The third and final season of Netflix’s Squid Game, which fans had been waiting for, came out on June 27, 2025. It brought the South Korean dystopian thriller to a dramatic end. The series, which Hwang Dong-hyuk made, has been a hit with people all over the world since its first episode in 2021. It is now Netflix’s most-watched non-English series. Season 3 wraps up Seong Gi-hun’s story in a thrilling way, with intense gameplay, high emotional stakes, and shocking revelations. Here’s all the information you need about Squid Game Season 3, including when it will come out, what it’s about, who is in it, and how it has affected culture.
On June 27, 2025, Netflix released all six episodes of Squid Game Season 3 at once, following the site’s binge-release model. In the US, the season started at 3:01 AM ET (12:01 AM PT), in India at 12:30 PM IST, in the UK at 8:00 AM BST, and in Australia at 5:00 PM AEST, among other times. The wait for Season 3 was only six months, unlike the three-year wait between Seasons 1 and 2. This is because Seasons 2 and 3 were filmed back-to-back, and editing was almost done by November 2024. This quick turnaround made sure that fans could quickly figure out what happened after the explosive end of Season 2.
You can only watch the season on Netflix, and you need a subscription to do so. It’s the perfect time to catch up on Season 2 if you missed it, because Season 3 starts right after it.
In Season 3 of Squid Game, we pick up with Seong Gi-hun (Player 456, played by Lee Jung-jae), who is at his lowest point after the tragic events of Season 2. Gi-hun is filled with guilt and despair after leading a failed rebellion against the game’s organizers and seeing his best friend Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan) brutally killed by the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). The season is about his never-ending mission to take down the evil group behind the deadly games, even though the Front Man, who turns out to be former winner Hwang In-ho, raises the stakes with new, brutal challenges.
Netflix’s official summary talks about Gi-hun’s struggle: “Gi-hun keeps trying to end the game, while the Front Man moves on to his next move, and the choices of the remaining players will have worse consequences with each round.” The season asks if people can survive such cruelty, with Gi-hun at a crucial point where he has to decide whether to keep going or give up. There are new games, like a “Jump Rope” challenge with a new giant doll named Chul-su (the opposite of Young-hee from Season 1). There are also new twists, like a gumball machine that gives out red and blue balls, which suggests that the gameplay mechanics will be unpredictable.
A major subplot involves Kim Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri), a pregnant player from Season 2. Her baby is a big part of the story, which makes it more emotional. Detective Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) is still looking for the game’s hard-to-find island, not knowing that there is a traitor in his midst. At the same time, the Front Man welcomes mysterious VIPs, which reveals more of the organization’s dark secrets. Cate Blanchett makes a surprise appearance as an American recruiter in the season, which has led to rumors of a possible U.S.-based spin-off, but Hwang has made it clear that this was not his plan.
The main cast is back for Season 3, with Lee Jung-jae playing Seong Gi-hun, the determined but broken main character. Lee Byung-hun plays the mysterious Front Man, Hwang In-ho, again, and his backstory as a former winner is explored more. Wi Ha-joon is back as Hwang Jun-ho, the detective who is desperate to find the truth. Players who are back from Season 2 are:
Lee Myung-gi (Player 333) is played by Im Si-wan.
Kang Ha-neul plays Kang Dae-ho (Player 388).
Park Sung-hoon plays Hyun-ju (Player 120).
Yang Dong-geun plays Yong-sik (Player 007).
Jang Geum-ja is played by Kang Ae-shim.
Kim Jun-hee (Player 222) is played by Jo Yu-ri.
Lee David plays Min-su. (Player 125)
Roh Jae-won plays Nam-gyu (Player 124)
Park Gyu-young plays No-eul
The ensemble gives strong performances, and Lee Jung-jae said that filming Gi-hun’s return felt like being “sucked into a different universe.” Hwang Dong-hyuk has praised the cast, especially Blanchett, for her strong presence in the cameo at the end.
Hwang Dong-hyuk, who created, wrote, and directed the show, originally thought of Seasons 2 and 3 as one story. However, he had to split them up because there were so many episodes. Filming for Season 3 started in July 2023 and ended in June 2024, at the same time as Season 2. This made it easy to continue the story. Hwang has made it clear that Season 3 wraps up both Gi-hun’s story and the Squid Game story. He said, “I was able to tell everything I wanted to tell through the story of Squid Game and also from the point of view of Seong Gi-hun as a character.”
The themes of the season go deeper into how to keep humanity alive in the face of fierce competition, which is something Hwang has personally dealt with when times were tough financially. The games are still a brutal metaphor for social inequality, with new challenges that test the players’ willpower and morals. Chul-su’s addition, which was teased in the post-credits scene of Season 2, adds a new level of danger to the famous “Red Light, Green Light” game.
Rotten Tomatoes gives Squid Game Season 3 an 81% approval rating. Critics have praised its “grim crescendo” and deep themes, but audiences have had mixed reactions, probably because the story is so emotional. The series is still at the top of global viewing charts. Season 2 had 68 million views in its first week, making it Netflix’s third most-watched season ever. Squid Game and other South Korean shows now make up 9% of Netflix’s total viewing hours, showing how much they affect culture.
The show’s worldwide success has led to trends in pop culture, such as candy-themed challenges and cosplay. It has also led to Netflix’s $2.5 billion investment in Korean content from 2023 to 2027. Season 3 is the last season of the main series, but there are still rumors about spin-offs or prequels, especially after Blanchett’s cameo. Hwang has, however, said that there are no official plans for a version based in the U.S.
The last episode of Squid Game Season 3 is full of action and answers important questions: Will Gi-hun be able to stop the games? What will happen to the Front Man in the end? What effect will Jun-hee’s baby have on the story? Fans can expect a lot of suspense, betrayal, and emotional moments in the series, which pushes the limits of its dystopian premise. The trailer, which came out on June 1 at Netflix’s Tudum 2025 event, hints at a dark, high-stakes season in which Gi-hun confronts the Front Man and questions people’s faith in the face of despair.
The first six minutes of the premiere are available on Netflix’s Tudum for those who can’t wait to see it. In a scary scene, Gi-hun returns to the dormitory. The season is only six episodes long, so it can end with a bang. The fight between Gi-hun and the Front Man will leave no stone unturned.
Squid Game Season 3 is a great way to end one of Netflix’s most famous shows. It combines thrilling action with deep social commentary. The season makes viewers think about resilience, morality, and the price of staying alive as Gi-hun goes through his darkest hour. Squid Game Season 3 is a must-see on Netflix right now, whether you’ve been a fan for a long time or just started watching. Get ready for the last game; it’s one you’ll never forget.
