The final season of Netflix’s hit show Squid Game has made history by becoming the number one series in 93 countries within just one day of its release. According to FlixPatrol, a global streaming ranking site, Squid Game 3 claimed the top spot in every country tracked by the platform, surpassing even its previous seasons.
The show, which premiered on June 27, 2025, continues the story of Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) as he faces deadly games once again. This season, with only six episodes, focuses on his final battle against the mysterious Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). Fans worldwide have been eagerly waiting for this conclusion, and the immediate success proves its massive global appeal.
Squid Game’s Unmatched Popularity On Netflix
Squid Game has been Netflix’s most-watched series since its first season in 2021. The show’s unique mix of survival drama and social commentary made it a global phenomenon.
- Season 1 holds the record for the most-watched Netflix series ever, with 265.2 million views and 2.2 billion hours watched in its first 28 days.
- Season 2, released in late 2024, reached 192.6 million views and 1.38 billion hours, ranking as the second most-watched non-English show on Netflix.
- Season 3 has now outperformed both, dominating 93 countries on its first day, one more than Season 2’s 92-country record.
Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos once said:
“The fact that Squid Game became such a global sensation was completely unpredictable. The Korean team knew it would be big in Korea, but local hits often have the best chance of traveling globally because they are very, very good.”
Mixed Reactions From Critics And Fans
While fans celebrated the return of Squid Game, critics had different opinions.
- Time Magazine praised the final season, saying:
“Director Hwang Dong-hyuk took the lead again, and in the final season, he showed his natural brutal charm and gave an intense shot.”
- The Guardian, however, criticized it:
“If Season 2 and Season 3 had been combined, it would have been a much stronger season. The cruelty got worse, the violence continued like constant torture, and the satire felt in the early season gradually disappeared.”
Despite mixed reviews, the show’s popularity remains unmatched. Netflix’s data shows that 85% of its global users have watched Korean content, with Squid Game leading the trend.
The End Of Gi-Hun’s Journey And A Possible Spinoff
Squid Game 3 marks the end of Gi-hun’s story, as confirmed by creator Hwang Dong-hyuk. The final season sees the character making a heartbreaking sacrifice to save another player’s baby, ending his fight against the deadly games.
However, Hwang hinted at a possible spinoff set between Season 1 and Season 2, exploring the recruiters and masked guards’ lives outside the game arena.
“If I were to do a spinoff someday, I think I would rather choose to go back and see what happened during that time gap. But this is something we are just tossing around, so it’s still up in the air.”
Netflix has not officially confirmed a spinoff yet, but the final scene of Season 3 teased a potential American version with a female recruiter, played by Cate Blanchett.
Squid Game’s Impact On Korean Content
The success of Squid Game has boosted global interest in Korean shows. Netflix has invested $2.5 billion in Korean content over four years, leading to hits like The Glory, Physical: 100, and Single’s Inferno.
Also Read: Squid Game Season 3: Player 333’s Shocking Betrayal and Why Fans Hate Him
Korean dramas now generate 7.7 billion viewing hours on Netflix, second only to U.S. content. With Squid Game ending, the streaming giant is looking for the next big Korean hit to continue this trend.
Credits: Sources include Time Magazine, and Netflix official statements.
