Squid Game season 3#ep6

{{Episode table |background=#549CD7 |overall=5 |season=5 |title=43 |director=14 |writer=17 |airdate=16 |airdateR={{cite web |last1=Maas |first1=Jennifer |last2=Minton |first2=Matt |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/squid-game-2-ending-jung-bae-death-explained-mid-credits-scene-season-3-1236255614/|title='Squid Game' Creator Breaks Down 'Heavy' Season 2 Finale Death, Mid-Credits Scene Clues and When Season 3 Is Coming|date=December 26, 2024|access-date=December 28, 2024|work=Variety|archive-date=December 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228122750/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/squid-game-2-ending-jung-bae-death-explained-mid-credits-scene-season-3-1236255614/|url-status=live}} |episodes={{Episode list/sublist|Squid Game season 3|EpisodeNumber=17|EpisodeNumber2=1|Title=Keys and Knives|TranslitTitle={{Ko-translit|rr|^열쇠와 칼}}|NativeTitle=열쇠와 칼|NativeTitleLangCode=ko|DirectedBy=Hwang Dong-hyuk|WrittenBy=Hwang Dong-hyuk|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2025|6|27}}|ShortSummary=After the unsuccessful rebellion,{{Efn|As shown in the second season episode "Friend or Foe"}} Kang No-eul non-fatally shoots Player 246, Gyeong-seok, under the pretense of cooperating with the organ traffickers in exchange for access to their operating room. Seong Gi-hun is returned to the dormitory alive and later learns that all the other rebels, except for Cho Hyun-ju and Kang Dae-ho, have been executed. Another vote is held on whether to end the games; the result is to continue. Gi-hun, still in shock, blames Dae-ho for the rebellion's failure. After the players are led past the hanged rebels' bodies, they are assigned roles for a deadly version of Hide-and-Seek, in which armed taggers must hunt the hiders attempting to find and unlock exits with three different types of keys. Before the game, Dae-ho confronts Gi-hun, blaming his plan for the rebels' deaths in the first place, and Geum-ja and Jun-hee switch roles with Myung-gi and Yong-sik respectively to become hiders. Myung-gi reluctantly teams up with Nam-gyu as taggers. In the operating room, No-eul kills the traffickers and forces the doctor at gunpoint to stabilize Gyeong-seok. Meanwhile, Hwang Jun-ho's team resumes their search for the island with a new drone operator, while Woo-seok independently investigates Captain Park; the Front Man, Hwang In-ho, orders Park to eliminate them if necessary.|LineColor=549CD7}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Squid Game season 3|EpisodeNumber=18|EpisodeNumber2=2|Title=The Starry Night|TranslitTitle={{Ko-translit|rr|^별이 빛나는 밤에}}|NativeTitle=별이 빛나는 밤에|NativeTitleLangCode=ko|DirectedBy=Hwang Dong-hyuk|WrittenBy=Hwang Dong-hyuk|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2025|6|27}}|ShortSummary=No-eul kills the doctor after Gyeong-seok recovers. In the game's maze, Hyun-ju, Geum-ja, and Jun-hee team up. Myung-gi reluctantly partners with Nam-gyu and helps kill several hiding attackers, realizing that narrowing down other attackers' targets will also eliminate them, thus increasing the prize pool. Elsewhere, Seon-nyeo is betrayed by Player 100, Jeong-dae, and killed by Min-su, who hallucinates Se-mi under the influence of Thanos' drugs that Nam-gyu dropped. Jun-hee injures her ankle and goes into labor while Hyun-ju kills several attackers attacking them. Geum-ja helps Jun-hee deliver her baby, but Hyun-ju is later killed by Myung-gi just as she discovers a way out; overcome with guilt at the sight of Jun-hee and the newborn, Myung-gi walks away. Meanwhile, a vengeful Gi-hun, a tagger, pursues Dae-ho, who confesses to having lied about his military past and betrayed the rebellion out of fear. Enraged, Gi-hun strangles him to death. Moments before the game ends, Yong-sik, having failed to eliminate those in hiding, nearly kills Jun-hee, forcing Geum-ja to intervene and stab him, resulting in his death by the guard and her devastation. Blaming himself for the deaths of the rebellion, Gi-hun attempts suicide but is stopped by guards.