Hi all!

Today I am ranking every single Squid Game. This popular television series turns innocent childhood games into a bloody spectacle for a gigantic cash prize. My post will feature only the challenges set on the private island. It won’t mention any games played on the mainland, nor will it include any of the trials from Squid Game: The Challenge. I will share how each game works, why I like/dislike them and whether I believe I could actually survive them. Without further ado, let’s get into it! 

This post is in partnership with JustWatch.

1.) Red Light, Green Light 

My absolute favourite Squid Game is Red Light, Green Light (pictured below). It is by far the most iconic. It’s also the moment the participants discovered losing is a matter of life and death. The rules are simple. When the doll isn’t looking, run as fast/far as you can toward the finish line. When she turns around – freeze. If she detects movement, you are eliminated via bullet. If you don’t make it to the end in time, you are out (for good). Red Light, Green Light is brutal; thinning out the herd significantly before the remainders are housed in the main dormitory. I do believe I would survive this one. I have good reflexes and can run fast if I need to. I’ve seen it play out enough to know one should slow down in anticipation of her turning around. If you try to stop as she swivels, you’re a goner. This game cemented my love for the show. 

2.) Mingle 

In second place, we have the infamous: Mingle. This game truly was the highlight of the second season. What a memorable and fantastic moment in the show. It also has the catchiest jingle known to man. You don’t know whether to dance or sweat. In this trial, the participants ride a carousel until a number is called. They must then assemble in groups of that specific number; entering one of the many coloured rooms surrounding the platform. If they succeed, they return back to the carousel for the next round. If they fail, they are exterminated. This challenge isn’t really about skill. It’s about popularity. If you’ve managed to form alliances, they will come in handy here. If you’ve alienated yourself from everyone, good luck being asked to join the group! I think I could survive this one. I would make enough allies to get by. 

3.) Glass Bridge 

In third place, we have Glass Bridge. Here is where all skill and popularity goes out the window (pun intended). In this game, you are assigned a figure. That number determines the order you step onto the glass bridge. The desired placement is toward the back. That way, the path is a lot clearer by the time it’s your turn. You do not want to go first! Simply put, this trial rests on chance. To succeed, you must make your away across without stepping on the wrong panels. Some are durable, others will smash at the slightest bit of weight. If you fall, it’s a long way down. There is no telling which is which, so fingers crossed you get lucky. You’re also under a time limit. If you don’t reach the end before the clock runs out – game over. I can’t say whether I would survive or not. It would depend on where I was placed and how fortunate I am. This one is a personal favourite of mine. It’s so tense! 

4.) Hide And Seek 

In fourth place, we have Hide And Seek. Like Mingle, this was another highlight from the second season. In this game, the remaining contestants are split into two groups: the hunters and the prey. The hunters must seek and the prey must hide. To move forward to the next trial, a hunter must kill one of the prey before the time runs out. If they don’t, they will be exterminated. The prey must remain out of sight in order to advance. However, there is a secret room within the labyrinthian corridors, that will automatically give the finder immunity. There are also hundreds of doors to travel through. They are marked with either a circle, a triangle or a square. Only a key with the corresponding symbol can open said door. It’s important to keep moving at all times, searching for different keys to obtain the most access. Did I mention some of the doors open to nowhere? Others, a drop to the fathoms below. I could survive this trial if I was the prey. I’m small and nimble. As a hunter, I don’t know if I could take someone else’s life. 

5.) Dalgona 

In fifth place, we have Dalgona. There is no way I would survive this game! This particular trial involves coordination – of which I have none. It’s even more difficult to complete under a time limit. The remaining participants are split into groups of four. Each group is assigned a shape: a circle, a triangle, a star and an umbrella. They are then given a tin, containing a Korean honeycomb/toffee candy in said shape. With only a needle, the contestants must release the shape from the tin, without breaking it in the process. If it snaps, they are exterminated. The easiest symbol is the circle and the hardest, the umbrella. They can lick the candy with their tongue to soften it; making it easier to carve out. However, it must be done with precision. The slightest crack can end it all. I love how tense this one is. It’s very gripping. 

