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The National
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Loved Squid Game? Here are six other TV shows to watch like it
After three seasons, Squid Game has come to an end — but not before leaving a lasting impact on audiences worldwide. The final season, which premiered on July 1, shattered Netflix viewership records with 60.1 million views in only three days, marking the platform's biggest-ever TV launch. It also debuted at No 1 in all 93 countries where Netflix tracks its Top 10 rankings. For fans of Squid Game looking for more shows with similar themes of survival, here are six titles worth exploring: Alice in Borderland This Japanese thriller takes place in an eerily abandoned Tokyo, where a group of strangers must compete in a series of deadly, often psychological games to stay alive. Much like Squid Game, it blends action and strategy with moral dilemmas, forcing characters to navigate shifting alliances and question who they can trust when survival is on the line. The 8 Show This South Korean drama revolves around eight people trapped in a mysterious high-rise building, where time literally equals money — the longer they stay, the more they earn. What begins as a bizarre opportunity quickly turns into a tense social experiment. With its confined setting, escalating paranoia and commentary on greed and exploitation, the show echoes Squid Game 's mix of suspense and social critique. 3% Set in a starkly divided future society, this dystopian drama from Brazil follows young candidates as they undergo a series of intense tests for a chance to join an elite, privileged population. Only 3% will make it and the rest are cast aside. With its focus on a rigged system, survival under pressure and the illusion of fairness, the show mirrors Squid Game 's themes of inequality and the cost of competition. Physical: 100 This reality series from South Korea pits 100 of the country's strongest and fittest against one another in gruelling physical challenges. While there's no fatal outcome, the show shares Squid Game 's elimination format and intensity, pushing contestants to their limits and revealing the raw, competitive instincts that surface when only one can win. Death's Game This series offers a darker, more philosophical take on the value of life. After dying by suicide, the protagonist is cursed to relive several lives — each ending in a brutal death — until he understands what it means to truly live. Like Squid Game, it explores despair, regret and the consequences of personal choices under extreme circumstances. Squid Game: The Challenge This spin-off brings the fictional world of Squid Game into reality, with 456 contestants competing for $4.56 million in a near-exact replica of the show's infamous games, minus the deadly consequences. It captures much of the original's psychological tension, betrayal and alliance-building, turning fiction into a high-stakes real-life competition.
Metro
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'It's a hell of a ride!' Your favourite shows like Squid Game
Squid Game is back for a third season, and fans are no doubt binge-watching the hit Korean drama at breakneck speed. Which means many will already be looking for a similarly high-stakes, morally complex series to watch next. And while reality shows like Netflix's Squid Game: The Challenge and MrBeast's Beast Games have tried to capture the essence, the Squid Game creator has admitted they leave a 'bitter taste'. Fortunately, the world of streaming is rich with gripping K-dramas and survival thrillers that scratch the same itch — and several viewers have taken to Reddit to share their favourite Squid Game alternatives. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. A user calling themselves ed_five suggested Netflix drama The 8 Show. Explaining the premise, they wrote: 'Eight people agree to a game show where they don't know the rules. I have to warn you, it gets very dark.' And TommyRobotX added of the Korean series: 'Despite the lower stakes, they somehow made it harder to watch (anxiety) than Squid Game.' Meanwhile, Dazzling_Pipe_9910 also mentioned The 8 Show, but preferred revenge thriller The Glory. They said: 'I watched The 8 Show and The Glory after Season 2 of Squid Game…The Glory is definitely worth watching and has left a lasting impression. I'd recommend.' Another user, Pettyyoungthing, suggested Alice in Borderland, which proved to be a huge hit on Netflix when it was first released in 2020. They explained: '[It's a] Japanese show where [people] get stuck in a mix of Hunger Games and Squid Game type scenario. Hijinx ensue'. And ChattyWalker suggested dark thriller Bargain, on