Following the release ofSquid Gameseason 2, many readers may be wondering if there are any books that have the same ambiance asthe South Korean thriller series, and fortunately, there are. First released in 2021,Squid Gamefollows a man named Gi-hun who struggles with incredible debtsthat he cannot pay off. Yet, when he learns about a week-long game that could earn him billions of won, he enters without a second doubt. Soon enough, Gi-hun learns that these children’s games are not as easy as they seem, and in fact, could cost him his life.
While it may seem difficult to find books that are similar to TV shows,Squid Gameactually has a premise that is quite popular in novels: trials.Countless pieces of fiction rely on this idea of a set of deadly tasks that characters have to survive to win a big prize. Furthermore, these books are often supported by important ideas about class, race, and prejudice. Despite the fact thatSquid Gamehas cemented its own colorful and dark atmosphere, readers will be happy to know that there are countless novels that have a similar premise and feeling.
10The Grace Year: Kim Liggett
Young Women Are Sent Away In Their 16th Year
A young adult novel that takes a different view onSquid Games’premise isThe Grace Year.Published in 2019,this book follows Tierney James, a young woman who lives in a society where girls are banished in their sixteenth yeardue to their increasing powers of seduction. Hopefully, the girls will lose their magic during their time away - or they will be killed. As Tierney approaches her “Grace Year,” she fears for her life and prepares to fight her very own peers.
At first glance,The Grace Yearmay seem quite different fromSquid Game,but it is these differences that make the recommendation so pivotal. In the same way that the Squid Games antagonize poor people,the society inThe Grace Yearvillainizes young women, making their beauty a demerit against them. On top of that,The Grace Yeardelves into the violence that societal expectations can cause between victims. Thus, it is a strong contender for those who are interested in womens' issues and dystopian societies.
9The Testing: Joelle Charbonneau
Young People Rebuild A Broken Society
Another young adult storythat is more on the sci-fi side of things isThe Testing.The 2013 novel takes place on a planet where a raging war has destroyed just about everything. Now,the most brilliant young minds are being chosen to take a test and become the new leaders of the world. Teenager Cia is excited to take part in the Testing, yet she quickly discovers that everything is not as it seems, and worse, she can trust no one.
The Testingdefinitely has the ambiance of early 2010s dystopian novels, but this nostalgia may be more of a benefit than a detriment. Readers may feel transported back to their younger years withthis straightforward YA dystopiawhich seems to have a very similar twist toSquid Game:a character goes into a big task expecting one thing and gets something entirely different. Despite being for younger audiences,The Testingcan provide the same mystery and corruption asSquid Game.
8#Murdertrending: Gretchen McNeil
A Teen Is Put On A Murderous Reality Show
Something that is truly special aboutSquid Gameis how it balances darkness with wacky comedy. Another story that succeeds at toeing this line is#Murdertrending.In this 2018 book,Dee is a teenage girl who has been wrongfully accused of murdering her step-sister.As a result, she is thrown onto a horrific social media live stream where convicted felons fight to the death in a place called Alcatraz 2.0. Dee must not only save her own life, but prove her innocence.
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It is one thing to be a dark thriller novel, but to include elements of comedy and ridiculous realism is another skill altogether.#Murdertrendingis a great example of a book that has high-stakes, but is also willing to be sillyand self-reflective. LikeSquid Game,this is a strong example of art critiquing life in the most entertaining and thrilling way possible. Plus, as a young adult novel, readers of almost any age can enjoy this piece.
7Red Rising: Pierce Brown
A Poor Young Man Enters A Dangerous Game
It’s no surprise thatSquid Gameis violent, but sometimes, this aggression can be particularly shocking. The same goes for Pierce Brown’s sci-fi novel,Red Rising.Set in a galaxy where the poor are completely oppressed by the rich,a young man attempts to get revenge for his lover’s murder by infiltrating wealthy societyand becoming a top member of their class. Then, with his newfound power, he will take down those who have made him suffer. But first, he must make a name for himself through a series of intense trials.
Although Darrow lives in an intergalactic world and Gi-hun lives in a (mostly) normal one, the two characters fight for the same thing: justice.
Red Risingis a perfect follow-up toSquid Game,even despite their genre differences. Although Darrow lives in an intergalactic world and Gi-hun lives in a (mostly) normal one, the two characters fight for the same thing: justice. Both characters are scrappy, talented, and have a strong sense of morality that is put into question by the situations they are put in.The only thing thatRed Risingreally adds to theSquid Gamestory is a compelling and cutthroat worldof body transformations and Roman-like government.
6Running Man: Stephen King
A Man Enters A Terrible Game To Take Care Of His Family
A story that is a very close parallel toSquid Gameby a renowned author isRunning Man.Published by Stephen King under the alias Richard Bachman in 1982,Running Mancenters on Ben Richards, a man who has no money and must care for his sick baby daughterand his wife. Desperate for cash, Ben decides to risk his life by becoming a contestant in a televised game where players become prey, but win an incredible fortune if they survive.
