The global phenomenon Squid Game is gearing up for its highly anticipated third and final season, set to drop on June 27, 2025, on Netflix. As the series prepares to conclude, fans worldwide are buzzing with speculation and excitement, eager to see how the deadly games will finally conclude and if this last chapter can truly outshine its groundbreaking predecessors.

Here’s what’s generating the most hype for the upcoming release:

1. The Final Games: Even More Brutal and Twisted

If you thought the previous rounds were intense, prepare for a new level of psychological and physical torment. The final season promises “deadlier games that test everyone’s resolve,” with hints of terrifying new challenges. Trailers have teased a maze-like game, a gumball machine game that divides players into red and blue teams, and even a twisted version of Red Light, Green Light featuring a second, male doll named Cheol-su.

The show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, has hinted that the final season will be “very brutal, cruel, emotional and depressing,” suggesting the games will push the boundaries of human morality further than ever before.

2. The Final Players: Who Will Survive?

All eyes are on Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung Jae), who returns at his lowest point yet, driven by a desperate mission to dismantle the games. He’s joined by returning players like Jun-hee (Jo Yuri), who is pregnant and fighting for both herself and her child, and other survivors from Season 2, including Yong-sik (Yang Dong Geun) and Geum Ja (Kang Ae Shim), who are tragically on opposing teams in one of the new games. The trailers also suggest that characters who received less screen time in Season 2, like Seon-nyeo, will have expanded roles, adding new dynamics to the dwindling cast of contestants.

3. The Plot Twists: Secrets and Betrayals

Squid Game is renowned for its shocking reveals, and Season 3 is expected to deliver on this front. A major source of tension will be the escalating conflict between Gi-hun and the Front Man (Lee Byung Hun), especially given that Gi-hun remains unaware of the Front Man’s infiltration as Player 001 in Season 2.

The trailer also reveals the Front Man posing as Player 001, adding a chilling layer of deception. Furthermore, Detective Hwang Jun Ho (Wi Ha Joon) is confirmed to return, continuing his investigation into the mysterious island and seemingly inching closer to exposing the operation. His mission, however, is complicated by an internal betrayal within the game’s organization.

4. Younghee Doll’s New Guy: Cheol Su

The iconic “Red Light, Green Light” doll, Younghee, will apparently have a new companion in Season 3: a male doll named Cheol-su. This addition suggests a potential new twist on the classic game or an entirely new game concept altogether. Fans are curious to see how this duo will be incorporated and what new horrors they might oversee with our doll couple.

5. The Feedback of the Viewers: Can it Outshine the Past?

Squid Game has become a global sensation, and the pressure is on for the final season to deliver a satisfying conclusion. While Season 2 garnered mixed reactions, the significant budget allocated to Season 3 and the promise of a more cinematic scope, with international set pieces, signal Netflix’s commitment to ending the series with a bang. The final trailer has already left fans “overwhelmed with anticipation,” further giving immense expectations for the series to deliver an unforgettable finale.

6. Theory Confirmations: Which Fan Predictions Will Come True?

Fan theories have run rampant since the beginning, and some have been partially confirmed by the creators. Discussions around Gi-hun potentially becoming the new Front Man, the identity of the VIPs, and hidden familial connections have been debated at length.

While creator Hwang Dong-hyuk insists the series will remain “unpredictable,” he has admitted that some fan theories are “half-right and half-wrong.” The potential survival of Player 246 (Park Gyeong Seok) and the role of Guard 011 (Kang Noeul) and their fate are also popular theories that we are excited to dig deeper into.

7. New Faces (If There’s Any!)

While the core returning cast is set to drive the narrative, the nature of Squid Game means new players are constantly introduced to face the deadly challenges. New characters, including corrupt politicians, influencers, and disgraced public figures, are expected to play a vital role, further commenting on social inequality and exploitation. While the main cast is largely known, the potential for surprise cameos from A-list actors or even the director himself has been teased.

8. The Ending: Gi Hun’s Ultimate Fate

The most significant anticipation revolves around how Gi-hun’s journey will conclude. Will he succeed in his mission to expose and dismantle the games, or will he succumb to despair and a darker path? Director Hwang Dong-hyuk has stated that the series is ultimately “about Gi-hun’s journey” and the viewers’ desire to know if he will succeed or fail. The final season promises a gripping conclusion, testing viewers’ emotions to the fullest as they witness Gi-hun confronting his destiny and the very nature of human survival.

As June 27 approaches, the excitement for Squid Game Season 3 is getting higher. With the promise of shocking twists, high-stakes games, and the resolution of Gi-hun’s epic struggle, the final chapter is expected to deliver a dramatic and unforgettable end to one of Netflix’s most iconic series, Squid Game.

Photos: Netflix