10 Best K-Dramas To Watch After Squid Game Season 2

Following the release of Squid Gameseason 2, many viewers may be on the lookout for their next dark, action-packed K-drama, and fortunately, there are plenty of wonderful options out there. Although Squid Game shined a light on K-dramas back in 2021, Korean dramas have long been a beloved genre offering a wide variety of shows. From romances and fantasy to historical epics and sci-fi horror, there is a K-drama for just about anyone. However, for the Squid Game fan, there are a few really great K-dramas that should definitely get added to the watch list.

The best K-dramas to watch after the end of Squid Game season 2 are those that have a similar tone, plot, or themes. Squid Game may seem unique because of its unusual premise of gamblers playing deadly children's games for money, but in actuality, there are other K-dramas out there that also center on dangerous games, class issues, and horrifying violence. It is definitely worth seeing how these shows handle Squid Game's themes differently. On top of that, there are also K-dramas with completely separate storylines from Squid Game, yet they still evoke the same feelings of shock and horror.

10 Extracurricular

A Teenage Boy Is Security For A Prostitution Ring

An easy place to start for those who are new to K-dramas is with 2020's Extracurricular. In this show, a teenage boy named Oh Ji-soo presents like any other high schooler. However, in his personal life, he acts as a security guard for an illegal prostitution ring, under the name Uncle. Ji-soo accepts his life of crime so that he can earn enough money to go to college, yet his secret becomes more difficult to keep once interpersonal relationships start getting in the way.

Clearly, Extracurricular's premise is far from that of Squid Game, but regardless, the shows share some similarities. Based on the logline, it is obvious that Extracurricular is a dark K-drama that is interested in exploring morality and how far people will go for money, just like Squid Game. Furthermore, the show centers on a scrappy protagonist that is heroic, but maybe not completely innocent. Overall, Extracurricular is a great choice for those who enjoyed the creepy conspiracies of Squid Game.

9 Vincenzo

A Mafia Lawyer Fights For Justice In His Hometown

Another K-drama that delves into crime and justice is Vincenzo. This 2021 show centers on Vincenzo, a Korean-Italian lawyer who returns to South Korea when the mafia family that raised him turns against him. Hoping to find some money stashed in Seoul to help his cause, Vincenzo is unexpectedly pulled into a legal fight between a commercial building and its quirky residents. As a result, his quest for survival turns into an opportunity to show off his skills in both law and crime.

Vincenzo earned quite a bit of praise when it first came to Netflix, and for good reason. This is an edgy yet fun series that has a complex narrative and lovable characters. Part of what makes Squid Game so intriguing is the thick web it weaves, combining individual issues with grand conspiracies and warring factions. Vincenzo functions in a very similar way. Audiences will be sucked into Vincenzo's world in no time, and will be eager to see whether he chooses good or evil.

8 My Name

A Young Woman Becomes A Double Agent To Get Revenge

For those who love the violence of Squid Game, a perfect follow-up would be a show called My Name. Released in 2021, this K-drama follows Yoon Ji-woo, a young woman who seeks revenge after the murder of her father. As a result, she teams up with a criminal drug ring, and at the same time, begins working for the police as a mole. Despite her responsibilities to both of these groups, Ji-woo's ultimate goal is to discover what really happened to her father.

My Name is an action-packed and impressive series about family, identity, and right vs wrong.

Squid Game season 2 sees Gi-hun in a much more powerful and skilled role as the leader of a resistance, and My Name has a very similar sentiment. Ji-woo is not a vulnerable victim, but a powerhouse who makes it her mission to get revenge. In this way, she cannot be overly emotional or doubtful. She goes into every situation with strength and determination, and her cause is an easy one to root for. My Name is an action-packed and impressive series about family, identity, and right vs wrong.

7 Kingdom

A Zombie Apocalypse During Korea's Joseon Era

Kingdom - Season 1

TV-MA

History

Release Date: January 25, 2019
Network: Netflix
Series: Kingdom
Episodes: 6

A K-drama that everyone should watch is Kingdom. Set during the Joseon Dynasty in 17th century Korea, this historical K-drama series follows a prince who is thrown into turmoil when a terrifying zombie apocalypse begins to ravage his kingdom. With people dying (and coming back to life), and a political conspiracy slowly coming to light, the prince must do everything he can to secure his place on the throne, and also save the lives of those who are counting on him.

