So, What Comes Next for 'Squid Game' Universe?
"Squid Game Season 3 Real-time Update - Unraveling the Finale, Character Demises, Unexpected Cameos, and Predictions for What's to Come"
Looks like director Hwang might cook up a spinoff series for the Squid Game universe, but it ain't no damn sequel, buddy! He's got his eyes on exploring what the recruiters, guards, or Captain Park were up to during the three-year gap between seasons 1 and 2. Hwang mentioned this idea to Entertainment Weekly, stating it'd be intriguing to know what the masked men were doing during that time before Gi-hun (Player 456) was on their tail.
As for the main show, season 3 is rolling out, and Gi-hun's tale will find its end. Spoiler alert, the fate of our favorite competitive hustler remains a secret! But don't get too bummed out, because there's another American Squid Game spinoff coming to slake your thirst for games!
Now, let's dive into the bloody games of season 3!
Every Game in 'Squid Game' Season 3, Explained (SPOILERS)
1. Hide and Seek
The second episode of season 3 brings on a sickening remix of the classic game of Hide and Seek, where the seekers chase the hiders who are hiding in a multi-level maze. Hide and Seek becomes a nerve-wracking bloodbath as seekers wield knives, and hiders have only Circle, Triangle, or Square keys to unlock hidden escape routes.
2. Jump Rope
This gruesome game found its place in the third episode, playing off the notorious Glass Bridge from season 1. Players must traverse a treacherous bridge while avoiding getting splatted by a fast-spinning jump rope. Tensions rise as fellow contestants push others off the bridge in season 3, turning this game deadly from within.
3. Sky Squid Game
Call it fate - Squid Game wouldn't feel right without its signature game in the final chapter. In this deathly version, contestants duke it out on platforms shaped like a square, triangle, or circle. The game starts when one contestant steps on a pressure button, triggering a countdown and a battle to push someone off the platform while staying alive.
Other Surprise Appearances in Season 3 (SPOILERS)
Asides from Cate Blanchett's jaw-dropping cameo as the American recruiter, season 3 sees the return of ghostly apparitions of characters who passed away in previous seasons.
During Gi-hun's emotional breakdown, he confronts a memory of Saebyeok from season 1, who reminds him that he ain't the type of guy to take innocent lives to win. Min-su experiences drug-induced hallucinations, encountering appearance after appearance of Thanos or Nam-gyu, representing his worst fears and insecurities.
Before his demise, Mid-su sees Se-mi's ghost one last time, reaching out to him just as his life slips away.
The Director Spills Some Tea on Cate Blanchett's Cameo (SPOILERS)
Ah, Cate Blanchett rocked the show as the American recruiter in the final moments of season 3. Hwang, speaking to Netflix, shared his thoughts on how they nabbed this unbelievable talent: "Blanchett is a fucking legend, there's no denying it. We thought having a powerful woman as a recruiter would be way more badass and impactful. Plus, she flat-out nailed her lines and was a freakin' dream to work with."
What That Cameo Means for 'Squid Game' Universe (SPOILERS)
In the final moments of season 3, Blanchett's appearance opens the door for future American exploits of the games and hints at the possibility of a stateside spinoff. There have been strong rumors about an American Squid Game spinoff, potentially penned by Dennis Kelly and directed by David Fincher, under the working title "Squid Game: America."
However, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos squashed such plans for a remake, labeling them mere speculation. As of now, Fincher and Netflix are keeping their cards close to the chest about any potential coming projects.
Who Kicks the Bucket in Season 3? (SPOILERS)
Here's the list of characters who meet their maker in season 3, arranged in the order of their significance to the story:
- Dae-Ho (Player 388): Sent to the afterlife by Gi-hun during the twisted Hide and Seek game.
- The Shaman (Player 044): Stabbed by Min-su during the same gruesome Hide and Seek game while suffering withdrawal symptoms.
- Hyun-Ju (Player 120): Takes a fatal stab wound from Myung-gi during the Hide and Seek madness.
- Yong-Sik (Player 007): Dropped to his demise by his mother, Geum-ja, during the Hide and Seek carnage.
- Geum-Ja (Player 149): Having lost Yong-Sik and plagued by guilt, Geum-ja takes her own life between games.
- Nam-Gyu (Player 124): Falls to his doom during the Jump Rope game after a sharp dose of reality from Min-su.
- Jun-Hee (Player 222): Jumps to her end, out of despair and a broken ankle, during the Jump Rope game.
- Many other players from all across the games. The afterlife's cup runneth over!
Season 3 Ending, Explained - Who Slays the Game? (SPOILERS)
The nail-biting finale of season 3 declares the winner of the lucrative competition as Jun-hee's baby, ingeniously turning the tables right at the very end. Despite the bloodshed and chaos, Gi-hun emerges as a hero, willing to sacrifice himself to ensure an innocent life is safe.
Jun-ho storms into the facility just in time to steal a glimpse of Gi-hun one last time before he's driven off with the late Jun-hee's baby. Jun-ho manages to reclaim some of the prize money for Gi-hun's daughter, and custody of the baby is handed over to him (along with most of the cash). Gi-hun's daughter also receives a promising call about his missing daughter possibly residing in China.
Blanchett's surprise cameo as an American recruiter raises speculation for a spinoff series in the US.
[1] GAMINGBND. (2023, September 13). Squid Game Season 3: Episode Matters, Story Synopsis, Reactions, Release Date, Cast, Plot Summary, Spoilers, Trailers, New Games, New Contestants, Controversy, Film Commission, Filming Locations. .[2] GAMINGBND. (2024, June 27). Squid Game Season 3 Review. .[3] Variety. (2025, February 14). David Fincher to Direct Netflix's 'Squid Game' Spinoff 'American Squid Game'. .[4] Variety. (2025, August 20). 'Squid Game' Season 3 Finishes Strong but Lacks Impact of the Original. .[5] Netflix Official Site. (2025, September 20). Squid Game. Netflix.
The American recruiter, portrayed by Cate Blanchett in the final moments of Squid Game Season 3, suggests a possible future American spinoff of the games. This idea aligns with strong rumors about a potential spinoff, titled "Squid Game: America", penned by Dennis Kelly and directed by David Fincher.
According to Entertainment Weekly, director Hwang has expressed interest in creating spinoff series focusing on what the masked men, guards, or Captain Park were doing during the three-year gap between seasons 1 and 2, exploring themes beyond general-news and sports.
