If you’re here, you probably already know what the show is about. But just in case you need some convincing, here’s a brief summary: Squid Game revolves around a contest in which 456 players — who are deep in financial debt — are offered an opportunity to win 45.6 billion won (about $38 million dollars). They just have to play and win six children’s games like Green Light, Red Light or tug-of-war. But these are deadly versions of the games, and when you break the rules or lose, you get shot. Squid Game is as thrilling as it sounds. If you — like me — can’t get it out of your head, you’re in the right place. Because there are many books that have the same vibes! I think there are two types of books like Squid Game. First, there are those that revolve around surviving lethal games. Second, there are the suspenseful, exciting, and anxiety-inducing thrillers set in South Korea. So without further ado, here are ten books like Squid Game!
Books Like Squid Game About Survival
Thrillers Like Squid Game Set in South Korea
These books aren’t exactly thematically similar to Squid Game. But the show is a part-thriller set in South Korea that’s heavily influenced by its culture. This books are like that — and they have the same dark, gritty, brutal, and anxiety-inducing vibes. Which is why I think they’re perfect for this list! Plus, all of these books are written by Korean authors in translation. For more books set in Korea, you can check out our list of best Korean fiction in translation. On the other side, we have Ki-jeong. One day, she receives a phone call saying that her younger half-sister is dead. Her death was also ruled a suicide — but this doesn’t satisfy Ki-jeong either. So she goes to her sister’s university campus to find out what really happened. One of her biggest clues is her sister’s cell-phone, which has Se-oh in the call log…
