Following the release ofSquid Gameseason 2, many viewers may be on the lookout for their next dark, action-packed K-drama, and fortunately, there are plenty of wonderful options out there. AlthoughSquid Gameshined a light on K-dramas back in 2021, Korean dramas have long been a beloved genre offering a wide variety of shows. From romances and fantasy to historical epics and sci-fi horror, there is a K-drama for just about anyone. However, for theSquid Gamefan, there area few really great K-dramasthat should definitely get added to the watch list.
The best K-dramas to watch afterthe end ofSquid Gameseason 2are those that have a similar tone, plot, or themes.Squid Gamemay seem unique because of its unusual premise of gamblers playing deadly children’s games for money, but in actuality, there are other K-dramas out there that also center on dangerous games, class issues, and horrifying violence. It is definitely worth seeing how these shows handleSquid Game’sthemes differently. On top of that, there are also K-dramas with completely separate storylines fromSquid Game, yet they still evoke the same feelingsof shock and horror.
Extracurricular
Cast
Extracurricular is a South Korean television series that follows the story of a group of high school students who become embroiled in a world of crime and corruption as they attempt to navigate their way through the pressures of adolescence and the harsh realities of the adult world.
An easy place to start for those who are new to K-dramas is with 2020’sExtracurricular.In this show, a teenage boy named Oh Ji-soo presents like any other high schooler. However,in his personal life, he acts as a security guard for an illegal prostitution ring, under the name Uncle. Ji-soo accepts his life of crime so that he can earn enough money to go to college, yet his secret becomes more difficult to keep once interpersonal relationships start getting in the way.
Clearly,Extracurricular’spremise is far from that ofSquid Game,but regardless, the shows share some similarities. Based on the logline, it is obvious thatExtracurricularisa dark K-dramathat is interested in exploring morality and how far people will go for money, just likeSquid Game.Furthermore, the show centers on a scrappy protagonist that is heroic, but maybe not completely innocent. Overall,Extracurricularis a great choice for those who enjoyed the creepy conspiracies ofSquid Game.
Vincenzo
During a visit to his homeland, a Korean-Italian mafia lawyer gives an unrivaled conglomerate a taste of its own medicine with a side of justice.
Another K-drama that delves into crime and justice isVincenzo.This 2021 show centers onVincenzo, a Korean-Italian lawyer who returns to South Korea when the mafia family that raised him turns against him. Hoping to find some money stashed in Seoul to help his cause, Vincenzo is unexpectedly pulled into a legal fight between a commercial building and its quirky residents. As a result, his quest for survival turns into an opportunity to show off his skills in both law and crime.
Is Vincenzo Season 2 Happening? Everything We Know
Vincenzo is a Korean comedy crime drama centered on the titular mafia consigliere and lawyer, and here’s what to know about Vincenzo season 2.
Vincenzoearned quite a bit of praise when it first came to Netflix, and for good reason. This is an edgy yet fun series that has a complex narrative and lovable characters. Part of what makesSquid Gameso intriguing is the thick web it weaves, combining individual issues with grand conspiracies and warring factions.Vincenzofunctions in a very similar way.Audiences will be sucked into Vincenzo’s world in no time, and will be eager to see whether he chooses good or evil.
My Name
My Name is a South Korean television series starring Han So-hee as Ji-woo, a revenge-driven woman who infiltrates a drug cartel to avenge her father’s death. As she rises through the ranks, Ji-woo must navigate the dangerous underworld of organized crime and confront her own morality.
For those who love the violence ofSquid Game,a perfect follow-up would be a show calledMy Name.Released in 2021,this K-drama follows Yoon Ji-woo, a young woman who seeks revenge after the murder of her father. As a result, she teams up with a criminal drug ring, and at the same time, begins working for the police as a mole. Despite her responsibilities to both of these groups, Ji-woo’s ultimate goal is to discover what really happened to her father.
My Nameis an action-packed and impressive series about family, identity, and right vs wrong.