6.) Jump Rope 

In sixth place, we have Jump Rope. This is another challenge I don’t think I would survive. My legs are too short and as mentioned above, I’m quite uncoordinated. Like Glass Bridge, the contestants must not fall to their deaths, as they race against time to make the other side. On either end, a giant doll swings a massive steel jump rope one must hop over. The crosswalk is narrow and split into parts. One must jump to the next platform, without being literally swept off their feet. The rope comes fast and strong, giving the participant no time to prepare, nor catch their breath. It’s brutal and unforgiving. This one really got to me; especially regarding the story aspect of the show. Without spoiling anything, we lose a major player to this game. It changes the entire trajectory of the series.

 

7.) The Six-Legged Pentathlon 

This is the last game on the list I genuinely enjoy. The rest I can take or leave. The Six-Legged Pentathlon replaced Dalgona in the second season. At first I was disappointed, but once I saw it play out, I was glad. This trial gave me more anxiety than all the others put together! As the title suggests, it’s all about teamwork. Groups of five are joined at the leg. They must race against the clock, completing mini-games to finish a successful lap. The six mini-games are divided amongst the teams and are thus: Jacks, Ddakji, House of Cards, Hackey Sack and Cup and Ball. If just one of them loses their mini-game, they must repeat the lap until they win. If the time runs out, they are all exterminated. The only way I could survive was if I had a.) a solid team and b.) was given Jacks or Cup and Ball. The rest I would struggle with.

8.) Marbles

Marbles itself I don’t care for. However, the emotional impact is high. Every single participant must pair up. In groups of two, they are given free reign to play whatever marble-type game they wish. For example, they can see who throws it the farthest, which one can roll it closest to a specific object etc. Whomever wins their game, advances to the next trial. Whomever loses, is exterminated. In the first season, the contestants were not aware of the rules when pairing up. Therefore, a lot of them joined forces with the person they were bonded to. Knowing they had to lose a loved one, made it a very hard scene to watch. My survival would be dependent on the type of game I played. I don’t like my chances. 

9.) Sky Squid Game 

Coming in ninth, we have Sky Squid Game. This is the final trial from the third season. I would’ve ranked it higher, but it was extremely predictable and not as exciting as the rest. Basically, it’s a last-man-standing game. The remaining contestants step onto a gigantic square-shaped block, towering high above the ground. To begin, they must press a button, activating a 15 minute timer. Their objective in that time is to kill one participant. If they succeed, they move to the triangle-shaped block and the process starts again. Once they reach the circle-shaped block, they must fight one another to claim their victory. Only one person can remain on the circle. There is no way I would survive this one. I cannot combat brute force.

10.) Tug-Of-War

In second-last place, we have Tug-Of-War. All of my least favourite games involve strength. It’s my biggest weakness after all! This one is pretty self-explanatory. Two teams must pull a giant rope over their designated line. In the show, they play over a large chasm. The losing team simply falls to the fathoms below. I must admit, there is some strategy and luck to this one. I may be a weakling, but if I was put on a team of predominately strong people, I would have a good chance of survival. It’s also slow and steady wins the race. Giving all of your energy and strength at the beginning could result in losing steam by the end. Pacing is everything. I’m glad this particular trial wasn’t featured in the second season. It just doesn’t appeal to me personally. 

11.) Squid Game   

Ironically, my least favourite Squid Game is Squid Game itself. This is the last trial from the first season. Two participants must face off against one another on a court. The area is marked with circle, triangle and square shapes to resemble a squid. The goal is for the offense to reach the top of the squid, whilst the defense pushes them out. In layman’s terms: one must exterminate the other. It was a violent, brutal and unforgiving way for things to come to an end. It was also quite basic and boring. To go from Glass Bridge (see above), to essentially a fistfight, was underwhelming. I wish the grand finale had been a lot more impactful. I would’ve loved a game of wits and strategy. Instead, we had two men punching on. I would not survive. I would be beaten to a bloody pulp! 

Thank you so much for reading! How would you rank the Squid Games? 

Peace & Love xoxo