How to Play Squid Game: Rules for the Team Version

The Squid Game team game is an event format in which short skill games adapted from the show are played station by station and points are collected per team. The core rule is simple: every game is explained in 30 seconds, nobody is left out, and the team wins, not individuals.

Below we have gathered the rules for each station, the scoring and a pre-event preparation checklist. If you are curious about the order of the games in the show, see our What are the Squid Game games guide.

How do you play Squid Game? Station rules

• Ddakji (the tile game): each of two players has a folded paper tile. They take turns throwing their tile at the opponent's tile on the floor; whoever flips the opponent's tile scores.
• Dalgona (honeycomb candy): participants try to carve the shape out of the candy disc with a needle without breaking it. If time runs out or the shape breaks, the round is lost.
• Marbles: two paired players try to win each other's marbles with a simple game of their choice, such as guessing odd or even or throwing closest to a hole.
• Glass bridge: on a patterned mat laid on the floor, one of the two squares in each row is safe. The team moves forward in turn; whoever steps on the wrong square goes back, and the next teammate uses what they have learned.
• Red Light Green Light: you walk while the caller's back is turned and freeze when they face you. Anyone who moves goes back to the start line.
• Tug of war: two teams pull from either end of the rope; the team that brings the centre marker over its line wins.

How do scoring and elimination work?

We do not design harsh elimination like in the show. A player who loses an individual round joins the jury, the cheering squad or the set-up crew for the next station. Points won at each station go on the team scoreboard, the final is played as a team game and the medals go to the highest total score. The number badges on participants' chests set the mood and also make it easy to credit points to the right team.

Preparation checklist for a Squid Game event

1. Confirm headcount and number of teams; the number of stations is set accordingly.
2. Measure the space: the glass bridge mat and Red Light Green Light need a flat, clear floor.
3. Plan the table layout: ddakji and dalgona are played at tables, tug of war in an open area.
4. Arrange a sound system and, if possible, a projector or LED screen; the countdown music is half the atmosphere.
5. Remind participants in advance to come in comfortable clothes and trainers.
6. Build the awards moment into the programme: a medal ceremony or a closing speech from leadership.

Rules for safe and inclusive play

In tug of war we leave a safety zone behind both teams, we play the glass bridge on a floor mat, and in contact games we use a touch rule instead of pushing. The props held by costumed guards are purely decorative. For participants with limited mobility, table roles such as dalgona, ddakji and jury duty make sure everyone contributes to the score.

For the ready-made programme with equipment and a game crew, see our Squid Game Challenge page. For season two's Mingle and pentathlon see Squid Game season 2 games, for ballroom setup see Squid Game event at a hotel, and for an out-of-Istanbul example see Squid Game event in Bursa.

Frequently Asked Questions

To adapt the rules to your team and venue, contact us; we will prepare the station plan and scoreboard together.