Netflix’s global megahit Squid Game has returned and left again with Season 3 delivering a final chapter that's as haunting as it is divisive. Released on June 27, 2025, the six-episode conclusion has shot straight to the top of Trends, igniting global conversations, fan theories, and a fair amount of outrage.
If you thought the red suits and deadly games were over, think again. Season 3 takes the already brutal premise to darker, more emotional depths, and fans are not holding back their reactions.
The Return of Seong Gi-hun and His Final Stand
Lee Jung-jae reprises his iconic role as Seong Gi-hun, the everyman-turned-rebel who swore to dismantle the twisted empire behind the games. Season 3 wastes no time pulling him back into the arena. But this time, it's personal. And deadly.
With stakes higher than ever, Gi-hun's journey becomes one of sacrifice, defiance, and ultimately, tragedy. The final episode, dubbed “Sky Squid Game,” ends with Gi-hun sacrificing himself to save a newborn baby contestant Player 222. Yes, a literal infant wins the ₩45.6 billion prize. It’s a choice that’s broken the internet.
The Baby Winner: Bold Twist or Bad CGI?
The image of a digital baby crawling through a maze of death might sound like a parody but it’s real. And fans are split.
Some praise the symbolism, arguing the baby represents innocence in a world corrupted by greed. Others are furious, blasting the CGI as “laughable” and the ending as “emotionally manipulative.” One viral tweet put it bluntly: “Game of Thrones walked so Squid Game Season 3 could run… off a cliff.”
The Front Man's Dark Origin Revealed
While Gi-hun faces his demons, the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) finally gets a backstory. Flashbacks reveal how In-ho went from decorated police officer to masked puppet master. Betrayal, family, and survival twist his morality, offering a chilling portrait of how power corrupts.
This added complexity gives the series more emotional depth but also leaves viewers questioning who, if anyone, can ever truly "win" in the world of Squid Game.
New Faces, Familiar Horrors
Season 3 introduces fresh players: Park Gyu-young, Im Si-wan, and Park Sung-hoon, among others. Each brings new layers to the story, with one notable character - a transgender ex-special forces soldier garnering both praise for representation and criticism for how her arc ends.
Games this season include a terrifying gumball selection, a 360-degree rotating maze, and a new robot doll named Cheol-su - Young-hee’s male counterpart. They’re creative, terrifying, and speak to humanity’s twisted thirst for spectacle.
A Global Ending and Possible Spin-off?
In the final scenes, we're taken far from the battleground to a new potential frontier: Los Angeles. A mysterious recruiter played in a surprise cameo by Cate Blanchett approaches a new player in a luxury hotel. The door is wide open for a spin-off, and fans are already speculating about a possible Western adaptation.
Netflix hasn’t confirmed anything yet, but the appetite is there and the franchise’s reach has never been stronger.
Fan Reactions: Love, Hate, and Everything in Between
With an 81% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, Season 3 is doing well critically. But among fans, the sentiment is more complicated.
Reddit threads are overflowing with analysis, anger, and admiration. TikTok is flooded with reaction videos, some showing tears, others laughter. Instagram memes mock the CGI baby while praising the show’s ambition.
One thing’s clear: Squid Game is still doing what it does best - making people feel something, whether joy, rage, or sorrow.
What Does It All Mean?
At its heart, Squid Game was never just about bloodshed. It was about the systems that drive us to desperation, and what we’re willing to do when survival becomes a competition. Season 3 leans heavily into that message, perhaps too heavily for some viewers.
Is Gi-hun’s sacrifice the ultimate act of heroism or a narrative cop-out? Is the baby winner absurd or a poetic metaphor?
Whatever your take, the conversation is exactly what creator Hwang Dong-hyuk wanted. In his final interview, he said: “The real game is what happens when the show ends.”
Final Verdict:
Love it or loathe it, Squid Game Season 3 is a cultural event that demands to be watched, discussed, and dissected. Whether it's a perfect ending or a messy finale, it cements the series' legacy as one of the most daring and divisive shows of our time.
Stay tuned. This game might be over, but the world of Squid Game might be just beginning.
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