7 Asian TV Series With Nail-Biting Mind & Death Games To Cure Your Squid Game Withdrawal
From Japanese sci-fi thrillers to South Korean reality shows, these are the best in the genre, according to fans.
The good news for all thriller fans is that the second season of Squid Game is coming to Netflix this year. The bad news is that we still don't know the exact date, so it could be months before Seong Gi-hun's story continues.
If you can't take this drought anymore, we have a solution. Check out other TV projects in the survival/mind game genre. Here are seven recommended by Squid Game fans. Not all of the contestants gamble with their lives, but the thrills and spills are guaranteed.
Kakegurui (2018-2019)
IMDb rating: 6.8/10
Where to stream: Netflix
This live-action drama is based on a popular manga. The action takes place in a private school where students gamble instead of studying. To get to the top of the internal rankings and win money, they must master various games and outwit each other.
The series was followed by several movies, all of which are available on Netflix. There is also an anime based on the same manga.
Gantz (2004)
IMDb rating: 7.2/10
Where to stream: Crunchyroll, Funimation
This is the anime based on the eponymous manga. Its characters are all young people who tragically die and find themselves in a strange room with a mysterious black orb that assigns them to different missions, all with the task of hunting down aliens. The hunters earn points that can help them resurrect later.
If you are not a fan of the anime, there are two live-action movies based on the same manga.
Alice in Borderland (2020-present)
IMDb rating: 7.7/10
Where to stream: Netflix
This is probably the closest thing to Squid Game, but with a sci-fi twist. After witnessing a strange event, a teenager and his friends are transported to a location that looks like abandoned Tokyo in a post-apocalyptic setting. In order to survive, the main characters must engage in bloody games with other people trapped in this eerie place.
The third season is currently in production.
Liar Game (2007-2010)
IMDb rating: 8.0/10
Where to stream: YouTube, Bilibili
The stakes of Liar Game are not life or death for its participants, but a huge cash prize for the winner and unbearable debt for all the losers. The main character is a naive girl who joins the game but can't cope with its cutthroat nature. So she gets help from a genius con artist who helps her turn the tournament to her advantage.
As a bonus, the Japanese show has a South Korean remake that adds some new games.
The Devil's Plan (2023)
IMDb rating: 8.2/10
Where to stream: Netflix
If you've already binged and enjoyed the reality show based on Squid Game, there are a few other similar projects that are sure to get your brain working. The Devil's Plan, for example, gathers twelve contestants, including celebrities and influencers, and puts them through various solo and group matches to see who wins a large cash prize.
The Time Hotel (2023)
IMDb rating: 8.3/10
Where to stream: Viu
Another recent South Korean reality show is already a fan favorite. It follows ten hotel guests as they check in and buy everything they need to live in their rooms for as long as possible. The twist is that instead of money, they use time, and when it runs out, they have to check out. Mind games and crazy twists are guaranteed.
The Genius (2013-2015)
IMDb rating: 9.0/10
Where to stream: Bilibili
If you like tactical maneuvering and strategic thinking, The Genius is your gem. In each of its four seasons, the reality show finds thirteen experts in different fields and pits them against each other in various challenges that require a lot of intelligence.