Squid Game is the Korean thriller that no one saw coming and it's on to track to become Netflix's biggest hit ever.

The nine-part series only dropped on September 17 but it looks like its hot on the heels of the streaming platform's beloved regency drama Bridgerton.

In just the 11 days since it premiered, the hit show has topped the Netflix charts in 90 countries with 95% of its viewers outside South Korea.

With only nine episodes to binge, it's understandable that fans have been left with some questions.

What is Squid Game about?

 

The gripping show follows a desperate debt-ridden group of people who sign up to a mysterious competition.

The partipants have to play popular children's games for the chance to win 45.6 billion South Korean won (£28 million) but there's a very deadly catch...

 

What games are played in the Squid games?

The are six childhood games played in total throughout the series. 

Oxford Mail: Red Light Green Light was the first game in Squid Game. Credit: YOUNGKYU PARKRed Light Green Light was the first game in Squid Game. Credit: YOUNGKYU PARK

Red Light Green Light

Some version of this game is played across the world. You might recognise this as "White Horse" but with a much deadlier twist

Cut a shape out of honeycomb

Honeycomb is a popular snack in South Korea and the show's terrifying version is based off a real game.

In the show, the contestants have to cut a perfect circle, triangle, star or umbrella -without breaking the honeycomb- or die.

Tug Of War

This popular playground game has a very deadly makeover in the series. 

In the Squid Game version, the losing team of each round is killed!

Marbles

Without being told what they are playing, the remaining split up into pairs. 

Understandably, most opt to work with a friend which makes this cruel game of marbles even worse. 

That's right- you've guessed it, the loser dies.

Cross the Bridge

In the show's fifth game sees the players number themselves between 1 and 16. 

They must cross the bridge in front of them in that order.

Anyone who tries to skip or goes on the wrong panel will fall to their deaths. 

Squid Game

The final and titular game is too good to spoil.

The Squid Game Cast

 

Lee Jung-jae

Lee Jung-jae, 48, plays the gambling addict and main character Gi-hun.

You might recongise him from the 2020 thriller Deliver Us From Evil or 2013's The Face Reader.

Gi-hun decides to enter the games to get custody of his daughter before her mother and step-dad take her to live with them in the US.

The show's director has described him as a bit of loser who steals from his hardworking elderly mother rather than deal with his addiction.

 

Park Hae-soo

Childhood friend of Gi-hun Sang Woo is played by 39-year-old Park Hae-soo.

You might recognise him if you've watched other K-dramas like the extremely popular 2017 show Prison Playbook.

Sang Woo is a kind of local celebrity after he went to a big university and became a successful investment banker.

Just as nothing is as it seems in this game, Sang Woo's success is largely because he stole from his clients.

He decided to join the games after he put his mother's flat and shop on the line.

 

HoYeon Jung

The 27-year old actress plays the North Korean native Kang Sae-byeok.

Squid Game is her first acting role but she has a very successful modeling career after being a runner up in season four of Korea's Next Top Model.

Sai-byeok choose to take part in the games as she needs money to help her mother move to the south to join her brother and herself.

 

Other stars of the hit series include Tripathi Anupam who plays Abdul Ali and Wi Ha-joon who plays the character Hwang Jun-ho.

 

Will there be a Squid Game series 2?

Prepare yourself but Netflix are yet to announce whether or not there will be a follow up. 

And with the show's director Hwang Dong-hyuk recently admitting that he was not in a hurry to make a second season, we might be waiting a long time.

Dong-hyuk actually first started writing the series back in 2008.

Speaking to Variety, he said:"I don’t have well developed plans for Squid Game 2.

"It is quite tiring just thinking about it.

"But if I were to do it, I would certainly not do it alone.

"I’d consider using a writers’ room and would want multiple experienced directors."

Squid Game is available to stream on Netflix UK now.