Paramount Plus, writing: 'It's a hell of a ride! Only 6 episodes, unfortunately, but a nice binge.' One user suggested 3%, a Brazilian series available on Netflix. Explaining the plot, they wrote: 'The majority of the population live on the improvised 'inland' and, at the age of 20, people compete to become the 3% of humanity that gets to live in the affluent 'offshore' community.' A K-drama that's received lots of comparisons to Squid Game, The 8 Show focuses on eight strangers, each facing serious financial trouble, who agree to join a dangerous reality TV show as a way of earning money. Reviews are mixed, with the show earning a respectable 75% score on Rotten Tomatoes from the critics, compared to a 66% Audience Score. One impressed audience member wrote: 'I watched the entire series in 24 hours, a first for me. I found it impossible to stop watching. The cliffhangers were great, the suspense was at a fever pitch, and the social commentary was spot on. Good comic relief as well. Highly recommend.' Another said: 'Excellent show! Every episode is unexpected and surprising. A more deep and shocking Squid Game. This show will make you reflect on the society and on human nature.' Where to watch: Stream all eight episodes on Netflix. Years after surviving being brutally bullied in high school, teacher Moon Dong-eun devises a calculated plan to make her abusers pay for what they did, unravelling their now successful lives from within. The Glory received praise from critics, with the San Francisco Chronicle writing in their review: 'Visually arresting and carefully constructed, The Glory sharpens its central theme to a fine point.' Audiences were also impressed, with viewers taking to Rotten Tomatoes to hail The Glory as 'captivating', 'beautiful' and 'a slow-burn masterpiece'. Where to watch: Stream all 16 episodes on Netflix. This Japanese sci-fi series follows 'an aimless gamer and his two friends [who] find themselves in a parallel Tokyo, where they're forced to compete in a series of sadistic games to survive'. The show, which has been compared to Squid Game in the past and even achieved a higher Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes, has proved itself a hit with both fans and critics. 'This sprawling Japanese manga adaptation is rarely subtle, but its ability to deliver on wide-scale expectations make it a true TV standout,' IndieWire wrote in a season two review. Meanwhile, Google reviewer Sarah wrote: 'This is one of the best TV series I have ever watched! Season one reminded me a lot of Squid Game mixed with a little bit of Hunger Games but leaves off with a better cliffhanger.' A highly anticipated third season of Alice in Borderland is coming to Netflix in September 2025. Where to watch: Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix. Described as 'addictive' in The Guardian's four-star review, Bargain is set in a remote hotel in Korea where human organs are auctioned off to the highest bidder. A synopsis adds: 'After a catastrophic earthquake, the victims, traffickers and buyers are all trapped inside the crumbling building. Cut off from the outside world, they must fight to survive the aftermath at any cost. With a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, the show has impressed critics, who have described it as 'engrossing', 'wildly unpredictable' and 'gloriously vicious'. Where to watch: All six episodes are available to stream on Paramount Plus. There are four seasons to binge of this Brazilian show, which is set in a future society where most of the population lives in poverty. But, every year, each 20-year-old gets one chance to join the privileged 3%, who have been saved from squalor and now live in a utopian paradise. More Trending The show has a very respectable 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its twists and strong characters. Screen Rant wrote in their review: 'When 3% isn't making thoughtful observations about the human race and how we wall ourselves off from one another, it's dazzling you with clever moments and genuinely shocking twists all designed to keep you hopelessly hooked.' And Refinery29 said: 'The Brazilian show will itch the Hunger Games scratch, but still add an entirely new element of excitement.' View More » Where to watch: Seasons 1 to 4 are available to stream on Netflix. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Netflix WWE SmackDown live stream cuts out with millions unable to watch MORE: WWE Night of Champions 2025 preview with early UK start time on Netflix MORE: TV fans torn between bingeing Netflix hit series or 'anxiety-inducing' drama this weekend
Pink Villa