|LineColor=549CD7}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Squid Game season 3|EpisodeNumber=19|EpisodeNumber2=3|Title=It's Not Your Fault|TranslitTitle={{Ko-translit|rr|^당신의 탓이 아니다}}|NativeTitle=당신의 탓이 아니다|NativeTitleLangCode=ko|DirectedBy=Hwang Dong-hyuk|WrittenBy=Hwang Dong-hyuk|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2025|6|27}}|ShortSummary=VIPs arrive and pose as soldiers to personally execute the eliminated players. During the vote, Geum-ja pleads with the "O" players to vote "X", but is ignored. She urges Gi-hun to protect Jun-hee and her newborn daughter, but after he initially refuses, she hangs herself, committing suicide out of guilt for causing her son's death. Meanwhile, Jun-ho finds the cliff where In-ho shot him and launches an intensive search of the island. At Captain Park's house, Woo-seok finds a stash of money, a guard uniform, and a photo of Park with the Recruiter, and realizes that the captain is involved in the games, but is arrested before he can leave. Moved by Geum-ja's death, Gi-hun agrees to help Jun-hee and protect her newborn daughter in the next game: Jump Rope, in which players must cross a giant bridge without being hit by the swinging rope. At first, no one moves until Min-su throws Thanos's necklace onto the bridge, prompting a withdrawal-stricken Nam-gyu to jump to catch it, only to be hit by the rope and thrown to his death after finding out the cross was empty. The VIPs decide that Jun-hee's baby counts as a player; Gi-hun, vowing to return for Jun-hee, successfully crosses with the baby in his arms. Encouraged, Player 096 follows, but starts shoving other players once he crosses to increase the prize pool. Meanwhile, the Masked Officer, threatened by No-eul to help her escape, discovers Gyeong-seok posing as a soldier.|LineColor=549CD7}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Squid Game season 3|EpisodeNumber=20|EpisodeNumber2=4|Title=222|DirectedBy=Hwang Dong-hyuk|WrittenBy=Hwang Dong-hyuk|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2025|6|27}}|ShortSummary=During the game, Player 096 blocks the path, but Gi-hun pressures him to move aside, before killing him in self-defense. Meanwhile, Myung-gi approaches Jun-hee, who rejects him for murdering Hyun-ju and reveals her foot injury. As time runs out, Jun-hee entrusts her baby in Gi-hun's care and sacrifices herself, leaving both Gi-hun and Myung-gi devastated. The VIPs vote to allow the baby to remain in the game as Player 222. Off the island, Gyeong-seok and No-eul manage to escape but are tracked by guards sent by the Masked Officer. In the dormitory, after it was announced that Jun-hee's baby will replace her mother as Player 222, some players, especially Jeong-dae's group, angrily try to harm the child but are stopped by the guards. Starting this round, players are no longer allowed to assault or kill each other outside of a game. Jeong-dae's group plots to eliminate Gi-hun, the baby, and Min-su in the next game, with Myung-gi pretending to join them. Before the final round, Gi-hun is summoned by In-ho, who proposes a secret deal: remove the remaining players to ensure his and the baby's survival. He then reveals he was actually secretly "Oh Young-il", leaving Gi-hun shocked and enraged. Elsewhere, Woo-seok manages to inform Jun-ho that Captain Park was acting on In-ho's orders. Park kills most of the team before Jun-ho mortally injures him. Park admits the truth in his last breath, strengthening Jun-ho's resolve to uncover the truth and find his brother. Meanwhile, the Masked Officer pressures No-eul into returning to the island by threatening to go after Gyeong-seok and his daughter. She complies, ensuring his escape before returning herself.