What Are the Squid Game Games? All Games and Rules

The Squid Game games are the elimination games played by contestants in the series, most of them drawn from traditional Korean children's games. Season one runs in this order: ddakji (the recruitment game), Red Light Green Light, dalgona (honeycomb candy), tug of war, marbles, glass bridge and the final Squid Game itself. Season two added the six-legged pentathlon and Mingle; season three added hide and seek, jump rope and a Squid Game played high above the ground.

Most of these games adapt very well to company events: the rules take 30 seconds to explain, anyone can play regardless of age or fitness, and the watching crowd becomes part of the game. Below we describe each game as it appears in the show and the company version we ran in 2026 in a hotel ballroom in Şile and at a garden venue.

Season one games (in order)

1. Ddakji: one folded paper tile is placed on the ground and the other is thrown to flip it over. In the show it is the game that recruits players.
2. Red Light Green Light: you run while the tagger faces away and freeze when they turn; anyone who moves is out.
3. Dalgona (ppopgi): a circle, triangle, star or umbrella pressed into a thin sugar disc must be carved out with a needle without breaking it.
4. Tug of war: two teams pull the ends of a rope; the show makes the point that rhythm and strategy beat raw strength.
5. Marbles: players pair up and try to win each other's marbles with a game of their own choosing.
6. Glass bridge: players cross step by step, guessing which of two glass panels is the solid one.
7. Squid Game: attackers and defenders battle on a squid shaped court drawn on the ground; the final game the show is named after.

Games added in seasons two and three

Red Light Green Light returned in season two, joined by the six-legged pentathlon, where traditional games such as ddakji, gonggi, spinning top and jegi are played back to back like a relay, and Mingle, where players must enter a room in groups of the number called when the music stops. Season three closed with hide and seek, jump rope and a Squid Game played at height.

At company events, Mingle and the short skill games of the pentathlon are the season two favourites; both mix the group and create new pairings, which is great for bonding. Hide and seek and jump rope are only designed in when the venue and safety measures allow.

How is Squid Game played at a company event?

• Nobody is left out: eliminated players become the jury, the cheering squad or the set-up crew for the next round.
• Points are counted per team: points won in individual rounds go to the team, and the final is a team game.
• Contact is controlled: tug of war has a safety zone, the glass bridge is played on patterned floor mats, and the Squid Game uses a touch rule instead of pushing.
• Atmosphere is half the experience: red-suited guards, giant mascots, game mats and countdown music turn the room into an arena in seconds.
• It runs 2 to 3 hours: for groups of 20 to 500 the stations are multiplied to keep waiting time short.

For the ready-to-run version with costumes, equipment and a game crew, see our Squid Game Challenge page. If you prefer another series universe, our La Casa de Papel game is a good fit, and for classic options start with our team building games guide.

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