“Squid Game,” a Netflix Original South Korean drama, was originally released on September 17, 2021, gaining worldwide attention and peaking as Netflix’s most-watched series. The second season followed suit, premiering on December 26, 2024, and debuting at #1 in all countries where the streaming site is available. 

The TV show, directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk and starring prominent Korean actors including Lee Jung-jae, Gong Yoo, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun, among others, tells the story of desperate individuals suffering from incredible debts hoping to win an elusive competition with a ₩45.6 billion ($31 million) cash prize called “Squid Game.” The Games comprise various childhood pastimes, most specific to South Korea, like gonggi (공기) and squid (game) (오징어 게임). With each loss, another contestant is killed until one remaining victor wins the pot.

“Squid Game is one of my favorite Korean shows ever,” Kate Lee (9) said. “Especially seeing the games, it really brought back childhood memories.”

In this article, I will be explaining the nuances of some of the Korean games from the show, including their origin, how to play, and their role in “Squid Game.”

Season 1:

Dalgona (뽑기) Game 

In “Squid Game,” contestants must carefully cut out a specific shape (circle, star, or umbrella)  from the dalgona, a honeycomb-like candy, without breaking it. The more complex a shape, the harder it is to win – tricks like licking the back of the cookie or using a hot metal tip often make the job easier.

Origin: Dalgona is a popular Korean street food from the 1960s made with baking soda and melted sugar. The snack was often sold by vendors to children after school, attracting many students with its fun designs.

Marbles Game

One of the most heart-wrenching games in “Squid Game” is Marbles, where pairs of close friends play a game of their choice, hoping to secure all the marbles by the end. One person from each pair will be eliminated. One of the marble games featured is holjjak (홀짝) or “Odd and Even,” where players guess whether the number of marbles in the other’s hand is odd or even.

Origin: Though the exact origins of this specific game may be hard to trace, it is believed that holjjak and similar games have been played informally by children for centuries as part of their daily activities.

Squid (Game) (오징어 게임)

Squid, the very activity the show is named after, was the final game of season one, depicting a bloody duel between two best friends for the final cash prize. In the traditional game, players on the offensive team try to move through the drawn squid, navigating various sections, as defenders try to block them from getting through. The first team to reach the head of the squid wins.

Origin: Squid, dating back to the 70s, is a popular street game among Korean children, often played in streets, backyards, or large empty plots of land.

Season 2: 

Ddakji (딱지)

In “Squid Game” season two and season one, Gi-hun plays Ddakji with a man he meets at a subway station. This game of flipping paper tiles serves as the first step for Gi-hun to be invited into the deadly competition.

Origin: Ddakji is a popular Korean children’s game from the 1980s and 1990s, where players use folded paper tiles to try and flip each other’s tiles.

Gonggi (공기)

In “Squid Game” season two, Gonggi is a game where players toss small stones and try to catch them in various patterns. It is used in the show to showcase skill and dexterity among the players.

Origin: Gonggi is a traditional Korean game from the 1950s, where children use small pebbles to complete specific patterns in a fast-paced game.

Origin“Gonggi is my favorite game. When I was little with my family I played a lot, though I wasn’t that good. My personal best is three,” Sharon Park (11) said.

Mingle

In “Squid Game” season two, Mingle is a social game where players interact and try to match the correct number of people in a room when the music stops, highlighting the strategic social dynamics among contestants. The song played is a popular Korean children’s song called “Round and Round” or “둥글게 둥글게.”

Origin: Mingle is a social guessing game that has been part of children’s play in various cultures for decades, often played in group settings or at parties.

“My favorite game was when the contestants run to find rooms with each other because it reminds me of my childhood, when I would run with my siblings to hide from my Lola,” Eva Alcantara (11) said.

“Squid Game” offered a mix of nostalgia, anxiety, and adrenaline for millions of viewers. Traditional Korean games not only allowed Korean viewers to connect with the show but also allowed other cultures to learn about the games and perhaps make some childhood connections.

Make sure to check out the Bulldog Times’ version of “Squid Game,” “Cephalopod Games,” on Youtube.