|LineColor=549CD7}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Squid Game season 3|EpisodeNumber=21|EpisodeNumber2=5|Title={{font|○△□|font=Segoe UI Symbol}}|DirectedBy=Hwang Dong-hyuk|WrittenBy=Hwang Dong-hyuk|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2025|6|27}}|ShortSummary=Gi-hun debates whether to accept In-ho's offer to kill the remaining players, but ultimately refuses after the memory of Kang Sae-byeok tells him that he is a good person at heart. Simultaneously, In-ho recalls how he killed other players during the 2015 games under Oh Il-nam's instruction. The next day, Gi-hun, Myung-gi, and the rest of the finalists – including the baby – advance to the final game. No-eul returns to the island, confronts the Officer at gunpoint, and forces him to erase all digital records of Gyeong-seok's participation. A violent fight ensues, ending with No-eul killing the Officer and burning all remaining physical records of the players, including one of herself as a guard. The final game, "Sky Squid Game", requires players to push at least three opponents off of three elevated platforms through three rounds. A hallucinating Min-su is pushed off in the first round; Myung-gi kills Player 336 in the second and reveals himself to be the baby's father. Gi-hun kills Player 203 in self-defense, while Myung-gi pushes Player 353. Jeong-dae begs for mercy, but Myung-gi pushes him as well. Player 039 commits suicide by falling off. Off the island, Jun-ho successfully rescues Gyeong-seok and executes the guards sent to capture him.|LineColor=549CD7}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Squid Game season 3|EpisodeNumber=22|EpisodeNumber2=6|Title=Humans Are...|TranslitTitle={{Ko-translit|rr|^사람은...}}|NativeTitle=사람은...|NativeTitleLangCode=ko|DirectedBy=Hwang Dong-hyuk|WrittenBy=Hwang Dong-hyuk|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2025|6|27}}|ShortSummary=After burning the records room, No-eul contemplates suicide. Jun-ho rescues Gyeong-seok and alerts the Coast Guard, before swimming to the island. With only Myung-gi, Gi-hun and the baby left, Myung-gi plans to have Gi-hun give him the baby so he can throw it off and prevent Gi-hun from crossing, thus winning the entire prize, but Gi-hun eventually manages to get across. A fight leads to Myung-gi falling to his death, though this does not count as the game had not officially started. Gi-hun then presses the button to begin and chooses to sacrifice himself, declaring in his final words that the players were "humans, not horses", before throwing himself off the edge. His death shocks the VIPs, and influences In-ho to rescue the baby (and No-eul to not commit suicide) once he activates the island's self-destruct sequence as the Coast Guard begin closing in. Jun-ho, the VIPs, No-eul and the island's staff also managed to evacuate before the explosion. Six months later, Gyeong-seok reunites with his daughter and meets No-eul, who prepares to travel to China after being told her daughter might still be alive; Sae-byeok's brother, Cheol, reunites with his mother. Woo-seok is released from prison and plans to renovate and open Gi-hun's fortified hotel. Meanwhile, In-ho leaves the baby and the prize money to Jun-ho. He also visits Gi-hun's daughter in Los Angeles to inform her of his death and give her his bloody Player 456 tracksuit and remaining winnings. After leaving, In-ho notices an American recruiter playing ddakji with a man, revealing the existence of the games in America.|LineColor=549CD7}}}}

