Hey, King! Now is the perfect time to unwind and enjoy some thrilling shows! Many King students have binge-watched season two of the record-breaking Netflix series Squid Game. If the reader of this article is someone who loved this series, here are some other show recommendations worth adding to your watchlist:

All of Us Are Dead (2022): Starting strong with a high school zombie survival drama, which blew up the internet since its premiere on January 28, 2022, All of Us Are Dead left its viewers eagerly waiting for a second season. This series will undoubtedly give absolute thrills to its viewers every single episode. The ending of each episode hooks the audience in such a way that it is difficult to resist binge-watching one after the other. The story revolves around a group of high school students who find themselves in a sudden zombie outbreak and their fight for survival. Themes of friendship, love, bravery, loss, grief, and hope add depth to the characters, making viewers emotionally attached to them and rooting for their survival. Viewers experience a wide range of emotions throughout the series, making it an extremely captivating watch. This is a perfect show for anyone who prefers to watch dramas in a high school setting but still wants to enjoy bloodcurdling action sequences.

Sweet Home (2020): Sweet Home permits viewers to traverse to a world where monsters and humans are both real. A teen who lost his entire family moves alone, only to face strange occurrences of fellow apartment residents turning into monsters. These monsters all have one thing in common—they reflect their deepest inner desires after transformation. 

The story follows Cha Hyun-su, the main protagonist, along with the other residents, as they embark on their journey of surviving this monster apocalypse. This show is particularly unique because of its psychological element attached to the supernatural plot of the story; the characters face circumstances where they must overcome different fears. The plot also explores human nature and psychological processes in times of extreme stress and danger, often bringing humanity into question. The visuals are incredibly thrilling, with scenes full of action and brutal monstrous effects on the monster humans, keeping the viewers hooked with anticipation. All that being said, this show is certainly an excellent choice for anyone who wants to relive survival sequences with a supernatural touch. 

Alice in Borderland (2020): After watching a show like Squid Game, it stands to reason that someone would crave similar content, but nothing else seems to scratch that same itch—nothing but Alice in Borderland, that is. Both shows have a similar concept; people’s lives are at stake and hinge on how well they can play children’s games; an overall great time.

But the real charm in this show lies in its characters: personable, dynamic, and absolutely will have any viewer sobbing over them after growing emotionally attached in two episodes – once again, like Squid Game. Although this is a recommendation based on its similarities to the wildly successful aforementioned show, watching Alice in Borderland will still be a new experience and can immerse anyone in its own unique differences and plot twists it has to bring to the table. This is a show one will want to squeeze in before a meal, though—the scenes can be pretty brutal.

Night Has Come (2023): Following the survival theme going on here, Night Has Come is yet another K-drama in which unsuspecting youths are thrust into a situation where they are pitted against each other to commit murder, yet must somehow make allies to escape and destroy the system of the game that has been set up. One notable thing about this show is that there is more to the games than meets the eye—there is an aspect of mystery with how the students have to uncover the mafia among them, but beyond that, the purpose of the games and some discrepancies that appear along the way. For those who like to watch and take apart mysteries while still trying to retain the aspects of heartwarming connections built in despair and surviving amidst merciless bloodshed, Night Has Come will be able to completely cater to those tastes.

Gyeongseong Creature (2023): Centering around a chilling case of disappearances in 1945 colonized Korea, this is a show that strays a bit from the vibe of “death games” that the previous two had going on, but not any less entertaining. For people who once again, enjoy the thrill of mysteries as they watch all the different pieces come together while attempting to decode the clues left throughout the series, Gyeongseong Creature is a plot-heavy show with heartfelt themes that can leave anyone feeling a bit existential and pondering on human greed.

While all these recommendations are not the kind of shows someone would enjoy watching while snacking or right before bed, enjoyers of Squid Game are encouraged to give these a shot while waiting on the highly anticipated release of Season 3 after cruelly leaving off on a cliffhanger. 

Though readers are encouraged to take these recommendations with a grain of salt, still keep an open mind and remember not to judge a book by its cover—people can find hidden gems where they least expect to. Happy watching King, and do not stream illegally where people can see!