5 iconic childhood games that could be perfect for an American Squid Game spinoff

It’s been nearly four years since Netflix’s Squid Game first shocked the world in 2021, and conversations around its U.S. adaptation or an American Squid Game Spinoff continue to pop up now and then. With the recent release of Squid Game: The Challenge and ongoing speculation about an American adaptation, the idea of integrating uniquely American childhood games into a high-stakes survival drama seems more likely than ever.

While the original South Korean series used games like Red Light, Green Light, and Ddakji, rooted in local nostalgia, any American reinterpretation would need its cultural touchstones. So, what games could cut? Which classic playground activities are simple, competitive, and carry just the right amount of suspense or chaos?

Here are five iconic children’s games from the U.S. that could be adapted perfectly for an American Squid Game spinoff without losing the emotional punch or edge-of-your-seat drama.

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1. Freeze Tag

At first glance, Freeze Tag might seem a little too harmless for a high-stakes adaptation. But consider the dynamics, constant movement, a single mistake leading to immobilization, and strategic cooperation to “unfreeze” teammates. If reimagined for an American Squid Game spinoff, Freeze Tag could turn into a brutal test of endurance and team loyalty.

Imagine a sprawling maze-like arena, where players must avoid capture by one “tagger” wearing heat sensors or motion detectors. Once caught, participants are locked in place unless a teammate risks their safety to unfreeze them. The tension lies in deciding when to help and when to survive solo. It’s easy to see how this innocent game could transform into something far more psychological and dangerous on-screen.

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2. Musical Chairs

A staple of school functions and birthday parties, Musical Chairs offers an inherently competitive framework. With each round, one less chair, one more eliminated player. The music builds anticipation, and the scramble for a seat mirrors real-life scenarios of scarcity and self-preservation.

In an American Squid Game spinoff, this game could be intensified by introducing timed explosives or pressure sensors to the unclaimed chairs. Contestants might have to choose between securing a chair quickly or analyzing which one is safe.

The unpredictability of the music stopping and the speed of the grab could mirror the randomness of fate, just as Squid Game originally conveyed. Plus, there’s a certain irony in taking something as whimsical as Musical Chairs and twisting it into a deadly countdown, which fits the tone of the franchise well.

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3. Dodgeball

This gym class favorite is already physically intense and emotionally charged. Whether played in teams or individually, Dodgeball requires strategy, timing, and agility, all qualities that could raise the stakes in a survival game scenario.

If adapted into an American Squid Game spinoff, the dodgeballs could be rigged with paint bombs, sensors, or even stun devices. Missing a catch or getting hit could mean instant elimination or physical disorientation.

A “last one standing” format, maybe on an elevated or shifting platform, would add a layer of risk. What’s particularly fitting about Dodgeball is its social dynamic. Players often gang up on threats or isolate weaker contestants. It’s a natural metaphor for alliance-building, betrayal, and groupthink, all recurring themes in any Squid Game narrative.

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4. Simon Says

"Simon Says" is deceptively simple. The commands are clear, but the moment you follow one without the magic phrase, you’re out. It’s a test of listening, focus, and pressure management. And it thrives on misdirection.

This game, if adapted into an American Squid Game spinoff, could work brilliantly with a high-tech twist. Imagine a digital “Simon” giving commands at faster speeds or in distorted voices. Wrong moves could trigger traps, electric floors, or other consequences.

The real suspense lies in the increasing speed and intensity. Moreover, “Simon” could become a character in itself, a faceless voice manipulating contestants, much like the Front Man in the original. It’s a perfect mix of innocence and paranoia.

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5. Capture the Flag

This one leans more toward strategic warfare than schoolyard fun. Traditionally played in teams, Capture the Flag is about stealth, territory control, and speed. Each side guards a flag while trying to retrieve the opponent’s.

For an American Squid Game spinoff, this could become a multi-level challenge with a time limit, surveillance cameras, and sabotage options. Players might need to decode clues, avoid traps, or cross dangerous terrain to reach the opposing base.

Penalties for being caught could vary, temporary disqualification, resource loss, or worse. Capture the Flag's appeal is its inherent balance between teamwork and solo heroics. Do you protect the flag or go for the steal? It's this kind of choice that fuels compelling character arcs in any high-stakes narrative.

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Why These Games Work for a U.S. Adaptation of American Squid Game Spinoff?

When you view children’s games through the lens of an American Squid Game Spinoff, three factors become clear:

• Simplicity: Rules must be instantly graspable, with no long explanations under pressure.
• Tension & moral stakes: Each play must allow for mind games, fear, and moments of crisis.
• Cultural resonance: The games should evoke nostalgia while feeling distinctly American.

Games like Freeze Tag, Musical Chairs, Dodgeball, Simon Says, and Capture the Flag tick all these boxes. They’re familiar from schoolyards and summer camps, yet when reimagined in a pressure‑cooker format; an American Squid Game Spinoff can reveal much darker possibilities, leveraging collective memory to heighten suspense.

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What's Next?

Although Netflix hasn’t confirmed any official plans for an American Squid Game Spinoff as of July 2025, ongoing interest in localized formats like India, Mexico, and Brazil keeps speculation alive. American audiences know competitive shows like Survivor and The Challenge, but a scripted version leaning on childhood games would feel distinct. If a U.S. version materializes, these familiar pastimes, rooted in nostalgia and cultural context, could easily fit.

The key challenge: balancing fond memories with genuine dread. Whether dodging rubber balls or racing for the last chair, these games tap universal emotions, fear of losing, desire to win, and instinct to survive, and so are ideal for an American Squid Game Spinoff.

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As discussions about an American Squid Game Spinoff gain momentum, the focus shifts to identifying childhood games that balance nostalgia with suspense. These games, like Freeze Tag, Musical Chairs, Dodgeball, Simon Says, and Capture the Flag, offer clear, intuitive rules while inviting strategies, alliances, and moral dilemmas.

Embedded in schoolyards and camps nationwide; they resonate culturally yet transform under pressure, revealing deeper psychological stakes. Like in the original Squid Game, childhood memories become unsettling when twisted into life-or-death scenarios. In skilled hands, an American Squid Game Spinoff built around these familiar games can echo the original’s haunting blend of playfulness and brutality.