The brutal saga of Squid Game reached its climax on June 27, 2025, with Season 3 dropping on Netflix, leaving fans reeling. Six episodes deep, this final chapter of Seong Gi-hun’s (Lee Jung-jae) quest to end the deadly games delivers gut-wrenching betrayals, new challenges, and a shocking cameo that’s sparked global buzz. As the dust settles on the South Korean thriller’s finale, here’s why Season 3 is a bloody masterpiece—and a divisive end.
Gi-hun’s Last Stand
Picking up from Season 2’s crushing cliffhanger, Gi-hun (Player 456) is at rock bottom after his rebellion failed and his friend Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan) was gunned down by the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk throws Gi-hun into deadlier games, with a new team-based challenge involving a red-or-blue ball draw splitting players into hunters and hunted. “Gi-hun’s choices will shape the end,” Hwang told Netflix Tudum, and boy, do they—each decision laced with despair and hope.
Brutal New Games
Season 3’s games crank the cruelty to 11. A standout is the bridge-crossing challenge with Young-hee and new doll Cheol-su, where players dodge a swinging jump rope high above a deadly drop. Another game forces players to push rivals off pillars in a savage test of strength and loyalty. Fans on X are raving about a marbles-level heartbreak in Episode 2, with one calling it “a soul-crushing betrayal worse than Season 1.”
The Front Man’s Shadow
The Front Man, unmasked as In-ho, taunts Gi-hun with chilling mind games, asking, “Player 456, do you still have faith in people?” Their looming showdown, teased in the trailer, keeps viewers on edge. Meanwhile, In-ho’s brother Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) hunts for the island, unaware of a traitor in his crew. The VIPs, now dressed as pink soldiers, add a twisted layer, reveling in the chaos.
Fan Frenzy and Criticism
With 60 million views in its debut week, Season 3 hit No. 1 globally, though it trails Season 2’s 68 million. Critics praise its “staggering” emotional depth (Total Film), but some fans on X lament a “predictable” plot and a cameo-heavy finale that feels like a spin-off setup. “Why three seasons for no resolution?” one X user griped, while others hailed Gi-hun’s arc as “heartbreaking yet hopeful.”
A Divisive Finale
Hwang calls Season 3 the end of Gi-hun’s story, but a post-credits stinger has fans speculating about a U.S.-based spin-off. The arrival of Jun-hee’s (Jo Yu-ri) baby shifts Gi-hun’s mission, giving him a redemptive spark. Yet, the repetitive voting and familiar themes left some, like NPR, calling it “too predictable.” Still, the production design and Lee Jung-jae’s “all-time great” performance shine.
Stream it now on Netflix at 12:30 p.m. IST. Love it or hate it, Squid Game Season 3 is a brutal, unforgettable ride. What’s your take?
