountering Death at the Hell’s gates and learning that he has yet to reincarnate and then die 12 more times; in case he finds a way to survive at least once, he’ll be able to get back to Earth again.

Soon after taking his own life, Choi realises that things might have been way more complicated if he had lived somebody else’s life.

‘Alice in Borderland’ (2020 — )

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Alice in Borderland holds scores of 86% and 91% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the show is rated 7.8/10

Adapted from the manga of the same name, the show is regarded as one of the best of its genre, following Arisu, a listless, jobless and video-game-obsessed young man who suddenly becomes a participant of a weird deadly game.

Having no other choice but to complete the tasks in order to survive and unravel the mystery behind the games, Arisu teams up with Usagi, a young woman who’s navigating the games alone.