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Delusion Update: Bae Suzy and Kim Seon Ho's vampire series enters production stage, period fantasy set to release in 2026
Horror and mystery drama fans, get ready—there's a new series in the works. Bae Suzy and Kim Seon Ho are reuniting once again in the highly anticipated Disney+ original Delusion. After their widely praised performances in the beloved drama Start Up, the two actors are set to bring their undeniable chemistry to a completely different story — a dark, atmospheric period drama filled with horror, mystery, and fantasy. What more does one need? Right. The anticipation is over— Delusion is officially confirmed to premiere on Disney+ in 2026. But that leaves the audience with the series plot. Delusion is adapted from a popular webtoon and unfolds across two historical periods: 1935 Gyeongseong (modern-day Seoul under Japanese rule) and the 19th-century Shanghai. The series centers on Song Jeong Hwa (Bae Suzy), a broken-hearted woman, and Yun I Ho (Kim Seon Ho), a painter she hires to capture her portrait. But questions remain - Is she a human? Or blood-sucking wall-crawling unearthy creature - A Vampire? Though details about the story are closely guarded, early hints suggest a haunting exploration of loneliness, desire, and supernatural secrets that slowly unravel over time. Directed by Han Jae Rim, who previously earned praise for his work on The 8 Show, will helm the new series. Delusion promises a rich blend of historical drama and chilling horror, layered with mystery and emotional complexity. The reunion of Bae Suzy and Kim Seon Ho — both award-winning actors known for their nuanced performances in Start Up, is already sparking excitement.
Korea Herald
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Why actor Park Jeong-min became a publisher and put audiobook first
Actor Park Jeong-min has introduced a new initiative as the head of his publishing company Muze, aiming to make literature more accessible to readers with visual impairments. The project, titled the 'Listening Novel Project,' launched with the release of Kim Keum-hee's new full-length novel "First Summer, Wanju" as an audiobook. Departing from the conventional practice of releasing print editions first, the audiobook version was completed and distributed ahead of the print release. On April 4, copies of the audiobook were donated to the National Library for the Disabled and other institutions serving visually impaired communities. It will be officially released on the audiobook platform Welaaa April 28, followed by the print edition, April 30. 'When my company's first book 'Saving Work' was published, my father had lost his eyesight,' he said explaining the motivation behind the project at a book talk held Thursday at the National Library of Korea in Seoul. 'It was disheartening that I couldn't show him the book. It led me to think about what kind of books he could still enjoy. That's how the idea of a 'listening novel' came about.' "First Summer, Wanju" follows Son Yeol-mae, a voice actor, who travels to the hometown of a once-close friend who had betrayed her. The audiobook was produced with actors participating gratis. They include Go Min-si, Yum Jung-ah, Choi Yang-rak, Kim Eui-sung, Park Joon-myeon and Ryu Hyun-kyung. Unlike standard audiobooks, the production was structured more like a radio drama, incorporating detailed sound effects and original music by singer-songwriters MRCH and Gureumy. Park added that the project is ongoing, with contracts already signed with additional authors. 'It felt like the characters I had written became clearer through their voices,' author Kim said. 'Usually, the characters spoke in 'my voice,' but this was the first time I realized how many distinct voices were in the story.' The Thursdy book talk was open to readers with visual impairments and their support aides. "In the case of movies, it's difficult to enjoy them without audio descriptions, so I've turned to books more often," said one attendee. 'This audiobook felt so special, (with the different actors and sound effects) it was like a movie to me, making visual impairments feel less like a barrier.' Park, known for his roles in "Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet," Netflix's "The 8 Show" and Coupang Play's "Newtopia," is no stranger to books. He has written a series of columns in a magazine, and published an essay collection titled "Useful Human" (2016). He also previously ran an independent bookstore before founding Muze and publishing its first book, "Saving Work," by journalist Park So-young in 2020. "If there are people who want to tell stories from overlooked places, I wanted to give them the chance to speak," Park said, explaining the reason for starting the publishing company.
