ThroughoutSquid Game’stwo seasons, hundreds of contestants have competed for the cash prize, and while many were clearly not cut out for the competition’s brutality, a select few stood out among the pack. The sadistic and high-stakes nature of the games makes it hard for anyone to thrive, especially without having prior knowledge of what lies ahead. Even the rare returning players don’t have a major advantage, asSquid Gameseason 2 introduced several new games, proving to succeed in this life-or-death environment, a unique set of skills is required that only some characters possess.
Impressive athletic traits will only get you so far, as the games are just as challenging mentally as they are physically. To survive the competition - or at least make it pretty far - social skills, strategy, and the ability to perform under pressure are all required, hence why so many majorcharacters have died duringSquid Game’s two seasons. Given there can only be one winner, even some of the best players have lost their lives while competing, but these 10 characters have proven to be the very best players, which is why they made it so far.
10Thanos
Played by Choi Seung-hyun/ T.O.P
DespiteThanos' death inSquid Game2seeming pretty avoidable had he shown more humanity, his ability to influence others and embrace the danger of the games made him one of its best players.Although he showed small glimpses of fear, Thanos happily took each challenge in his stride and wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty to win. From tripping up other players in Red Light, Green Light to banishing others in Mingle, player 230’s lack of remorse happened to be one of his greatest strengths.
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Unfortunately, his lack of filter is also what led to his demise, as he wasn’t killed during a game, but instead as part of a brawl in the bathroom which he started.If it wasn’t for pushing other people’s buttons, Thanos would likely still be alive, and his selfish, unfazed demeanor would probably have continued to propel him into the latter stages of the games, making him one of the show’s best-ever competitors.
9Lee Myung-gi
Played by Yim Si-wan
Unlike most ofSquid Game’s top players, Myung-gi never really managed to find a group of his own, yet he remains alive at the end of season 2 regardless. Usually, having allies to watch your back is essential inSquid Game, especially when it comes to a game like Mingle, but the former influencer had just enough grit to survive on his own. He was cold when he needed to be, and did whatever it took to survive, including killing Thanos.
It hasn’t had a huge impact so far, and the fact he’s still alive despite being mostly a solo act shows how strong of a contestant he is.
While he seems to genuinely have good intentions and even voted for the games to end the second time around, his ability to seize opportunities and fight his way out of tricky situations makes him one of the most likely remainingcharacters to win the competition inSquid Gameseason 3.His complicated relationship with Jun-hee does present some vulnerability,but it hasn’t had a huge impact so far, and the fact he’s still alive despite being mostly a solo act shows how strong of a contestant he is.
8Bak Gyeong-seok
Played by Lee Jin-uk
By far one ofSquid Game’s most mysterious characters, Gyeong-seok’s fate at the end of the second season is still unknown,but he clearly knows how to make it through each game. His screen time and dialog were limited due to him mostly being a part of No-eul’s story, but his ability to survive has been nothing short of impressive. Like Myung-gi, he doesn’t seem to have much of an established group, yet he was never killed during any of the games.
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During the uprising in the finale, Gyeong-seok joined the effort to overthrow the guards and the Front Man but appeared to be shot after surrendering.However, theories aboutplayer 246 still being alive afterSquid Gameseason 2’sfinale have emerged, as No-eul seems to be looking out for him. Even if he’s unaware, having someone on the inside acting as a guardian angel adds to his chances of success, and mixed with his strong set of abilities, Hyeong-seok is clearly one of the franchise’s most formidable players.
7Park Jung-bae
Played by Lee Seo-hwan
Although Jung-bae didn’t manage to surviveSquid Gameseason 2, his performance up until his death suggested he would have been a true front-runner.He was a quick learner, a natural leader, and had the competitive edge needed that make survival possible. Of course, his desire to end the game means he may never have gone all the way, but his military experience and infectious personality made him ready for almost anything.
Even when he got nervous, Jung-bae never crumbled under the pressure, suggesting the higher the stakes, the more likely he would be to thrive.Sadly, theFront Man’s attempt to break Gi-hun’s spirit inSquid Gameseason 2 is ultimately what cost him his life,as Jung-bae was killed right in front of his friend by Il-ho as a message to the protagonist. Therefore, without the revolution against the games, player 390 could have potentially escaped with his life, be it by voting to leave, or by winning the whole thing.
6Cho Hyun-ju
Played by Park Sung-hoon
Hyun-ju was by far one of the most competent additions to season 2, and she already looks to be one of the best players in the show’s history. Her military experience isn’t just useful for handling a gun, but it makes her well-rounded when it comes to physical activities and has provided her with valuable leadership qualities.
Despite her insecurities, she has overcome every challenge so far and her compassionate yet assertive personality has helped her and most of her allies make it through.
