Squid Game shook the world with its bloody games and the unexpected choices made by the characters. The betrayals, such as acts of cruelty and deceit, put everyone's trust and loyalty to the test. The most striking betrayal in Squid Game left both players and spectators emotionally devastated, leaving the players perplexed and shocked.
The cold-blooded murders and self-serving nature of some players sent a powerful message about morality, human nature, and desperation. These are the 9 most brutal Squid Game betrayals that shook us up.
Please note: This article is solely the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.
Here is the list of the 9 most savage Squid Game betrayals that left us shook:
9. Yong-sik betrays his mother

During the vote scene in Season 2, gamers are given an option to either drop out or remain in the games. Park Yong-sik must make the difficult choice to either vote for "remain" or stick with his mother on her plea to leave. His mother begs him to return home, but he chooses to cast a vote in favor of money over family. Then come the tears that write astonishment and disappointment over her face.
This Squid Game betrayal hurts so much since it is not violence but the broken relationship between a parent and a child. It forces viewers to examine how the deadly games damage their bodies and even their hearts. This scene exemplifies how desperation drives families apart and is one of the most tragic Squid Game betrayals.
8. Deok-su instigates a deadly riot

The uprising led by Deok-su was one of the most significant betrayals in Squid Game history. Deok-su takes control after the players realize that the guards cannot stop them at night. He invites others to kill and beat people in the dormitories. He plans to eliminate the weak and seize control of the group. Many players die in the fear and confusion caused by the riot. Deok-su establishes his power using violence to ensure that people follow him. He turns the dorm, originally meant for relaxation, into a combat arena.
These actions are cheating that is not permitted in any official game, exacerbating the problem. Deok-su feels no guilt about the bloodshed. Instead, he thrives on it. This moment reminds viewers that fear and greed can turn people into monsters. His betrayals in Squid Game are some of the bloodiest seen.
7. Captain Park's treachery

Captain Park's actions in Season 2 reveal one of the cleverest Squid Game betrayals. He joins a group of rebels who want to leave the game. Initially, he appears to help fix trackers and escort them back through danger. However, later it turns out that he has been sabotaging the organizers. He shares information, conceals valuable tools, and kills somebody to preserve his secret.
His defection is especially startling given his claim to be a member of the resistance. The group has confidence in him, thinking that he is on their side. On the contrary, he has consistently opposed them. This is not out of fear or self-preservation, but rather a reflection of his coldness and premeditation. Captain Park tricks everybody with his passive face and nice words. His behavior demonstrates that certain Squid Game betrayals are gradual and kill trust internally.
6. Front Man (In-ho) kills Jung-bae in Season 2

At the end of Season 2, Gi-hun organizes a coup and overthrows the Squid Game. The ever-reputable Jung-bae engages him in a battle. The man whom they trust to be Player 001 turns out to be the Front Man, who is secretly staging the game as he operates it behind the scenes. They trust him because they believe that he will help them break into the control room. Then again, he radios guards to stop the uprising.
When Gi-hun has little hope to lose and agrees to give up, the Front Man indifferently kills Jung-bae right in the face of Gi-hun. It is a personal betrayal rather than just an act of violence. The trusted being murders the one person that Gi-hun had to depend on. It kills the hope that Gi-hun had and devastates the crowds. This is a dramatic ending that ensures one of the most remarkable Squid Game betrayals and demonstrates that treason against the people is the worst.
5. Sang-woo pushes the Glassmaker

In "The Glass Bridge" episode, participants have to cross the panels (part of which are made of glass, and the other part is fake). Having a former glassmaker who can identify the safe panels in the team, the group starts depending on him. However, the clock is ticking away, and if nobody completes it, all of them will pass away. Sang-woo pulls the glassmaker to the back before it's time for him to make the next choice because of fear that he will be removed.
He astonishes everybody with this deed. The glassmaker had rescued the others, but he is sacrificed without forewarning. Sang-woo admits that he will go to any length to survive and that he can betray someone just minutes after enlisting their help. This is one of the most calculated Squid Game betrayals. It reminds viewers that the atmosphere of this game is filled with vicious selfishness, even in periods of team interaction.
4. Sang-woo kills Sae-byeok

It is one of the most tragic aspects of the Squid Game betrayals. Sae‑byeok gets brutally injured after the glass bridge game. Sang-woo breaks into her dorm room when she is having a quiet dinner. Gi-hun is busy thinking that the guards would assist her. Sang-woo slits the throat of Sae-byeok instead of crying out for help. He does this not to be unkind, but to prevent her and Gi-hun from demanding a vote to halt the games.
He will be down to two players for a final standoff. This is an instance of backstabbing. Sang-woo completes the act with his icy logic and decides that Sae-byeok is already headed for death. It reveals how desperate human beings can be and make even so-called friends kill. The scene remains one of the most devastating and memorable Squid Game betrayals.
3. Jun-ho was shot by his own brother

For two desperate seasons so far, Detective Jun-ho has been chasing the truth as well as his brother, the Front Man. This is after a tense face-off at the edge of a cliff, where he eventually gets to the man he had been after. Jun-ho baits him and wishes that he could get a savior or some answers. The Front Man takes off his mask and unveils himself to be Jun-ho's brother, In-ho. He asks for forgiveness when Jun-ho refuses to give up. In-ho intentionally shoots him in his shoulder and lets him fall off a cliff.
This is not only treason but also a family shattered into pieces. This betrayal knocks aside both Jun-ho and viewers. In the Squid Game series, fraternal betrayal is one of the most painful acts of deceit, owing to the emotional repercussions.
2. Oh Il-nam reveals himself as the mastermind

Oh Il-nam is an old, kind, and weak man. Gi-hun takes care of him and forms a friendship with him in the games. Gi-hun is saddened after Il-nam dies in the marble round. However, Gi-hun comes to realize the truth at the end of the series: that Il-nam is the mastermind behind the fatal games, even though he disguised himself like a gamer.
This also betrayed the viewers, who had thought Il-nam would be one of the few good characters. He deceived all of them as he watched people die. His actions were just those of a person who had become emotionless due to money and boredom. It is one of the most emotional Squid Game betrayals, as it transforms a well-trusted accomplice into a merciless egoist of misery.
1. Sang-woo betrays Ali

Sang-woo’s betrayal of Ali during the marble game is one of the most painful Squid Game betrayals. The growing alliance between the two men happens early into the contest. Ali is a devoted and kind man, and viewers have even seen him saving Sang-woo. They have to play against each other during the marble game. Sang-woo tricks Ali by giving him a bag of rocks when he asks to be given marbles. He assures them that they will find a method to win, and this he does, leaving Ali to be executed. Ali has no idea about the betrayal till it is too late.
This scene is devastating since Ali thought that they were friends. Sang-woo's choice reveals that a desperate attempt to put things right can result in a terrible betrayal of trust. The audience was speechless by the ruthless and well-planned treachery, which made it the most memorable in the series.
We conclude that these betrayals taught us that Squid Game was not merely about survival in games but about the survival of people. Fans were shocked, friendships were ruined, and loyalty was betrayed. The show's emotional appeal and enduring cultural impact were a result of those times.