{{Main|List of Squid Game characters{{!}}List of Squid Game characters}}

Numbers in parentheses denote the character's assigned player number in the Squid Game universe.

{{Columns-start|num=3}}

• Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun (성기훈, {{IPA|ko|sʌŋɡihun||성기훈.ogg}}, 456)
• Lee Byung-hun as Hwang In-ho / the Front Man (황인호, {{IPA|ko|hwaŋinho}})
• Wi Ha-joon as Hwang Jun-ho (황준호, {{IPA|ko|hwaŋdʑunho}})
• Im Si-wan as Lee Myung-gi / "MG Coin" ({{korean/auto|hangul=이명기|ko_ipa=i.mjʌŋ.gi|labels=no}}, 333){{cite web|last1=Egan|first1=Toussaint|last2=Radulovic|first2=Petrana|last3=Volk|first3=Pete|date=November 9, 2021|title=Netflix reveals Squid Game season 2 new and returning cast|url=https://www.polygon.com/22771995/squid-game-season-2-netflix-cast-release|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617215819/https://www.polygon.com/22771995/squid-game-season-2-netflix-cast-release|archive-date=June 17, 2023|access-date=June 17, 2023|website=Polygon}}{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReM6Msbts3w|title=Squid Game: Season 2 {{!}} Meet the Cast {{!}} Netflix|date=December 4, 2024|publisher=Netflix|access-date=December 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205181821/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReM6Msbts3w=|archive-date=December 5, 2024|url-status=live|via=YouTube}}
• Kang Ha-neul as Kang Dae-ho ({{korean/auto|hangul=강대호|ko_ipa=kaŋ.dɛ.βo|labels=no}}, 388)
• Park Gyu-young as Kang No-eul ({{korean/auto|hangul=강노을|ko_ipa=kaŋ.no.ɯɭ|labels=no}})
• Lee Jin-wook as Park Gyeong-seok ({{korean/auto|hangul=박경석|ko_ipa=pak̚.k͈jʌŋ.sːʌk̚|labels=no}}, 246)
• Park Sung-hoon as Cho Hyun-ju ({{korean/auto|hangul=조현주|ko_ipa=tɕo.ʝʌn.dʑu|labels=no}}, 120)
• Yang Dong-geun as Park Yong-sik ({{korean/auto|hangul=박용식|ko_ipa=pak̚.joŋ.ɕːik̚|labels=no}}, 007)
• Kang Ae-shim as Jang Geum-ja ({{korean/auto|hangul=장금자|ko_ipa=tɕaŋ.gɯm.dʑa|labels=no}}, 149)
• Jo Yu-ri as Kim Jun-hee ({{korean/auto|hangul=김준희|ko_ipa=kim.dʑun.ɦɰi|labels=no}}, 222){{Cite web|last=Porter|first=Rick|date=2023-06-29|title='Squid Game' Adds Eight Actors, Completes Season 2 Cast|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/squid-game-season-2-cast-1235525641/|access-date=2023-06-29|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US|archive-date=June 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629082918/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/squid-game-season-2-cast-1235525641/|url-status=live}}

{{column}}

• Park Hee-soon as Masked Officer
• Jung Ho-yeon as Kang Sae-byeok ({{Korean/auto|hangul=강새벽|ko_ipa=kaŋ.sːɛ.bjʌk̚|labels=no}}, 067 of the first season)
• Cate Blanchett as the American Recruiter{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/squid-game-finale-cate-blanchett-cameo-1236300284/|title='Squid Game' Finale Ends With Surprise Hollywood Star Cameo |website=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Brzeski|first=Patrick|date=June 27, 2025|access-date=June 27, 2025|archive-date=June 27, 2025|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250627100109/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/squid-game-finale-cate-blanchett-cameo-1236300284/|url-status=live}}

