Why Is Squid Game Called That? The Meaning Behind Netflix’s Hit Show Title

Squid Game is named after a popular South Korean children’s game that involves strategy, agility, and physical confrontation, reflecting the show’s core themes.

The game is directly linked to the final round of the deadly competition, symbolising the brutal culmination of the series’ events.

Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk drew inspiration from his own childhood memories, making the game and its symbolic role deeply personal.

Hwang described Squid Game as the most “symbolic children’s game” representing the competitive, survivalist nature of modern society.