Squid Game season 2 mid-credits scene teased what’s to come in season 3, setting up a thrilling conclusion for the highly anticipated Netflix show.

Since gaining international attention and becoming Netflix’s most-watched series with numerous accolades in 2021, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk finally dropped the sequel to his highly anticipated show on December 26, 2024. And surprisingly, following the same suspense and excitement, the second installment ended on a bigger cliffhanger than the first outing.

A still from Squid Game Season 2 trailer | image: Netflix

Once again, raising people’s expectations for the next and final installment, Squid Game season 2 featured tragic events, nighttime brawls, rebellion, and life-threatening games.

But among all, the one thing that raised curiosity was the mid-credits scene that offered an insight into what’s awaiting fans in season 3, after the tragic events of the season 2 finale. So let’s dive right into it.

Squid Game season 2 mid-credits scene explained 

For people who thought the final faceoff in Squid Game season 1 was stressful, they might wanna skip the recently released sequel, because the Netflix original has upped the stakes in every way possible—adding in more players, bigger personalities, wilder twists, and crazier games. So now, the Season 2 finale has become more intense than anything this series has ever done before.

Teasing all sorts of emotions, from rage to grief, the show ended with Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) staging an uprising before the fourth game, to get the jump on the Masked Men. But while working alongside his best friend Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan), and a group of participants to take out the guards, there begins a shootout between the guards and several players.

The ambush then kills most of the players who fight in Gi-hun’s uprising, leaving out a couple of them, who return to the dormitory for backup. Later on, Gi-hun and Jung-bae face the Front Man who kills the latter and sets the cliffhanger, leaving people to wonder what might become of Gi-hun. Meanwhile, Squid Game season 2’s mid-credits scene suggests the tournament continues.

The brutal scene from Squid Game S2 where Gi-hun’s best friend Jung-bae got killed | image: Netflix

The brief mid-credit scene featured several of the remaining players walking into the area where Red Light Green Light is played. It is seemingly teased that the fourth game they’re playing will be another iteration of Red Light Green Light but with a twist.

While previously there was only Young-hee the motion sensor doll, now she’s accompanied by a new boy doll Cheol-su, making it likely that more players will die this time around.

Further, the mid-credits scene also seemed to confirm that most players voted in favor of continuing the Games since the ones who had voted against it were killed during Gi-hun’s rebellion. Meanwhile, although the tournament continues, no major characters from Squid Game season 2 were seen, apart from Player 096, Player 100, and Player 353. So, there seemed to be no indication of what’s awaiting prominent players in season 3.

What’s awaiting fans in Squid Game season 3?

Now, as the mid-credit scene in season 2 suggested, the deadly game will continue on—three players walking into the game room with the giant murderous doll and her male counterpart awaiting them—Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk explained what Cheol-su’s appearance means, during his interview with EW.

That’s actually a [sneak peek] of Cheol-su, who, like Young-hee, is a new giant doll that we’re going to be showcasing in season 3.

And that’s also a hint at the most exciting game in season 3 as well. So, while it hasn’t been shared yet, I hope everyone will be excited to meet Cheol-su and the new game. 

Lee Jung-jae in a still from Squid Game season 2 | image: Netflix

Further, during another interview with Variety, Hwang Dong-hyuk hinted at what’s to come in season 3. While hoping to launch Season 3 soon, perhaps “around summer or fall” of 2025, Dong-hyuk noted what might become of the show’s hero, Seong Gi-hun. Given that he lost everything in the process, the showrunner teased that season 3 will feature him as a very different man.

As for the storyline of the third season, Gi-hun having lost everything, including his best friend, and all of his attempts going to failure, it’s now, what is he going to be like? What state is Gi-hun going to be in? And what will he choose to do? 

Will he continue on with the mission? Is he going to give up or persist? And so you’re going to meet our character Gi-hun at a very critical crossroads as we begin the third season. Gi-hun will not be the man he was in Season 2.

Seong Gi-hun and Jung-bae in Squid Game S2 | image: Netflix

Meanwhile, speaking with The Wrap, the actor who played the titular role, Lee Jung-jae, expanded on how Jung-bae’s death might impact Gi-hun in Season 3 of Squid Game. Corroborating with what Hwang Dong-hyuk mentioned about Seong Gi-hun, even The Acolyte star noted that his best friend’s death will surely leave him devastated and changed.

It’s a big shock that leaves him devastated. [Gi-hun] believed very strongly that he could end the game together with Jung-bae, but that’s no longer possible anymore. 

So now, based on Hwang Dong-hyuk and Lee Jung-jae’s comments about Seong Gi-hun, followed by the events of the hit Netflix show’s season 2, it seems that while the titular character is broken beyond repair and has lost all morale, he will either return stronger for revenge, or else he will be broken down by the system into becoming as heartless as the guards and The Front Man.

Hwang Dong-hyuk confirmed the Netflix show’s end after season 3

Upon learning about what’s potentially waiting for us in Squid Game season 3, it raised curiosity about whether Hwang Dong-hyuk might be planning on extending the show after its third installment. Well, to answer that, the creator of the hit Netflix series sat for an interview with THR and sadly revealed the reason behind the show’s culmination with season 3.

Explaining that he “naturally” felt like there were simply no more stories to tell about both the deadly Game and Gi-hun, Hwang Dong-hyuk admitted to writing off the show after three gripping seasons. Unwilling to stretch the plot beyond meaning, just to churn in some cash, Dong-hyuk claimed to follow his creative interest and conclude the show where it needed to end.

When I was thinking about the idea for the ending of season three, I think it sort of naturally came to me that this was the finale. 

I believed that with that story, I was able to tell everything that I wanted to tell through the story of Squid Game and also in the perspective of Gi-hun as a character, and I thought that we don’t need any further stories from here. 

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk | image: Netflix Tudum

While it’s bittersweet that Squid Game will conclude with its third season, Hwang Dong-hyuk’s decision to end the series on his own terms reflects his commitment to creative integrity. So now, with the show’s explosive success that has captivated audiences worldwide, fans can take comfort in knowing that the world of Squid Game will close on a meaningful note, offering a sense of resolution for both the plot and its beloved characters.

Squid Game season 1 and 2 are both streaming on Netflix.