After finishing Squid Game and feeling thoroughly rattled by its intensity, I was quite taken aback when Squid Game: Unleashed was announced early this month. Created by Boss Fight for Netflix Games, this fresh video game spin transforms the show’s harrowing challenges into chaotic multiplayer fun. Yes, there’s still a splash of gore, but it’s more like a cartoon. Unlike the original game, where losing meant permanent elimination, here, players can keep coming back until they ace the not-so-deadly digital versions of the nerve-wracking competitions.
There’s more to the trend than just Squid Game: Unleashed. We’re also seeing a Call of Duty collaboration and even a real-world take by YouTuber Mr. Beast. Yet, all these attempts to gamify Squid Game seem to miss the essence of the series. It reminds me of how Battle Royale, the 1999 novel, was interpreted. Its original narrative of a dystopian society sacrificing its youth was kind of lost as it evolved into the popular video game genre present in titles like PUBG and Fortnite. The novel’s harrowing concept of forced conscription became more of a fun, albeit armed, game with dancing and celebrities like Snoop Dogg.
Given this history, it’s less shocking to encounter Squid Game: Unleashed and similar offerings. Speaking to the game’s director, Bill Jackson, he made it clear that this adaptation happens to be exactly what players were clamoring for. They weren’t interested in a deep narrative akin to what Telltale Games might craft. Instead, players were eager to jump into those infamous games themselves.
In his words, “We asked, and the overwhelming feedback was, ‘Give us Squid Game.’ Specifically, they wanted to experience being contestants — to engage in those intense games, even at the risk of virtual failure and pretend demise. We aimed to fulfill that desire, ensuring that players could participate in an amplified version of the competition they saw on screen.”
As a medium, Squid Game: Unleashed diverges significantly from the original series. Jackson summed it up: “You’re a contestant facing harsh consequences if you lose. But this is a game, so why not try again? That’s the heartbeat of it all—keep playing.”
When we discussed the legacy of Battle Royale in gaming, Jackson noted the enduring attraction of such narratives across entertainment. “From films like Death Race to Enter the Dragon with Bruce Lee, this theme of survival through competition has captivated many. In gaming, it resonates because competing and being eliminated or advancing is core to the experience.”
Though it might sound odd, people love this format. It isn’t corporate demands stripping away Squid Game’s rich commentary. Regular folks genuinely want to test themselves in these competitions—but in the safety of a digital world where nothing is at stake but pride.
It’s not that players are oblivious to Squid Game’s deeper messages. As suggested by Jackson, this urge likely taps into something innate about confronting challenges. It might be unsettling, yet there’s no denying this format’s appeal. It’s what people have asked for, after all.