Squid Gameseason 2 sees Gi-hunin a much more powerful and skilled role as the leader of a resistance, andMy Namehas a very similar sentiment.Ji-woo is not a vulnerable victim, but a powerhousewho makes it her mission to get revenge. In this way, she cannot be overly emotional or doubtful. She goes into every situation with strength and determination, and her cause is an easy one to root for.My Nameis an action-packed and impressive series about family, identity, and right vs wrong.
Kingdom - Season 1
A K-drama that everyone should watch isKingdom.Set during the Joseon Dynasty in 17th century Korea, thishistorical K-drama seriesfollowsa prince who is thrown into turmoil when a terrifying zombie apocalypse begins to ravage his kingdom. With people dying (and coming back to life), and a political conspiracy slowly coming to light, the prince must do everything he can to secure his place on the throne, and also save the lives of those who are counting on him.
Kingdomhas a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Squid Gamemay not have any zombies, but the threats that Gi-hun faces inSquid Gameseason 2 are actually quite similar to what Lee Chang faces inKingdom.Both characters have a sense of impending doom, and feel a responsibility to stop it at all costs. However, not everyone agrees with their methods, and thus,Gi-hun and Lee Chang must navigate warring personalities along with a horrifying situation that could kill everyone. Ultimately,Kingdomis a beloved K-drama, and that alone is a great reason to give it a try.
Astronauts Uncover The Haunting Truth
The Silent Sea
Racing against time as the research station falls under destruction, the surviving crew members decide on the fate of the mission — and their own.
A K-drama that is part of the sci-fi genre, but is just as thrilling asSquid Game,isThe Silent Sea.The series takes place in the near future, where Earth is suffering from a drought so severe that the planet is nearly inhabitable, and society is taking extreme measures to survive. Because of this,a team of astronauts are sent to the Moon to retrieve a special sample. However, they soon discover that an accident that occurred many years ago may be back to haunt them.
The Silent Seais a solid follow-up toSquid Gamebecause of its mysteries and dystopian setting. AlthoughSquid Gamemay feel like it is occurring in our world, there are moments when the series feels incredibly futuristic and strange.The Silent Searelies on this feeling even more, while also crafting an intriguing story that audiences will be questioning until the very end. Plus, the series includesGong Yoo, who plays The Salesman inSquid Game.
Strangers From Hell
Strangers From Hell is a South Korean psychological thriller series directed by Lee Chang-hee. The show follows Yoon Jong-woo, a young man who moves to Seoul for a job and ends up in a sinister, rundown apartment complex. As he encounters strange and unsettling neighbors, he becomes entangled in horrifying events, questioning the reality around him.
If there’s one thing to know aboutSquid Game,it is that the series knows how to create an interesting character. Another K-drama that has the same effect isStrangers from Hell.Otherwise known asHell Is Other People,this show follows a young man who moves to Seoul for a new internship, and finds himself staying in an apartment complexcalled Eden Studio, where he shares a dormitory with a number of unusual people. When his living situation starts to become weirder and weirder, the man must investigate what is really going on.
Squid Game Season 2 Cast & Character Guide
Squid Game season 2 sees the return of several key season 1 characters and also introduces many new additions in brand new supporting roles.
Strangers from Hellmay just be the gory and strange show to satisfy viewersafterSquid Gameseason 2. The show offers up an awesome mystery that is only made more enticing by the unusual characters within it. Though the protagonist may not be thrown into a deadly competition like Gi-hun, his story and the ensemble cast around him are still incredibly entertaining.Strangers From Hellis a true South Korean thriller.
All Of Us Are Dead
All of Us Are Dead is a South Korean series that centers on a high school overrun by a zombie virus outbreak. The students, facing an unprecedented crisis, must navigate survival while combating the threat of becoming part of the undead horde.
One of the most popular K-dramas on this list has to beAll of Us Are Dead.Streaming on Netflix since 2022,All of Us Are Deadcenters on a group of high schoolers who are put in imminent dangerwhen a zombie outbreak starts inside their school. Despite their social hierarchies and personal relationships, the teenagers must band together to try and survive. Yet, escaping may not mean that the danger is really over.