• {{Ill|Song Young-chang|ko|송영창}} as Im Jeong-dae ({{Korean|hangul=임정대|labels=no}}, 100){{cite web |last=Sharma |first=Dhruv |title=Every Player in Squid Game Season 2 Explained |url=https://screenrant.com/squid-game-season-2-all-players-numbers-characters-explained/ |website=Screen Rant |date=December 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227145326/https://screenrant.com/squid-game-season-2-all-players-numbers-characters-explained/ |archive-date=December 27, 2024 |access-date=December 27, 2024 |url-status=live}}
• {{Ill|Chae Kook-hee|ko|채국희}} as Seon-nyeo ({{korean|hangul=선녀|labels=no}}, 044){{cite web|title=A YouTuber, a rapper, a shaman and more: Meet the 'Squid Game' season 2 characters |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-12-05/entertainment/television/A-YouTuber-a-rapper-a-shaman-and-more-Meet-the-Squid-Game-season-2-characters/2193622 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily |date=December 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024}}
• Lee David as Park Min-su (박민수, 125)
• Roh Jae-won as Nam-gyu (남규, 124)
• Choi Gwi-hwa as Kim Gi-min (203)
• Lee Gyu-hoe as Kim Yun-tae (353)
• Park Jin-woo as Lee Seung-won (336)
• Woo Jung-kook as Player 039 / "Lunchbox"
• Oh Dal-su as Sea Captain Park Yeong-gil{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2024/03/398_370585.html|title=Oh Dal-soo confirmed to join cast of 'Squid Game' season 2|website=The Korea Times|author=KTimes|date=March 14, 2024|access-date=March 15, 2024|archive-date=March 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315082738/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2024/03/398_370585.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0003220279|script-title=ko:[단독]오달수 품는다..'오징어 게임2' 출연 확정 [종합]|website=Naver TV Entertainment|last=Lee|first=Seunghoon|language=ko|date=2024-03-12|access-date=2024-03-15|archive-date=March 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315082738/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0003220279|url-status=live}}
• Jeon Seok-ho as Choi Woo-seok{{Cite web|last=Hwang So-young|date=December 20, 2023|script-title=ko:[단독] '열일' 전석호 '범죄도시3' 이어 '오징어게임2' 출연|trans-title=[Exclusive] Jeon Seok-ho of 'Hard Day' appears in 'Squid Game 2' following 'Crime City 3'|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=437&aid=0000371642|access-date=December 20, 2023|publisher=JTBC|language=ko|archive-date=December 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220011652/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=437&aid=0000371642|url-status=live}}
• Sung Do-hyun as Kim, the mercenary leader
• {{ill|Lee Sung-woo (actor)|ko|이성우 (배우)|lt=Lee Sung-woo}} as Kim Yeong-sam ({{Korean|hangul=김영삼|labels=no}}, 226){{Cite web|url=https://sports.khan.co.kr/article/202501091425003|script-title=ko:'오징어게임2' 226번 이성우, 누군가 했더니|author=안병길|website=Sports Kyunghyang|date=January 9, 2025 }}
• David Sayers as VIP #1{{cite web|url= https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/squid-game-season-3-vip-actors/|title= Who plays the VIPs in Squid Game season 3?|website=Radio Times|last=Craig|first=David|date=June 27, 2025|access-date=June 29, 2025|archive-date=June 28, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250628221159/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/squid-game-season-3-vip-actors/|url-status=live}}
• Jane Wong as VIP #2
• Bryan Bucco as VIP #3
• Jordan Lambertoni as VIP #4
• Kevin Yorn as VIP #5

{{column}}

• Choi Seung-hyun as Choi Su-bong / "Thanos" (최수봉 / 타노스, 230)
• Won Ji-an as Se-mi (세미, 380)
• {{Ill|Lee Seo-hwan|ko|이서환}} as Park Jung-bae ({{korean/auto|hangul=박정배|ko_ipa=pak̚.t͈ɕʌŋ.bɛ|labels=no}}, 390)
• Lee Suk as Player 096
• {{Ill|Jo Si-nae|ko|조시내}} as Park Mi-hwa (박미화, 006)
• Kim Geum-sun as Player 349
• Cho Ah-in as Seong Ga-yeong, Gi-hun's daughter
• Park Hye-jin as Sang-woo's mother and Kang Cheol's adoptive mother
• Park Si-wan as Kang Cheol, the younger brother of Kang Sae-byeok
• Choi Jae-sup as Park Man-cheol, a broker involved with Sae-byeok and No-eul

{{columns-end}}

Additionally, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk makes a small cameo appearance.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTSeVwgJjJU |title='Squid Game' Season 2 Cast Answers Fan Mail {{!}} InStyle |date=2024-12-20 |last=InStyle |access-date=2025-06-30 |via=YouTube}}

{{Update section|date=June 2025}}

File:20140114_Hwang_Dong-hyuk.jpg]]

Hwang stated in December 2021 that he was discussing a third season of Squid Game with Netflix.{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/12/688_321287.html?fl|title="Squid Game" creator says he's in talks with Netflix for 3rd season|date=December 28, 2021|access-date=December 28, 2021|work=The Korea Times|archive-date=December 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228070316/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/12/688_321287.html?fl|url-status=live}} The third season was confirmed after season two aired.{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=July 31, 2024 |title='Squid Game' to End With Season 3, Post-Christmas Return Set at Netflix|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/squid-game-season-2-premiere-ending-season-3-1235963660/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241128194715/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/squid-game-season-2-premiere-ending-season-9-1235963660/ |archive-date=November 28, 2024 |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} When Hwang was thinking about the idea for the ending of season three, he thought of season three as the finale. He believed that with that story, he was able to tell everything that he wanted to tell through the story of Squid Game and also in the perspective of Seong Gi-hun as a character, and that he doesn't need any further stories from here.

