10 Scenes From ‘Squid Game’ That Shocked Everyone

‘Squid Game’ took the world by storm with its brutal take on survival and human desperation. The South Korean series, created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, follows 456 debt-ridden contestants risking their lives for a massive cash prize in deadly children’s games. Its raw intensity and shocking twists hooked millions, making it Netflix’s most-watched series at the time. From betrayal to heartbreak, the show’s scenes hit hard and linger long after the credits roll.

I’ve picked 10 moments from the first season that floored viewers with their emotional weight and jaw-dropping reveals. These scenes showcase the show’s ability to blend suspense, tragedy, and moral dilemmas. Each one left me stunned, and I’m betting they did the same for you. Let’s dive into the moments that made ‘Squid Game’ a global phenomenon.

10. The Tug-of-War Triumph

The tug-of-war game in episode six is a heart-pounding spectacle. Teams pull for their lives, knowing a loss means plummeting to their deaths. Gi-hun’s team, a mix of misfits including the old man Il-nam, faces a stronger group and seems doomed. Their desperate strategy, led by Il-nam’s unexpected wisdom, turns the tide, saving them from a brutal fall. It’s a moment of pure adrenaline, showing how brains can beat brawn.

What hits hard is the stakes. The losing team’s screams as they plunge haunt you. This scene captures the show’s core—survival demands tough choices, and even the weakest can surprise you. It’s a tense, triumphant shock that sets the stage for darker games ahead.

9. Ali’s Heartbreaking Betrayal

Ali, the kind-hearted Pakistani migrant, trusts Sang-woo in the marble game, only to be deceived. In episode six, players pair up, thinking they’re teammates, but the twist reveals they’re competing against each other. Sang-woo tricks Ali into handing over his marbles, sealing his fate. The betrayal stings because Ali’s selflessness made him a fan favorite, and his death feels so unjust.

Watching Ali realize he’s been played is gut-wrenching. Sang-woo’s cold pragmatism clashes with Ali’s trust, showing how the games strip away humanity. This moment shocked me with its raw cruelty, highlighting the moral cost of survival.

8. Sae-byeok’s Tragic End

Sae-byeok, the tough North Korean defector, meets a devastating fate in episode eight. After surviving the glass bridge game, she’s gravely injured but hides her pain. Gi-hun promises to look after her, but Sang-woo kills her in the night to boost his own chances. Her death, with a shard of glass in her throat, is a brutal shock, especially after her quiet strength carried her so far.

This scene hurts because Sae-byeok was fighting for her brother’s future. Her vulnerability in her final moments, confiding in Gi-hun, makes her loss even more crushing. It’s a stark reminder that no one is safe in the games.

7. The Red Light, Green Light Massacre

The first game in episode one, Red Light, Green Light, sets the tone with a bloodbath. Players think it’s a simple childhood game until the giant doll detects movement and triggers executions. Hundreds are gunned down in seconds, their bodies piling up as survivors freeze in terror. The sheer scale of the carnage is staggering, turning an innocent game into a nightmare.

I was floored by how quickly the show revealed its stakes. The contrast between the playful setting and the brutal deaths creates a chilling shock. It’s the moment you realize ‘Squid Game’ isn’t holding back.

6. The Voting Twist

In episode two, players get a chance to vote on ending the games after the first round’s horrors. The vote is tight, and Il-nam’s final decision sways it toward leaving. Players return to their desperate lives, only for most to come back when debt overwhelms them. The twist that they can choose to return shocked me, showing how poverty traps them as much as the games.

This moment is haunting because it reveals the real enemy—desperation. The freedom to leave feels hollow when life outside is just as deadly. It’s a gut-punch that makes you question the system.

5. Gi-hun’s Broken Promise

After winning the games in episode nine, Gi-hun is a broken man, haunted by trauma. He vows to help Sae-byeok’s brother and Sang-woo’s mother but spends a year wallowing in grief instead. His inaction, despite his massive winnings, is shocking because you expect him to act heroically. Instead, he’s paralyzed by guilt and PTSD.

This scene hits hard for its realism. Gi-hun’s struggle shows how trauma lingers, even with wealth. It’s a quiet but powerful moment that makes you ache for his lost humanity.

4. The Dalgona Candy Betrayal

In episode three, players must carve shapes from dalgona candy without breaking them. Sang-woo figures out the game early and picks an easy triangle but lets his friend Gi-hun choose the impossible umbrella. Gi-hun nearly dies, scraping by with a risky lighter trick. Sang-woo’s silent betrayal is a subtle but shocking moment of self-preservation.

This scene sets up Sang-woo’s moral slide. It’s chilling to see him prioritize himself over his lifelong friend so early. The quiet tension of Gi-hun’s struggle makes this betrayal unforgettable.

3. The VIPs’ Global Games

In episode seven, the VIPs—masked elites betting on the players—casually mention that South Korea’s games are just one of many worldwide. This bombshell reveals the games aren’t a local horror but a global operation. The idea that this cruelty spans the world, run by untouchable elites, is a jaw-dropping twist that deepens the show’s dystopian horror.

The VIPs’ callous chatter while watching people die is sickening. This moment shocked me by expanding the scale of the nightmare, making the players’ suffering feel even more hopeless.

2. The Front Man’s Identity

Jun-ho, the detective infiltrating the games, uncovers a stunning truth in episode eight. The Front Man, the masked leader of the operation, is his missing brother, In-ho, a former winner from 2015. This reveal flips the story, raising questions about why In-ho chose to run the games instead of exposing them. It’s a personal and chilling shock.

The betrayal of family adds a layer of tragedy to Jun-ho’s mission. I couldn’t believe In-ho’s transformation, and this moment left me reeling with its emotional weight.

1. Player 001’s True Role

The biggest shock comes in episode nine when Il-nam, the frail old man, reveals he’s the mastermind behind the games. Player 001 isn’t a desperate contestant but a billionaire orchestrating the competition for his own amusement. His bedside confession to Gi-hun, admitting he played for fun, is a gut-wrenching twist that redefines the entire series.

Il-nam’s warm facade crumbles, exposing a cold truth about power and privilege. This reveal shocked me to my core, turning every moment with him upside down. It’s a masterful twist that cements ‘Squid Game’ as a storytelling powerhouse.

Which ‘Squid Game’ scene hit you the hardest, or did I miss a moment that shook you? Drop your thoughts in the comments!