Characters like Seon-nyeo, Geum-ja, Yong-sik, and Jun-hee may not have survived without Hyun-ju, proving she is a strong team player. Still, she’s not against voting for the games to continue for her own personal reasons, and while she ultimately went on to regret this, her desire to win makes her a dangerous opponent.Hyun-ju’s bestSquid Gamescenesalso highlighted her ability to handle herself and motivate others in tricky situations, making her a top-tier player.
5Oh Il-nam
Played by O Yeong-su
Il-nam is one of the very few known players who have entered the games and come out with their lives, which is even more impressive considering he lost Marbles to Gi-hun, prompting him to fake his own death. Naturally, he had a very distinct advantage of being behind the games, meaning he knew exactly how to win each one he competed in, buthaving the capacity to pull this off despite his age and health issues was still impressive.
Season 1’s player 001 is the perfect example of how crucial knowledge and understanding are over sheer physical talent. Add in his ability to manipulate the odds in his favor at any given time, and it’s unclear if anyone would have beaten him had he decided to go all the way. In the end, his extensive knowledge of the games may be the only reason he lasted more than one round, but being a plant still made him an extremely competent player, and very few have coped with the high stakes better than Il-nam.
4Kang Sae-byeok
Played by Jung Ho-yeon
On paper, a reserved, caring, and sympathetic individual doesn’t sound like they’d be able to make it far in the games, but Sae-byeok managed to place third in season 1’s competition.Despite her more compassionate traits seeming like a potential detriment, she was also stoic and able to stay level-headed even in the most extreme circumstances. Her cunning foresight also allowed her to spy on the guards and get intel on the upcoming games, showcasing how she was able to survive for so long.
Unfortunately, after being one of just three players to make it through the fifth round, Sae-byeok was injured by the exploding glass, leading to Sang Woo killing her between games.While it’s impossible to tell what would have happened if she had been involved in the finale,her skills had gotten her safely through every obstacle beforehand, and even though she didn’t win, placing in the top three purely on merit is something very few other characters have managed to achieve.
3Cho Sang Woo
Played by Park Hae-soo
There certainly aren’t any consolation prizes for finishing in the runner-up spot, but getting all the way to the final game takes some real skill, which Sang Woo had in abundance.His cold, calculated personality may not have been endearing, but it was perfectly suited to the horror of the games and is the reason he outlived more physically imposing competitors. He also outsmarted his fellow players and was willing to sacrifice allies to make it to the next round, showing he’d do anything to win.
However, the very traits that got him to the final game are the same reasonSang Woo didn’t return inSquid Gameseason 2, as he couldn’t live with his actions. After Gi-hun bested him in the finale, the protagonist offered to stop the game in an attempt to save Sang Woo’s life, but the runner-up forced his friend to kill him instead.Sang Woo’s last shred of humanity prevented him from surviving, but the attributes that got him to the finale proved how well he adapted, and in a different year, he may have been crowned the winner.
2Hwang In-ho
Played by Lee Byung-hun
AlthoughSquid Gamenever showed In-ho’s victory, it is heavily implied that he’s a previous winner,and his performance in season 2 makes it obvious why. Just like Il-nam in season 1, In-ho is also a plant and given the iconic 001 number, but despite his knowledge of the games, his confidence and ability to adapt on the fly is remarkable. Intentionally sabotaging his own team during the six-legged race and killing a man in Mingle is just a small extent of what he’s capable of.
His icy demeanor and complete lack of fear put him in constant control, and had things played out differentl.
DespiteIn-ho becoming the Front Man, he decides to enter the games in season 2 simply to try and prove a point to Gi-hun, but there is plenty of potential for things to go wrong.However, his icy demeanor and complete lack of fear put him in constant control, and had things played out differently, there’s no doubt he could have potentially won for a second time, which would have cemented his legacy as the franchise’s best player.
1Seong Gi-hun
Played by Lee Jung-jae
Other than In-ho, Gi-hun is the only known player to have entered the games twice, and given he didn’t have the same advantages as the Front Man upon his return, his ability to survive is even more commendable.Naturally, he knew exactly what to expect when it came to Red Light, Green Light,but every other game was completely new, yet he still found a way to survive. The Front Man’s desire to keep him alive certainly helped the second time around, but it’s his good-hearted nature and survival instincts that really helped keep him alive.
Winning season 1’s game took heart, courage, and empathy, something he managed to retain in season 2.Gi-hun’s decision to return to the games in season 2wasn’t planned from the beginning, but it shows the confidence he has in himself, and for good reason. He has frequently found a way to inspire others, fight against the system, and overcome the odds, making Gi-hunSquid Game’s greatest player, despite the obstacles that await him in season 3.
Squid Game
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