All Of Us Are Dead’s Hambies Explained – All Powers & How They Transform
Netflix’s All of Us Are Dead introduced a new class of zombies that are not exactly the classic undead creatures but are not quite human either.
All of Us Are Deadis a riveting andaction-packed K-dramathat feels very similar toSquid Game.There is the constant risk of death, the interesting group dynamics, and the sense that this zombie apocalypse won’t just hurt the students, but has the potential to ruin the entire world if it isn’t stopped. Just likeSquid Game,All of Us Are Deadshowcases how difficult it can be for people to stick together, even in the face of death. Yet, even then, humanity shines through in this wonderful drama series.
Hellbound
Netflix’s Hellbound is a Korean Drama and Dark Fantasy series that is directed by Yeon Sang-ho and based on his graphic novel, The Hellbound Volume 1. The series takes place in a modern fantastical version of Korea in which strange creatures pick and choose individuals to send to Hell.
A series that takes good versus evil quite literally isHellbound.This 2021 series takes place in a world where a mysterious being called “angel,“offers up decrees that damn people to hell. In turn, three demons arrive to dole out very public and scary punishments. Because of this horrifying change, a new religious group begins to form, intent on benefiting from society’s newfound fears of damnation.
Hellbound’s Resurrections Explained: Why & How They Happened
Hellbound featured several mysteries, including why and how some of the people who were subjected to the demonstration were resurrected.
Hellbounddefinitely leans towards the more fantastical side of things, but that only makes the series a better watch. It isn’t often that TV series take on the idea of heaven and hell so fully, yetHellboundeagerly creates its own universe that has serious consequencesand big questions that need answering.Hellboundis a great alternative toSquid Gamebecause it offers another perspective on morality, and shows how greedy and evil some people can be in the face of doom.
Sweet Home
Sweet Home follows the story of Hyun-soo, a reclusive high school student who moves into the Green Home apartment complex after losing his family. When a mysterious epidemic turns people into monstrous creatures, Hyun-soo and the residents of Green Home must band together to survive, confronting their inner demons and the horrifying threats outside.
The finalzombie-centric K-dramaon this list is one of the best:Sweet Home.With an impressive three seasons under its belt, this series follows Hyun-su, a young man who moves into a rundown apartment complex after the tragic deaths of his family. However, his luck only worsens when a mysterious plague begins turning humans into monsters. Alongside his neighbors,Hyun-su tries to keep himself alive, while also figuring out what this new apocalypse means- and how it may affect him.
There are countless apocalyptic K-dramas out there, butSweet Homeis one of the best. Just likeSquid Game,it has a really enjoyable cast full of unique characters who all have their own motivations and beliefs. Furthermore, Hyun-su is a truly lovable main character, and his journey through this apocalypse is compelling.Sweet Homemay not have the same premise asSquid Game,but the series emphasizes the same ideasof community and mystery.
The 8 Show
“The 8 Show” is an upcoming South Korean thriller and dark comedy television series set to release on Netflix in 2024. Written and directed by Han Jae-rim, the series stars Ryu Jun-yeol, Chun Woo-hee, Park Jeong-min, and other notable actors. It is based on the popular Naver webtoons “Money Game” and “Pie Game” by Bae Jin-soo.
Finally, the K-drama that is most likeSquid Gamethat viewers must check out isThe 8 Show.Premiering in 2024,this series follows eight individuals who become trapped in an eight-story buildingand must participate in a game show if they want to get out. The longer they stay in the building, the more money they earn.
Clearly,The 8 Showhas the strongest ties toSquid Game,at least in terms of story and tone. The series relies on the fact that the characters are part of a competition that they don’t truly enjoy, yet the promise of money makes the scenario more complicated. Plus,The 8 Showhas the benefit of having a smaller cast, which makes it easier for audiences to become invested in the characters. All in all,The 8 Showis a perfect watch for those looking for something likeSquid Game.
Squid Game
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
