The Best Books, Movies, Video Games, and Podcasts to Check Out After Watching 'Squid Game'
After devouring Squid Game and its three brutal seasons, you're probably left with a satisfyingly bleak feeling and a craving for more. The show's sharp satire of capitalism, its desperate characters, and its nightmarishly bizarre children's games created an undeniable cultural phenomenon. If you're still chasing that intense, high-stakes thrill and trenchant social commentary, you're in luck. We've compiled a list of books, movies, video games, and podcasts that perfectly capture the Squid Game vibe.
The Best Books Like Squid Game
Squid Game is a masterclass in tension, exploring money, desperation, and mob mentality. These books deliver similar gripping narratives.
- Docile, by K.M. Szpara: This powerful novel dives deep into how debt can dehumanize. In a near-future where debt is inheritable, families are trapped in servitude. People can become "dociles" for wealthy owners, often numbing themselves with drugs to endure their suffering. It's a raw, resonant exploration of economic inequality.
- The Running Man, by Richard Bachman (Stephen King): A classic for a reason. Set in a dystopian 2025, desperate Ben Richards signs up for a government-run reality game where he's hunted by assassins. Survive 30 days and win a fortune. Sound familiar? It's the ultimate deadly game show, long before Squid Game.
The Best Movies Like Squid Game
For more dark, dystopian visions and thrilling survival, these films will hit that sweet spot.
- The Platform (2019): This Spanish sci-fi horror film is pure social commentary, mirroring Squid Game's exploration of inequality. Prisoners on different levels in a vertical prison can only eat from a descending platform of food. Those at the top gorge, leaving scraps for those below. It's a stark, visceral look at human nature under extreme duress. (Available on Netflix)
- The Belko Experiment (2016): What happens when ordinary office workers are forced to kill each other? This film delivers chaotic, bloody thrills as employees are trapped in their building and ordered to eliminate colleagues or face random executions. It's a gruesome, thrilling look at desperate people pushed to their limits. (Rentable on Prime Video)
The Best Video Games Like Squid Game
The show's game-like structure and high stakes translate perfectly to interactive entertainment.
- Squid Game: Unleashed: Dive directly back into the universe with the official game. Play iconic challenges like Red Light, Green Light, tweaked for console or mobile, all wrapped in the show's unmistakable visual style.
- Danganronpa (series): If you loved the bleak whimsy and character-driven mystery of Squid Game, this visual novel series is perfect. High school students are trapped and forced to murder each other to escape, leading to intense trials and moral dilemmas.
The Best Podcasts Like Squid Game
Whether you crave behind-the-scenes insights or new narrative thrills, these podcasts deliver.
- Squid Game: The Official Podcast: Hosted by Phil Yu, this podcast offers insider information on the show's production, themes, and game mechanics. Perfect for fans who want to peel back the layers of a cultural phenomenon. (Available on Spotify)
- Rabbits: For a narrative podcast with a similar creepy, high-stakes vibe, Rabbits is a must-listen. A woman investigates her friend's disappearance, stumbling into an ancient, deadly alternate-reality game. It’s got dread, mystery, and world-building that will hook Squid Game fans. (Available on Spotify)
So, whether you prefer to read, watch, play, or listen, there's plenty of content out there to keep those Squid Game vibes going strong. Just try not to get into too much debt!