‘Squid Game’ Season 3 teases deadly finale ahead of June 27 release

The poster for "Squid Game" Season 3 / Courtesy of Netflix

Netflix’s global phenomenon “Squid Game” is set to return for its final chapter on June 27, and anticipation is mounting with a new teaser poster, trailer and stills unveiled Tuesday.

The teaser, shared on Netflix’s official YouTube channel with the tagline “The final game for 45.6 billion won ($33.5 million) begins,” quickly gained traction, racking up over 7 million views within a day of upload.

Season 3 picks up where the story left off, following Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who reenters the brutal game with a personal mission after losing his closest friend during a failed revolt.

Also returning are the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who hides his identity to rejoin the game, and other surviving contestants, whose fates hang in the balance as they face one last round of deadly challenges.

The teaser poster captures Gi-hun standing among pink ribbon–wrapped coffins. The imagery hints at the emotional weight of this season as Gi-hun grapples with the loss of his friend Deok-su (Lee Seo-hwan) and prepares for what may be his final transformation.

A scene from "Squid Game" Season 3 / Courtesy of Netflix

The trailer opens with a scene of Pink Guards carrying a coffin into the dormitory. As they open it, Gi-hun is revealed lying inside, his face bloodied. He slowly opens his eyes, setting the tone for the intense final season.

Scenes show contestants randomly selecting red or blue balls and confronting one another in maze-like arenas, teasing new games and tactics.

Viewers also catch glimpses of characters introduced in the second season, including detective Jun-ho (Wi Ha-jun), still tracking the shadowy game operation, and Pink Guard No-eul (Park Gyu-young), wandering the facility alone for mysterious reasons. A baby’s cry at the end of the trailer raises questions about the fate of pregnant contestant Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri).

Returning players include Min-gi (Im Si-wan), Dae-ho (Kang Ha-neul) and Nam-gyu (Noh Jae-won). In one shot, contestants are seen gathered in a room with a keyhole-shaped doorway and a blade, offering a chilling preview of the new challenges ahead.

Season 3 follows Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) as he returns to the deadly game with a personal mission after a failed revolt. Courtesy of Netflix

Season 3 was filmed back-to-back with the seven-episode Season 2, which premiered just six months ago. The series, which began in 2021, became a global sensation and holds the record for the most-watched Netflix content by hours viewed, with the second season alone logging 488 million hours in its first week.

The show has also garnered critical acclaim. Season 1 received six Emmy Awards, including Best Actor for Lee Jung-jae and Best Director for Hwang Dong-hyuk, while Season 2 won Best Foreign Language Series at the Critics Choice Awards.

This article is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.