Netflix’sSquid Gamefinally returned for its sophomore season in late 2024, and now the popular Korean drama has been renewed for its third and final season. Debuting in 2021, the dystopian thriller involves a game show that enlists desperate players to participate in familiar children’s games to win cash. Unfortunately, those games come with deadly consequences that play out for the amusement of the nation’s wealthy elite. Season 1 took the world by storm when it debuted internationally, and it became one of the streamer’s biggest shows of all time.

Despite its popularity,Squid Gameseason 2 wasn’t rushed back into production, and took over three years for the follow-up to finally arrive. Once again following survivor Gi-hun, the second season shifts tone a bit as he tries to tear down the dystopian games from the inside. Without skimping on the delightfullydeadly games inSquid Game, the second season raises the stakes, as the objective isn’t just to survive and win, but to destroy the evil institution that hosts the games in the first place. Season 3 is already confirmed, but it will also be the last.

A composite image of Gi-hun looking confused in front of a purple clock background in Squid Game

Squid Game Season 3 Latest News

Netflix Confirms The Season 3 Release Date & Reveals New Images

Despite the fact that the second season is still quite fresh, the latest news confirmsthe release date forSquid Game’s third and final season. In early January 2025, promotional material for season 3 was released which announced the showwould be returning on June 26, 2025. Those social media posts were quickly deleted, but around a month later, Netflix came forward to confirm that release date. Now,Squid Gameseason 3 is due to arrive around six months after the debut of season 2, a significant change from the three-year wait between seasons 1 and 2.

Along with the release date, Netflix revealed a series of first-look images fromSquid Gameseason 3 which tease a deadly final outing. One image shows the contestants looking at a black coffin, while another shows Gi-hun handcuffed to a bed. The Front Man is shown looking dour as always, and there is a close-up of a person in a mask. Finally, Netflix dropped the season 3 poster which shows a contestant being dragged across a field of flowers by a person in a mask.

Thanos enjoying the Red Light, Green Light game in Squid Game season 2

Squid Game Season 2 Release Date

The Games Conclude In June 2025

Arriving as one of the biggest series in Netflix’s history, it came as no surprise thatSquid Gameseason 2 was quickly green-lit. However, the extended wait between seasons could have put a damper on the show’s eventual return in 2024, and ruined any chance of a third season. Those fears were unfounded though, asNetflix opted torenewSquid Gameseason 3a few months before the arrival of the second installment. The August 2024 announcement came with a fan letter from creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, thanking the world for its warm reception toSquid Game.

The announcement did come with some sad news as well, and it was confirmed thatthe upcoming third season ofSquid Gamewill also be the last.On the flip side, Hwang Dong-hyuk promised thatSquid Gamewould arrive in 2025, a much faster turnaround than season 2. Since the announcement, Netflix has confirmed thatSquid Gameseason 3 will premiere on June 08, 2025. This is only six months after the season 2 premiere, and a much shorter wait between the first two seasons.

A letter to fans from Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk

In January 2025, Netflix Korea accidentally posted a video that revealed August 14, 2025, as the season 3 release date, but that video was quickly deleted. Netflix has since confirmed that date.

Squid Game Season 3 Is The Last

A Trilogy Of Seasons On Netflix

Netflix’s choice to announce season 3 as the final outing will bring even more attention toSquid Game.

ThoughSquid Gameis one of the most popular shows in streaming history, season 3 will be the final installment. The news isn’t particularly surprising, especially since theSquid Gameconcept isn’t one that should be stretched on for season after season. It’s an especially apt place to close the series, after the ending of season 2 left things unresolved.Season 3 now has the chance to wrap up the storywithout having to stretch things out unnecessarily. On top of that, Netflix’s choice to announce season 3 as the final outing will bring even more attention toSquid Game.

Thanos strangling Myung-gi in the bathroom in Squid Game season 2

Squid Game Season 3 Cast Details

Who Survived The Squid Game In Season 2?

Though many characters perished during the events ofSquid Gameseason 2, there were also plenty of survivors who will certainly return in season 3. Still trapped in the nightmarish games,Lee Jung-jae’s Gi-hun will likely be the main protagonist in season 3, especially in the aftermath of his failed uprising attempt. He isn’t the only player to participate in the uprising that made it through season 2, as Dae-ho (Kang Ha-neul) and Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon) both presumably survived since they were back in the dorms when the Masked Men restored order.

Less combative contestants like mother-son duo Geum-ja (Kang Ae-sim) and Yong-sik (Yang Dong-geun) made it through, and there’s no reason to think that the roster will change much between the seasons. Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri), Myung-gi (Im Si-wan), Nam-gyu (Roh Jae-won), and Seon-nyeo (Chae Kook-hee) will help fill out the roster as the games presumably continue in the third and final season.The dastardly Front Man(Lee Byung-hun) is a necessity in season 3, andthe compelling B-plot involving the traitorous Captain Park (Oh Dal-su) means Jun-ho’s (Wi Ha-jun) team will need to reprise their roles in season 3 as well.

Gi-hun looking devastated in Squid Game season 2

Squid Game Season 3 Story Details

Gi-hun Still Has To Finish The Squid Game

he has to decide if he wants to continue his Quixotic quest, or just attempt to survive the last of the games.

After a chaotic and unsurprisingly violent conclusion toSquid Gameseason 2, things are clearly set up for an epic conclusion in the third and final season.Not only did Gi-hun’s plan to tear down the games from the inside fail spectacularly, it cost him a dear friendand maybe even his sanity in the process. Proving that they could break his spirit at will, the minds behind the games decided to let Gi-hun live, even though he was the ringleader of the rebellion. Now, he has to decide if he wants to continue his Quixotic quest, or just attempt to survive the last of the games.

Dae-ho showing off his marine tattoo next to Jung-bae in Squid Game

Squid Game Season 2 Ending & All Twists Explained

Squid Game season 2’s ending is an even bigger cliffhanger than season 1, and it leaves Gi-hun even worse off after his plan to stop the tournament.

Elsewhere, Jun-ho’s mission to infiltrate the games from the outside hit a snag when it was revealed that the swarthy ship captain, Park, was actually a double agent. This not only puts Jun-ho and Woo-seok’s lives in danger, but it likely means that Gi-hun won’t have any outside help on the final leg of his journey throughSquid Game. While a bevy of shocking twists are expected, the final season will likely continue the deadly game to its conclusion.The mid-credits sequenceputs a new spin on the classic red-light-green-light game, suggesting that each task is getting deadlier.

Park Sung-hoon as Hyun-ju in Squid Game season 2

Squid Game

Cast

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.

Squid Game Geum Ja looking concerned

Yong-sik standing in a crowd of players in Squid Game season 2

Jun-hee playing Red Light, Green Light in Squid Game season 2