Clearly,Running ManandSquid Gamehave several parallels. Money is desperately needed, a father and daughter have a strained relationship, and the main character will risk his life for the enjoyment of an audience to get what he needs. Of course,Running Manhas a more Americanized version of theSquid Gamestory, but the two are inextricably linked. Even better,Running Manis being adapted into a 2025 moviestarring Glen Powell. In this way,Squid Gameaudiences should prepare for even more bloody trials.
5The Hunger Games: Suzanne Collins
A Teenage Girl Enters A Fight To The Death
When it comes to books about violent trials, it’s hard to ignore one of themost lauded dystopian worksof all time,The Hunger Games.Originally published in 2008, and developed into blockbuster movies in the 2010s,The Hunger Gamestakes place in a dystopian country where two children from every 12 districts are picked once a year to participate in a televised fight to the death.When Katniss Everdeen’s younger sister is picked, she decides to volunteer in her place, despite knowing that she could very well lose her life.
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The Hunger Gamesis an iconic series for a reason. Collins writes a world that is so deep and so corrupt, and through Katniss' eyes, readers get to compare the horrors of Panem with the very real horrors of our world. In this way, it is just likeSquid Game.Katniss and Gi-hun simply want to survive, and attempt to save as many people as they canalong the way. Though Katniss' trials are far from children’s games, they offer the same sense of tension and unfairness.
4Battle Royale: Koushun Takami
Kids Are Forced To Fight On A Deserted Island
A story with a very similar premise toThe Hunger GamesisBattle Royale.A Japanese novel published in 1999,this book follows a group of junior high school students who are dropped on a deserted island and forced to fight to the deathuntil only one survivor remains. With influences fromLord of the Flies,this story explores the issues of youth and trying to survive in a world that does not want you to succeed.Battle Royalemade waves in Japan, and is definitely an important source when it comes to new stories likeSquid Game.
Battle Royaleis one of the only books on this list that will provide a story that is not completely Americanized. Although anyone from any culture can enjoySquid Game,it is undeniable that the South Korean setting plays a part in its atmosphere. Thus,Battle Royalehas an ambiance that comes ever closer toSquid Game’s.Plus, despite having young people as the main characters,Battle Royalestill pushes on the idea of injustice and an unfair class system.
3Lord Of The Flies: William Golding
Young Boys Are Stranded Without Adult Supervision
Another undeniable classic that has ties toSquid GameisLord of the Flies.This 1954 novel follows an airplane of schoolboys that crash landson a deserted island. At first, the boys are delighted to be away from the eyes of adults, able to do whatever they want. However, as their “society” develops, they begin to run into problems and massive moral dilemmas. The boys begin to understand that the world is far scarier than they ever would have imagined.
Although the characters inSquid Gameare adults, it is easy to see how the society aspect ofLord of the Fliesplays a role.
Although the characters inSquid Gameare adults, it is easy to see how the society aspect ofLord of the Fliesplays a role. When all theSquid Gameplayers come together in their mysterious room, they are suddenly a society that must work together to survive.Squid Gameseason 2 emphasizesthis idea, as Gi-hun tries to save them from death. Yet,it becomes clear that greed and evil push these players apart,creating a society that cares less about community than about self-preservation.
2Alice In Borderland: Haro Aso
A Young Man Is Transported Into A Parallel World Of Games
The next entry is a manga series rather than a novel, but it is too perfect to keep off this list.Alice in Borderlandis a manga that follows Ryohei Arisu, a young man who is sick of his boring life. So, when he is transported to a parallel world full of games, he’s delighted. That is, until he and his friends realize that if they do not play, they will not survive. As evidenced by the title,Alice in Borderlandtakes inspiration from the Lewis Carroll classic,Alice in Wonderland.
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Of all the books on this list,Alice in Borderlandmay be the only one that involves actual games, just likeSquid Game.Ryohei Arisu is not only subjected to trials for his life, but they are literal games that he has no choice but to play if he wants to stay alive. Furthermore,this parallel world feels very much like that ofSquid Game,where terrifying things happen in a strangely colorful placethat is impossible to escape.Alice in Borderlandhas been adapted into a Netflix TV show, and that is also a perfectSquid Gamefollow-up.
1The Most Dangerous Game: Richard Connell
A Man Is Hunted
Finally, there isThe Most Dangerous Gameby Richard Connell. Some might say that this is the original blueprint for stories about deadly games. In this novel,a big-game hunter becomes shipwrecked on an island and finds that he is being hunted by a Russian aristocrat. As a result, he must figure out how to transform his skills for hunting into skills for surviving a hunter.
Because of its publication in 1924,The Most Dangerous Gamelikely reads quite differently from any other book on this list. However, it is worth picking up. This type of story is what inevitably inspires stories likeSquid Game.The visceral fear an unease that permeatesThe Most Dangerous Gameis the feeling that countless stories have continued on for decades. For those who want to get the full dose of survival stories,The Most Dangerous Gameis the thing to read.
Squid Game
Cast
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.
