'Squid Game' season 3: Everything to know

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Credit: Netflix

It may be hard to believe after all this time, but the "Squid Game" saga is officially over.

The first season of the South Korean series shattered records to become the most-watched series in Netflix history. Though creator Hwang Dong-hyuk never envisioned the show lasting beyond its initial nine episodes, the massive global success of its first season meant that future installments were all but inevitable.

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Then "Squid Game" season 2 continued that winning streak. It assumed the No. 1 spot on the streamer's Top 10 list shortly after premiering on Dec. 26, continuing its reputation as one of the best Netflix shows out there. But it left off on a serious cliffhanger, with fans hungry for resolution.

After the viewers caught up with Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) and the rest of the competitors in the show's second installment, their sights immediately shifted to season 3 to see how all of the dystopian drama finally played out. Given that seasons 2 and 3 were written and filmed back-to-back, the wait for the grand finale was graciously way shorter than the three-year hiatus between the first "Squid Game" season and the second.

Here's everything to know about "Squid Game" season 3.

When was the 'Squid Game' season 3 released?

Credit: Netflix

"Squid Game" season 3 premiered on Netflix on June 27, 2025, as the streamer officially announced earlier this January. There was six episodes total, down from the seven-episode second season.

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Previously, a promo clip was posted seemingly accidentally, as Netflix quickly removed the video, but not before fans could screenshot the leaked date and share it widely on social media. Then came the official rollout, which generated plenty of buzz – and seeing as how the final chapter of the massively popular series was a doozy of a conclusion, the buzz was warranted.

As for closing out the "Squid Game" story, creator Hwang wrote of season 3: “I am thrilled to see the seed that was planted in creating a new Squid Game grow and bear fruit through the end of this story. We’ll do our best to make sure we bring you yet another thrill ride.”

Was there a 'Squid Game' season 3 trailer?

Yes, the official trailer for the third and final installment of "Squid Game" debuted on Sunday, June 1 at the big Netflix Tudum 2025 event — check it out below:

Who is in the 'Squid Game' season 3 cast?

Credit: Netflix

Leading the "Squid Game" season 3 yet again was breakout star Lee Jung-jae — who earned a Primetime Emmy for the series — returning as protagonist Seong Gi-hun, who reentered the lethal competition in season 2 to take down the corruption from the inside.

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Speaking of corruption, Lee Byung-hun was also back as the sinister leader of the Game, known as the Front Man. Wi Ha-joon also returned as undercover police officer Hwang Jun-ho.

Joining them was fellow returning cast members including Kang Ha-neul (as Dae-ho), Lee Jin-wook (as Gyeong-seok), Park Gyu-young (as No-eul), Park Sung-hoon (as Hyun-ju), Yang Dong-geun (as Yong-sik), Jo Yu-ri (as Jun-hee) and Kang Ae-shim (as Jang Geum-ja).

What was 'Squid Game' season 3 about?

Credit: No Ju-han/Netflix

Previously, Dong-hyuk told Variety that Gi-hun would be at a very "critical crossroads" in the third installment following his rebellious actions.

According to Netflix, the third season would "explore the choices Gi-hun will make amidst overwhelming despair". The Front Man was looking to make his next move, all the while all of the rest of the players to have survived the games found themselves dealing with newer and deadlier consequences as each round of the games go on.

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Season 3 picked up right where that dramatic season 2 finale ended, which saw Gi-hun trying to stage a coup against the Pink Guards but having his efforts squashed after a betrayal by Player 001 and The Front Man.

"As for the storyline of the third season, Gi-hun having lost everything, including his best friend, and all of his attempts going to failure, it’s now, what is he going to be like? What state is Gi-hun going to be in? And what will he choose to do? Will he continue on with the mission? Is he going to give up or persist?," the series director, writer and executive producer told the outlet.

"And so you’re going to meet our character Gi-hun at a very critical crossroads as we begin the third season," Dong-hyuk added. "Gi-hun will not be the man he was in Season 2."

Dong-hyuk also teased that writing the show's second season changed the ending of the entire show. Speaking to IndieWire, he said: "I wrote seasons 2 and 3 at the same time... and along the storyline, there is a turning point that takes place, and that leads to a series of different events, and also leads to a significant change in the character".

“Relatively speaking, the ending for season 2 came to me quite early on. However, the ending to season 3, actually ended up [in] a different direction than what I had initially conceived of. While I was working on the story and working on the script, I saw this new path that I wanted to go down, and so the ending of season 3 actually changed in the process of creating season 2", he added.