The world’s most intense reality competition is back. Squid Game: The Challenge returns for Season 2, putting hundreds of contestants through high-stakes games for a staggering $4.56 million prize. Following the massive success of the first season, Netflix has amped up the drama, strategy, and spectacle — and the show has already cracked Netflix’s Top 10 in the U.S. Here is everything you need to know about Season 2—new contestants, challenges, and why fans are already buzzing.
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Squid Game: The Challenge – all the key details
- Title: Squid Game: The Challenge
- Format: TV show (Reality competition)
- Runtime: Season 1 – 10 episodes, Season 2 – 9 episodes
- Genre: Reality TV, Competition
- Country of production: United Kingdom
- Original language: English
- Created by: Studio Lambert, The Garden
- Produced by: Netflix, Studio Lambert, The Garden
What is Squid Game: The Challenge
Imagine the world of the hit show Squid Game brought into real life—but without the deadly stakes. In this competition, 456 contestants don green tracksuits and face massive, elaborate challenges inspired by the original series. The games combine physical endurance, mental strategy, and ethical dilemmas, giving both players and viewers a glimpse of how far people are willing to go under pressure.
Classic games like Red Light, Green Light, and Honeycomb return, alongside brand-new challenges designed to test teamwork, decision-making, and social strategy. The arenas are meticulously constructed, colorful, and surreal, replicating the iconic world of Squid Game while keeping every challenge safe. Part game show, part social experiment, the series keeps audiences on edge from start to finish. Season 2 adds a fresh set of contestants, redesigned games, and unexpected twists, raising the stakes and keeping the competition more intense than ever.
How the challenge works
Players compete in elimination rounds, with each challenge testing a combination of strength, intelligence, and moral decision-making. Some games are purely physical, while others are puzzle-like or require strategic thinking. Eliminations happen round by round, and twists are built in to keep both contestants and viewers guessing. The ultimate goal is simple: outlast all other players to claim the $4.56 million prize—but the path to victory is anything but easy.
The participants
The cast consists entirely of real contestants from around the globe, each bringing a unique background, personality, and approach to the competition. Alliances form, rivalries flare, and unexpected leaders emerge as the games progress. While inspired by the fictional stakes of Squid Game, the competition is not life-or-death. The real stakes are fame, money, and personal challenge, but the psychological tension and social dynamics are very real. Viewers get a compelling look at human behavior under pressure, and how ordinary people react to extraordinary circumstances.
Filming locations
Season 1 and 2 were filmed at a massive studio complex in the United Kingdom, built to replicate the surreal and colorful world of the original scripted series. The elaborate sets allow for safe gameplay while preserving the iconic aesthetic of Squid Game.
Why you should watch it
Season 2 of Squid Game: The Challenge is more than just a game show—it’s a thrilling social experiment, a test of strategy, and a window into human behavior under pressure. With stunning sets, mind-bending challenges, and a record-breaking $4.56 million prize on the line, every episode delivers suspense, drama, and unexpected moments. Whether you love watching alliances form, rivalries ignite, or sheer problem-solving brilliance, this season promises to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Release date on streaming
Available now. Season 2 is streaming on Netflix starting November 4, 2025 ► Watch on Netflix
