3 main reasons behind the immense success of Squid Game

Squid Game didn’t just premiere on Netflix—it became a breakout sensation almost overnight. The show brought in a number of fans from all around the world almost overnight. The series continues to resonate globally, despite its deeply rooted South Korean cultural backdrop.

Squid Game turned into a pop cultural phenomenon no one saw coming. With extremely little promotion and a storyline rooted in South Korean culture, the success of the Netflix show seemed unlikely… until it wasn’t.

So what exactly made the Netflix show such a hit across the world? Its success can be attributed to a compelling mix of relatable themes, strong storytelling, and timely release.

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3 main reasons behind the immense success of Squid Game:

#1. Real struggles, bold storytelling:

What made Squid Game stand out was how effectively it reflected the financial anxieties many still face today.

The show may be fictional, but the need behind the players and the games in it somehow felt all too real. The players weren’t masterminds—they were everyday, normal people. People buried in the utmost debt, holding on to a final chance at survival.

Whether it was a father trying to support his daughter or a worker crushed by layoffs, each character’s backstory spoke to something raw and universal.

What made it hit harder was that the show didn’t dress up these struggles. It presented capitalism’s dirtiest truths and how far people are pushed when they have nothing left to hold on to.

The games weren’t just symbolic—they were brutal, visceral, and disturbingly honest in their portrayal of desperation. And even when the players had the option to walk away and stop the game, many came back—proving how broken real-world systems can drive someone to risk everything for money.

Squid Game poses an unsettling question: how far would someone go when every other door is shut?

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#2. Characters that made you care

It wasn’t just the concept that drew people in. It was the faces, the friendships, and the heartbreak. Squid Game spent time letting fans understand who each character was, what made them tick, what broke them, and ultimately, what they were fighting for.

This meant that when things went south (and they always did), it hit deep. The betrayals weren’t just plot twists—they felt personal.

From the main character Gi-hun's quiet acts of kindness to moments where strangers protected each other, the show built relationships that felt grounded. When these relationships broke—especially during the cruel marble game in Season 1—the impact stayed.

Even in the most violent scenes, the show made sure viewers never forgot the humanity inside each player. That balance between brutal and tender made the show more than just a thriller. It made it unforgettable.

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#3. Social media and pop culture buzz plus a worldwide access

What really put Squid Game into a whole other league was how soon it became a global phenomenon. Once a few people watched it, they couldn’t stop talking about it—and the show was, by that time, all over everyone’s algorithms and feeds.

Memes were uploaded all over social media, character edits were being created, and costumes were inspired almost overnight. It spread like wildfire—not because Netflix put in a lot of money, but because people continuously talked about it.

Language didn’t hold it back either. With dubbing and subtitles in over 30 languages, Netflix made sure the series could reach anyone, anywhere.

Suddenly, Korean entertainment was at the top of Western streaming charts, and people were proudly repeating a title as quirky as Squid Game like it had always been part of their vocabulary.

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Squid Game didn’t follow any rulebook for its international success. It was raw, risky, and most importantly, human. That’s exactly why it worked. Its blend of real-world pain, capitalism, storytelling, and social media buzz made it the show everyone had to see and talk about.

The final season airs on June 27, only on Netflix.

Also read: Squid Game Season 3 teaser hints at a devastating fate for a fan favorite character