Hwang originally envisioned the second and third seasons as one, but split them up after feeling there were too many episodes for one season.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/squid-game-creator-split-seasons-2-and-3-too-many-episodes-8763970|title=Squid Game creator says he had to split seasons 2 and 3 because it was 'too many episodes'|date=December 19, 2024|access-date=December 27, 2024|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-date=December 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227112521/https://ew.com/squid-game-creator-split-seasons-2-and-3-too-many-episodes-8763970|url-status=live}} According to Hwang, at the beginning of the third season, Gi-hun will once again be a changed man compared to the previous two seasons and "at a very critical crossroads".{{cite web |last1=Maas |first1=Jennifer |last2=Minton |first2=Matt |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/squid-game-2-ending-jung-bae-death-explained-mid-credits-scene-season-3-1236255614/|title='Squid Game' Creator Breaks Down 'Heavy' Season 2 Finale Death, Mid-Credits Scene Clues and When Season 3 Is Coming|date=December 26, 2024|access-date=December 28, 2024|work=Variety|archive-date=December 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228122750/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/squid-game-2-ending-jung-bae-death-explained-mid-credits-scene-season-3-1236255614/|url-status=live}} The season will also reveal how Hwang In-ho became the Front Man.{{cite web|last=Stone|first=Sam|url=https://www.cbr.com/squid-game-netflix-season2-lee-jung-jae-lee-seo-hwan-hwang-dong-hyuk-interview/|title='That Hasn't Been Answered Yet': Squid Game Creator Confirms Major Season 3 Reveal|date=December 27, 2024|access-date=December 28, 2024|website=Comic Book Resources|archive-date=December 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228184328/https://www.cbr.com/squid-game-netflix-season2-lee-jung-jae-lee-seo-hwan-hwang-dong-hyuk-interview/|url-status=live}} Cheol-su, Young-hee's giant robot doll "boyfriend", was introduced in the post-credits scene of the second season's final episode and will appear in season three alongside a new game.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/squid-game-season-2-finale-credits-scene-explained-creator-teases-season-3-8765321|title=Squid Game creator explains season 2 finale credits scene|date=December 26, 2024|access-date=December 27, 2024|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-date=December 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226153631/https://ew.com/squid-game-season-2-finale-credits-scene-explained-creator-teases-season-3-8765321|url-status=live}} Speaking about the season, Hwang talks about how the emphasis this season places "on how [people] have to preserve their humanity amidst this intense competition" but introduces games "that could really show the lowest bottom of human beings" wanting "very intense games to bring out the bottom parts of human nature." He also talked about how the changes Gi-hun and Myung-gi go through are "dramatic" and how Jun-hee's baby will be very relevant "not just for Jun-hee, but [also] for the fate of everyone inside."{{cite magazine|last=Bucksbaum|first=Sydney|url=https://ew.com/squid-game-creator-hwang-dong-hyuk-final-season-exclusive-11738910|title=Squid Game creator reveals how final season's games 'bring out the bottom parts of human nature'|date=May 22, 2025|access-date=May 22, 2025|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-date=May 22, 2025|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250522161508/https://ew.com/squid-game-creator-hwang-dong-hyuk-final-season-exclusive-11738910|url-status=live}}

Hwang had originally written the season to end with Gi-hun being able to escape the games, winning or not, along with others, and going to see his daughter, but felt this ending "didn't line up for me" given the situation in the contemporary world. He altered the story to include Jun-hee and her baby as to allow Gi-hun to sacrifice himself for the baby's future, which Hwang saw as a symbol of the next generation.

Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun reprise their roles as Gi-hun and the Front Man, respectively,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/squid-game-creator-hwang-dong-hyuk-return-key-characters-season-2-interview-contenders-tv-1234998081/|title='Squid Game' Creator Reveals Return Of Two Key Characters For Season 2 — Contenders TV|first=Brandon|last=Choe|date=April 9, 2022|access-date=April 9, 2022|work=Deadline Hollywood|archive-date=April 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411122325/https://deadline.com/2022/04/squid-game-creator-hwang-dong-hyuk-return-key-characters-season-2-interview-contenders-tv-1234998081/|url-status=live}} along with others who reprise their roles from season two, which are: Wi Ha-joon, Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon, Im Si-wan, Yang Dong-geun, Park Gyu-young, Jo Yu-ri, Kang Ae-shim, Lee David, and Roh Jae-won,{{Cite web|date=2023-06-21|title=Netflix responds to Squid Game season 2 casting complaints|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a44285542/squid-game-season-2-netflix-responds-casting-complaints/|access-date=2023-09-05|website=Digital Spy|language=en-GB|archive-date=September 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905131131/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a44285542/squid-game-season-2-netflix-responds-casting-complaints/|url-status=live}} as the season will resume the game of the second season.

Cate Blanchett appears in a cameo appearance at the end of the final episode, she takes the role of a recruiter for an American version of the games. Hwang said that "having a woman as a recruiter would be more dramatic and intriguing", and with Blanchett, "We needed someone who could dominate the screen with just one or two words, which is exactly what she did[...] If Gong Yoo is the Korean Recruiter, I thought she would be the perfect fit as the American Recruiter, bringing a short but gripping and impactful ending to the story."{{cite web|url=https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/squid-game-cameo-cate-blanchett|title=Squid Game Season 3's Final Scene Reveals [SPOILER] as the American Recruiter|first=Chancellor|last=Agard|date=June 27, 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250701163821/https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/squid-game-cameo-cate-blanchett|archive-date=July 1, 2025|access-date=June 28, 2025|website=Netflix}} Lee considered the scene to reflect on the nature of the Squid Games, that "despite all of the noble efforts of so many people, the world still continues as it was before". Though some media outlets like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter believed that this final scene may help to set up the planned America production of Squid Game that David Fincher has been slated to direct,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/squid-game-cate-blanchett-los-angeles-spinoff-1236441789/|title='Squid Game 3' Shocker: What That Oscar-Winner's Cameo Hints at for Franchise's Future|first=Jennifer|last=Maas|date=June 27, 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250701163916/https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/squid-game-cate-blanchett-los-angeles-spinoff-1236441789/|archive-date=July 1, 2025|access-date=June 28, 2025|website=Variety}} Hwang said that he did not plan this scene to make any such connection, having heard no official word about the Fincher version.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/squid-game-creator-season-4-cate-blanchett-america-spinoff-1236443820/|title='Squid Game' Creator Details the Original Ending Where [SPOILER] Lives, the Connection Between That Cameo and an American Spinoff and How Season 4 Is Still a Possibility|first=William|last=Earl|date=June 30, 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250701163951/https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/squid-game-creator-season-4-cate-blanchett-america-spinoff-1236443820/|archive-date=July 1, 2025|access-date=June 30, 2025|website=Variety}}

Filming for the third season started in July 2023 and ended in June 2024, as it was filmed back-to-back along with the second season.{{Cite web |last=Cobb |first=Kayla |date=December 27, 2024 |title='Squid Game' Season 2: From Illness to 500-Person Shoots, Behind the Scenes of Netflix's Mega-Hit |url=https://www.thewrap.com/squid-game-season-2-netflix-behind-the-scenes-hwang-dong-hyuk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228124025/https://www.thewrap.com/squid-game-season-2-netflix-behind-the-scenes-hwang-dong-hyuk/ |archive-date=December 28, 2024 |access-date=December 28, 2024 |website=TheWrap}}{{Cite web |last=Delgado |first=Sara |date=June 14, 2024 |title=Squid Game Seasons 2 & 3 Were Reportedly Filmed Back to Back |url=https://en.vogue.me/uncategorized/netflixs-squid-game-season-2-3-everything-to-know/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201181821/https://en.vogue.me/uncategorized/netflixs-squid-game-season-2-3-everything-to-know/ |archive-date=December 1, 2024 |access-date=December 1, 2024 |website=Vogue}}

