All Squid Game games in order: meaning and origin explained

In “Squid Game“, the most successful NetflixSeries of all time is a series of children’s games that take a dark turn. In this article we explain the Origin and meaning of each game – in the order in which the deadly games appear in “Squid Game”.

1. “Ddakji”: The Recruiter’s Game
   

2. “Red light, green light”: The 1st game from “Squid Game”
   

3. “Dalgona”: The 2nd game from “Squid Game”
   

4. “Tug of War”: The 3rd game from “Squid Game”
   

5. “Marble Game”: The 4th game from “Squid Game”
   

6. “Stepping stone game”: The 5th game from “Squid Game”
   

7. “Squid Game”: The 6th and final game from “Squid Game”
   

“Ddakji”: The Recruiter’s Game

Before protagonist Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) even joins his 455 players from the “Squid Game” tournament, he is recruited at a train station. The game that is played here (not fatal for a change) is called “Ddakji” (or “Ttakji”) and is a traditional Korean game.

The only goal of “Ddakji” is to flip your opponent’s plate by throwing your own plate. In this respect, “Ddakji” is similar to “Pogs”, a game that is played with small discs made of metal or plastic. “Pogs” was particularly popular in the 1990s.

“Ddakji”: interpretation & meaning

In “Squid Game” the recruiter has his own records with him and is of course more experienced than the game-addicted Gi-hun. If one reads the entire “Squid Game” series as a criticism of the permanent capitalist competition, the recruiter here stands for the rich, powerful or otherwise better-off who enjoy an advantage in the constant struggle “by nature”.

“Red light, green light”: The 1st game from “Squid Game”

The 1st and possibly most iconic game from the Netflix series “Squid Game”: “Red light, green light” is also known in Germany as “Ochs am Berg”, “A hare runs across the field”, “Donner, Wetter” , Lightning “, or” room, kitchen, cabinet “known.

In Korea it is called “Mugunghwa kkochi pieotseumnida”. Incidentally, that’s what the creepy, giant robot doll sings too. Translated, this means: “The Mugunghwa flower has blossomed.”

The rules of “red light, green light” are clear: while the robot puppet sings away from the players, they are allowed to move. Anyone who moves afterwards will be shot. Only 201 of the 456 participants in the “Squid Game” are still alive after “Red light, green light”!

“Red light, green light”: interpretation & meaning

From the point of view of the “Squid Game” organizers, “Red Light, Green Light” is the perfect game to start with. Everyone is immediately made clear what will happen to them when they step out of line. The “Squid Game” is about absolute control. The organizers of the game determine the life and death of the participants – and that is what every player understood after “red light, green light”.

“Dalgona”: The 2nd game from “Squid Game”

In the 2nd game from the “Squid Game” tournament, the participants have to break out the pre-cut shape from a “Dalgona biscuit” without damaging it. These caramel sweets are also known as “ppopgi” in Korea and were a popular snack to buy on the street, especially in the 1970s and 1980s.

If the buyer of the sweet street food managed to bite off the middle of the “Dalgona biscuit” without damaging it, Traditionally, he received a second biscuit for free.

“Dalgona”: Interpretation & Meaning

In the “Squid Game” series, the delicate pastries represent the participants’ state of mind, which had become extremely fragile at the time. With your nerves at the end, you have to watch how only 108 out of 187 participants survive the “Dalgona” game.

“Tug of War”: The 3rd game from “Squid Game”

“Tug of war” has immense cultural significance in Korea. There it is called “Juldarigi” and is played especially at festivals in rural areas. Often the western and eastern sides of a village compete against each other in “Juldarigi”. According to tradition, whoever wins should bring in a richer harvest in the corresponding year.

The “tug of war”: interpretation & meaning

In “Squid Game”, “Juldarigi” or “Tug of War” opens up a new dimension in deadly games. Before that, the players competed against the organization (personified by the masked men in red overalls). But now the participants compete against other participants.

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This makes the “Squid Game” tournament even more perfidious. Fractions arise within the participant field and betrayal increases.

“Marble Game”: The 4th game from “Squid Game”

The 4th competition in the Netflix series is played with marbles. The rules and games are varied here, as the “marble game” from “Squid Game” shows.

“Marble games” already existed in civilizations long past such as the Roman Empire. They are among the oldest games known to humans.

The “marble game”: interpretation & meaning

In the “Marble Game” from the “Squid Game” tournament, teams of two are formed. What is particularly nasty about it is that the two players naturally think they are playing together. But in truth, the players themselves choose who wins or loses.

That was already the case with the “Tug of War”, but since the “Marble Game” is about a beloved or at least the fellow player sympathetic figure, the participants are drawn into the brutality of the “Squid Game” tournament even more!

“Stepping stone game”: The 5th game from “Squid Game”

In the “stepping stone game” the 16 remaining participants each have the choice between a plate made of safety glass and one made of normal glass, which will not support their weight.

The “stepping stone game” is the only one from the “Squid Game” series that is not really child’s play. Nevertheless, it is reminiscent of “Heaven and Hell” (also known as “Hopse”, “Häuslhupfa” or “Journey to the moon”).

“Heaven and Hell” is played in schoolyards around the world. Children’s games have existed in India and ancient Rome centuries ago!

The “stepping stone game”: interpretation & meaning

One of the participants in the “stepping stone game” turns out to be a glass expert in the Netflix series. However, when the front man realizes that the game is almost over thanks to his expertise, he dims the lights. Once again it becomes clear that in the “Squid Game” nothing, absolutely nothing, is fair.

“Squid Game”: The 6th and final game from “Squid Game”

“Squid Game” means “Squid Game” and that is exactly what is played last on the Netflix series. The “Squid Game” is a bit like “Catch”, but with more complicated rules. The attacker tries to reach the head of the squid, the defender tries to push it out of the playing field (= the body of the squid).

The “Squid Game” was popular in Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. Many characters from the series are likely to have played it in their childhood.

“Squid Game”: Interpretation & Meaning

“Squid Game” series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk said he chose the “Squid Game” as the final competition (and title of his Netflix series) because it represented the violence inherent in our systems and societies. In other words: In constant competition, the aim is to kick the opponent out of the game (field).

Dem US-Magazin Variety The series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk said verbatim: “I wanted to write a story that is an allegory of modern capitalist society, something that is extreme competition, something like the extreme competition of life.”

Those: Screenrant.