10 Series like Squid Game and Alice in Borderland

This fall, Netflix Movie “The Squid Game and Alice in Borderland” has collected a lot of hype and it is not surprising that viewers are interested in series with a similar theme. Watching how survival games go is insanely interesting, and this genre is not deprived of attention – you can choose a story for every taste.

We have prepared a list that contains TV shows similar to “The Squid Game”. Similar plots are found among oriental dramas, anime, and numerous western projects. There are both exciting thrillers and conceptually close works that reveal the cruel problems of modern society.

Here are the Series like Squid Game and Alice in Borderland

Panic

• Kinopoisk: 6.2
• IMDB: 6.5

In fact, the Korean hit, even in 2021, was not the first reflection on the subject of survival games – back in May, the Amazon Prime platform introduced Panic. The action takes place in a rural wilderness, where vegetating is torture, and young people have only one way out – to participate in an illegal game, where the winner receives a lot of money and a ticket to a bright life, and the rest of the participants are destined for death. “Panic” did not receive a hype comparable to its Korean counterpart, but if you are looking for a story with a similar plot, you can check it out.

Curfew

• Kinopoisk: 6.1
• IMDB: 6.1

The top series would not be complete without this British thrash, in the best sense of the word. The story is simply stuffed with cliches – a virus is rampant in the world that turns people into zombie vampires, the only defense against it is the observance of a strict curfew at night. Those who like such restrictions are invited to participate in a deadly street race, the winner of which receives a ticket to an Island free from monsters and government oppression. Horror here alternates with frankly comedic moments, there are many cool actors (Sean Bean, Billy Zane), so it’s just right as a relaxation for the brain.

Quest

• Kinopoisk: 7.7
• IMDB: 6.0

A Russian TV series, which, in terms of plot twist, can give odds to most of the representatives of the list. An ordinary party in a club turns into a nightmare – all those present are poisoned by an unknown poison, most of them died on the spot, but the group of “lucky ones” was lucky – they have to go through a series of trials, and the most successful ones will save their lives as a reward. The action of the series takes place in Riga, the heroes need to solve riddles from the past of Jacob Bruce, assistant to Peter l, who had a mystical reputation as a freemason and warlock, and also to understand what kind of puppeteer is behind this deadly quest.

Most Dangerous Game

• Kinopoisk: 6.7
• IMDB: 6.9

The list of series similar to “The Squid Game” continues with an extremely original project – seven-minute episodes, starring Oscar-winning Christoph Waltz and Liam Hemsworth. The idea is not new – a young businessman is in a deplorable financial situation, and then a fatal disease also falls on him. But suddenly this opens up opportunities – a man gets a chance to participate in the hunt for a man, where he himself is destined to become a target. Within 24 hours they will try to kill him, and every second of this deadly race will be well paid and will ensure the future of his family.

Survival Game

• Movie search: 7.6
• IMDB: 7.3

If you don’t know what series similar to The Squid Game to watch, check out The Survival Game. This is a good Russian project from TNT, high-budget and with the participation of many popular actors. A group of people were sent to Taiga to film a reality show, where they have to get to a given point without food and communication, demonstrating survival skills. But very soon the situation gets out of control and you have to survive not at the level of searching for food, but in an adult way – the unknown begin to hunt the heroes, then you yourself would not become someone’s food. All filmed without censorship, so strictly 18+.

Kaiji

• Kinopoisk: 8.0
• IMDB: 8.3

An analogue of the series “The Squid Game” from the world of anime, which was clearly watched and sometimes even copied by the Netflix team. Here the plot similarities reach their climax – the main character is the same loafer who spends his life gambling, like the characters of the Korean hit. Caught in a situation where the weight of an exorbitant debt hangs around his neck, Kaiji Ito goes to the Ship of Hope, where he has a chance to win back, but as a bet he will have to mortgage his own freedom. Here, one round of rock-paper-scissors can last half the time of the series, but the script is written so dynamically that many cult thrillers will envy the tension.

Alice in the Borderland

• Kinopoisk: 7.3
• IMDB: 7.7

Dramas like “The Squid Game” are filmed not only in Korea. The Japanese “Alice in the Borderland” tells the story of a trinity of young people from Tokyo. Their life is a pitiful sight – a gambler, a truant and an unemployed person, fate does not bode well for them. But suddenly friends find themselves in a completely unfamiliar, deserted version of the capital, which is divided into gaming arenas. The news is as follows – now they are participants in a game where a handful of people must beat out the right to save their lives in mortal combat. The main theme of the series is the struggle of minds: to solve the problem of logic and ingenuity. In general, a very close story, in some places even deeper and more interesting than the notorious Kalmar.

Insomnia

• Movie search: 7.8
• IMDB: 7.0

This Russian series went almost unnoticed, but now it is clear that he was simply ahead of his time. Influential oligarchs while away their time gambling, but winnings at the casino no longer insert them, the rich need something stronger. And this is something – a sweepstakes that takes place once a year, where fantastic amounts are played, and you can only bet on people. Participants also have to make a bet – their lives. Out of ten people, only the last one who does not fall asleep will be left with money, the rest will be spent. Little-known faces in the cast should not be embarrassing – Insomnia was filmed in an original way, and there really is something to think about here.

The Liar Game

• Kinopoisk: 8.1
• IMDB: 8.0

If you are looking for a Korean series similar to The Squid Game, this is it. The Liar Game came out long before the Netflix hit, back in 2014. The plot is not trivial – the girl receives a strange box, which contains a million dollars and an invitation to play an unfamiliar game. Actually, it has already begun, and you can only leave the game by returning a million in a month, and the winner will be the one who takes money from other players with the help of cunning and deceit. Unlike “Squid”, there is no mountain of corpses and bloody scenes, but the series has an excellent picture, a lot of dynamics and not a single cardboard character – it looks very cheerful.

Black Mirror

• Movie search: 8.5
• IMDB: 8.8

Close not in form, but in spirit series. After all, “Squid Game and Alice in Borderland” are first and foremost a story about the shortcomings of modern society, and only then a show about games with a fatal outcome. Black Mirror also takes social imperfections and dissects them thoughtfully. Each episode is a new story that invites the viewer to think about social rating, or about the impact of technology on our lives, and reminds us that not all actions of a modern person are reasonable. This is a complex and multi-layered project that plays in different genres: from science fiction to black satire. A must-see for everyone who wants to get food for thought while watching the series.

That’s all. Write your opinion on what to see after the Squid Game and Alice in Borderland, maybe we forgot something worthwhile?