The editing portion for season three was "nearly done" by November 2024.{{Cite web |last=Chuba |first=Kirsten |date=November 4, 2024 |title='Squid Game' Creator Teases "Crazy" Season 2 and Explains Decision to End Series With Season 3 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/squid-game-creator-season-2-end-series-season-3-1236053164/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201182603/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/squid-game-creator-season-2-end-series-season-3-1236053164/ |archive-date=December 1, 2024 |access-date=December 1, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}

The season was released on Netflix on June 27, 2025.{{cite web|date=31 January 2025|title=Netflix unveils Squid Game season 3 premiere date and preview footage|url=https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/squid-game-season-3-premiere-date-june-2025-459311|access-date=31 January 2025|website=CNA Lifestyle}}{{Cite web |last=Maas |first=Jennifer|date=January 30, 2025|title='Squid Game' Final Season Sets Release Date, Netflix Reveals First Look|url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/squid-game-season-3-release-date-1236259893/|url-status=live|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250130194442/https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/squid-game-season-3-release-date-1236259893/|archive-date=January 30, 2025|access-date=January 30, 2025|website=Variety}} In its first three days, it became the biggest-ever television launch for Netflix, getting more than 60.1 million views and more than 368.4 million hours viewed.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jul/01/squid-game-season-3-netflix-record |title=Squid Game season three breaks Netflix viewership record with 60.1m views |last=Lee |first=Benjamin |newspaper=The Guardian |date=July 2, 2025 |access-date=July 8, 2025}}

{{TV ratings|MC=66/100{{Cite MC |id=squid-game|type=tv|season=3|access-date=June 27, 2025}}|RT=78%{{Cite RT |id=squid_game|type=tv|season=3|access-date=July 6, 2025}}|rev1=Metro|rev1score={{Rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web|last=Barr|first=Sabrina|date=June 27, 2025|title=Netflix's near-perfect Squid Game season 3 ending made my jaw drop|url=https://metro.co.uk/2025/06/27/squid-game-season-3-a-near-perfect-end-netflixs-biggest-hit-23518929/|access-date=June 27, 2025|website=Metro}}|rev2=The Telegraph|rev2score={{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|last=Power|first=Ed|date=June 27, 2025|title=Squid Game is back to being dark, bloody and brilliant — mostly|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/squid-game-season-3-final-netflix-review/|access-date=June 27, 2025|website=The Telegraph}}|rev3=The Guardian|rev3score={{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jun/27/squid-game-final-season-review-an-ending-so-wtf-it-entirely-beggars-belief |title=Squid Game final season review – an ending so WTF it entirely beggars belief |last=Nicholson |first=Rebecca |newspaper=The Guardian |date=June 27, 2025 |access-date=July 8, 2025}}}}

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 78% of 65 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "The games reach a grim crescendo in this climactic third season, repeating familiar beats but with a ruthlessness that drives creator Hwang Dong-hyuk's themes home." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 66 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.

Time also gave a positive review of the series, commenting that the series was back to its "brutal best" that "cuts to the bone" with its emotional depth and character arcs, as well as the themes touched on by Hwang in the series.{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/7298127/squid-game-season-3-review/|title=Squid Game Is Back to Its Brutal Best in a Final Season That Cuts to the Bone|date=June 27, 2025|magazine=Time}}

Professional critical reviews remained positive, it has been noted that though audience ratings and reactions toward the season were initially mixed, it was well received later on.{{cite web | url=https://screenrant.com/squid-game-season-3-rotten-tomatoes-critics-audience-score-divided-explained/ | title=Why Squid Game Season 3's Rotten Tomatoes Score Has Critics & Audiences Very Divided | website=Screen Rant }}

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb episodes|10919420}}
• [https://www.netflix.com/title/81040344 Squid Game] at Netflix

{{Squid Game}}

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