From playground to deathmatch: How Squid Game revived childhood games worldwide

When Squid Game stormed onto screens, it wasn’t just a high-stakes thriller—it was a cultural detonation. The show turned simple childhood games into heart-stopping challenges, blending nostalgia with terror. But here’s the twist: these games aren’t exclusive to Korea. Versions of them exist across the globe, from American playgrounds to Brazilian backyards. So, let’s unravel the origins, global connections, and pop culture appearances of Squid Game’s deadly line-up.

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Red light, green light—statues with a death wish

Known in Korea as Mugunghwa kkochi pieotseumnida (the mugunghwa flower has bloomed), this freeze-tag game is a playground staple. In Squid Game, though, it’s less “freeze” and more “die.”

Where else have we seen it?

• United States: Played as Red light, green light, or statues.

• Brazil: Known as batatinha frita 1, 2, 3, much like the Korean version.

([WEVERSE] Jin 🐹

"mugunghwa (hibiscus) Jin has bloomed"

In Korea, the game "red light, green light" is played with the phrase '무궁화 꽃 이 피 었습니다,' which means 'the hibiscus flower has bloomed.' It’s similar to the Brazilian version, "batatinha frita 1 2 3" 🇧🇷.)

Pop culture cameos

• Hello Baby (SHINee, episode 8): SHINee members join kids in this game—minus the robot assassin.

• Running Man: Often features dramatic freeze-tag variations, where laughter is the only real casualty.

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Socializing—dancing with survival

Before the bloodshed escalates, Squid Game introduces a deceptively calm game, labeled “socializing.” (Mingle Game/Merry go Round). Players must spin on carousel-like platforms with vintage horses, evoking the innocence of childhood fairgrounds. But the illusion shatters when the ride stops, and they must scramble to claim a spot in one of only fifty available rooms—mirroring a deadly version of musical chairs.

A familiar tension? Absolutely.

• United States: Echoes musical chairs, a party staple where timing and reflexes matter.

• Brazil: Resembles dança da cadeira, where players fight for limited seats to avoid elimination.

This sequence highlights the beauty and fragility of fleeting moments—where “the sky is splendid,” but survival demands quick thinking and sharper instincts.

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Dalgona candy—sugar, sweat, and broken dreams

(Dalgona candy from Squid Game, random patterns… And yes, of course, someone like me got the hardest pattern 😂 #SquidGame2)

Dalgona candy started as a nostalgic street snack sold outside schools. In Squid Game, it’s a test of nerves and precision. Crack the wrong spot? Game over.

Is it just Korean? Not quite.

• United States: Think of holiday gingerbread houses—you break one wall, and it’s ruined.

• Europe: Intricate cookie-cutting challenges, often seen at festivals, feel like distant cousins.

Pop culture cameos

• New Journey to the West: Cast members tackle Dalgona challenges, proving it’s frustrating even without guns pointed at you.

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Tug of war—teamwork or die trying

Korea’s juldarigi combines brute strength and symbolism, often played during festivals to wish for good harvests. In Squid Game, teamwork isn’t just important—it’s life or death.

Pulling strings globally:

• United States and Europe: Tug of war is a staple at school sports days and corporate team-building events.

• Brazil: Known as cabo de guerra, often played at festivals and gym classes.

Pop culture cameos:

• Run Jin (episode 10): Jin from BTS flexes strength in tug of war during Coast Guard training.

• Running Man: Famous for chaotic tug-of-war challenges—minus the deadly drop.

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Marbles—the friendliest betrayal

Guseulchigi is Korea’s marble game, built on strategy and precision. In Squid Game, though, it’s less about fun and more about heartbreaking betrayals.

Similar games elsewhere? Absolutely.

• United States: Classic marbles played on dirt rings.

• Brazil: Known as bolinha de gude, often played competitively in schoolyards.

Pop culture cameos

• Reply 1988: Celebrates childhood innocence with afternoons spent playing marbles—no heartbreak required.

(I freaked out when the opening song from Reply 1988—aka one of my all-time favorite K-dramas—played in this scene 🥹🥹🥹🥹

#SquidGame2

#Reply1988

This is a cross-reference from the above-mentioned K-drama.)

• The Sound of Your Heart: Flashbacks highlight childhood marble battles decades before Squid Game weaponized them.

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Squid game—the king of playground battles

The titular ojingeo game is as intense as it sounds. Played on a squid-shaped diagram, it’s part wrestling match, part chessboard strategy. Squid Game just turned it lethal.

Familiar vibes outside Korea?

• United States: Think capture the flag with extra chaos.

• Brazil: Echoes queimada (dodgeball with strategy), where you defend zones.

Pop culture cameos

• New Journey to the West: Cast members recall variations of the game, linking it to Korea’s playground past.

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Season 2’s mini-games—double the fun, triple the terror

Season 2 cranks up the chaos with mini-games rooted in Korean traditions. From gonggi (jacks with pebbles) to jegi chagi (a hacky sack-like game), these challenges add flair—and fatality.

Global counterparts? Plenty.

• Gonggi: Mirrors Western jacks or Brazilian cinco marias (five stones).

(You toss all the "cinco marias" into the air and let them fall wherever they may. Then, you pick another pouch/stone to throw again. You have to be quick to grab one pouch from the ground and then catch the one you threw (with the same hand) before it falls. The difficulty keeps increasing as you go.)

• Jegi chagi: Similar to hacky sack, popular in the U.S. and Europe.

Pop culture cameos

• Two Days & One Night: Features traditional games, including gonggi and jegi chagi, as lighthearted challenges.

• Running Man: Mini-games like spinning tops (paengichigi) and pebble-tossing (flying stone) make frequent appearances.

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When nostalgia turns deadly

Squid Game didn’t just raise the stakes. It raised the profile of Hallyu. By spotlighting games deeply rooted in Korean culture, the series managed to turn local childhood traditions into global sensations. Suddenly, people all over the world were cutting honeycomb candies and freezing mid-step, eager to experience a taste of Korea’s playgrounds. Brands have made collabs (take McDonald's and a lot more) and launched food/products/even J-hope's version of the Red Light, Green Light terrifying doll.

But beyond the games and food market and K-pop, Squid Game also amplified curiosity about the country’s history, culture, and language, proving once more that Hallyu isn’t just about catchy K-pop hits or dreamy K-drama romances. It's also a tool for storytelling that challenges, shocks, and it captivates.

At its core, Squid Game taps into themes that resonate far beyond Korea. Its brutal takedown of inequality and survival struggles might be wrapped in neon playground aesthetics, but the commentary is sharp and universal. The series strips away polished veneers and exposes a darker, more unsettling side of modern society, delivering messages that feel disturbingly real. By turning the familiar—childhood games—into something deadly, Squid Game reminded the world that even innocence can be weaponized, leaving audiences both mesmerized and uneasy.

What makes Squid Game hit so hard isn’t just its bloodshed—it’s how it twists innocence into nightmares. Whether you’re dodging lasers, cutting candy, or pulling ropes, one thing’s for sure—your next game night will never feel the same.