Kingdom has a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Squid Game may not have any zombies, but the threats that Gi-hun faces in Squid Game season 2 are actually quite similar to what Lee Chang faces in Kingdom. Both characters have a sense of impending doom, and feel a responsibility to stop it at all costs. However, not everyone agrees with their methods, and thus, Gi-hun and Lee Chang must navigate warring personalities along with a horrifying situation that could kill everyone. Ultimately, Kingdom is a beloved K-drama, and that alone is a great reason to give it a try.

6 The Silent Sea

Astronauts Uncover The Haunting Truth

The Silent Sea

Episode Number: 8
Season: The Silent Sea - Season 1
Runtime: 48 minutes

Racing against time as the research station falls under destruction, the surviving crew members decide on the fate of the mission — and their own.

A K-drama that is part of the sci-fi genre, but is just as thrilling as Squid Game, is The Silent Sea. The series takes place in the near future, where Earth is suffering from a drought so severe that the planet is nearly inhabitable, and society is taking extreme measures to survive. Because of this, a team of astronauts are sent to the Moon to retrieve a special sample. However, they soon discover that an accident that occurred many years ago may be back to haunt them.

The Silent Sea is a solid follow-up to Squid Gamebecause of its mysteries and dystopian setting. Although Squid Game may feel like it is occurring in our world, there are moments when the series feels incredibly futuristic and strange. The Silent Sea relies on this feeling even more, while also crafting an intriguing story that audiences will be questioning until the very end. Plus, the series includes Gong Yoo, who plays The Salesman in Squid Game.

5 Strangers From Hell

A Man Moves Into A Suspicious Apartment Building

If there's one thing to know about Squid Game, it is that the series knows how to create an interesting character. Another K-drama that has the same effect is Strangers from Hell. Otherwise known as Hell Is Other People, this show follows a young man who moves to Seoul for a new internship, and finds himself staying in an apartment complex called Eden Studio, where he shares a dormitory with a number of unusual people. When his living situation starts to become weirder and weirder, the man must investigate what is really going on.

Strangers from Hell may just be the gory and strange show to satisfy viewers after Squid Game season 2. The show offers up an awesome mystery that is only made more enticing by the unusual characters within it. Though the protagonist may not be thrown into a deadly competition like Gi-hun, his story and the ensemble cast around him are still incredibly entertaining. Strangers From Hell is a true South Korean thriller.

4 All Of Us Are Dead

High Schoolers Are Stuck During A Zombie Outbreak

One of the most popular K-dramas on this list has to be All of Us Are Dead. Streaming on Netflix since 2022, All of Us Are Dead centers on a group of high schoolers who are put in imminent danger when a zombie outbreak starts inside their school. Despite their social hierarchies and personal relationships, the teenagers must band together to try and survive. Yet, escaping may not mean that the danger is really over.

All of Us Are Dead is a riveting and action-packed K-drama that feels very similar to Squid Game. There is the constant risk of death, the interesting group dynamics, and the sense that this zombie apocalypse won't just hurt the students, but has the potential to ruin the entire world if it isn't stopped. Just like Squid Game, All of Us Are Dead showcases how difficult it can be for people to stick together, even in the face of death. Yet, even then, humanity shines through in this wonderful drama series.

3 Hellbound

Demons Come To Deliver Justice

A series that takes good versus evil quite literally is Hellbound. This 2021 series takes place in a world where a mysterious being called "angel," offers up decrees that damn people to hell. In turn, three demons arrive to dole out very public and scary punishments. Because of this horrifying change, a new religious group begins to form, intent on benefiting from society's newfound fears of damnation.

Hellbound definitely leans towards the more fantastical side of things, but that only makes the series a better watch. It isn't often that TV series take on the idea of heaven and hell so fully, yet Hellbound eagerly creates its own universe that has serious consequences and big questions that need answering. Hellbound is a great alternative to Squid Game because it offers another perspective on morality, and shows how greedy and evil some people can be in the face of doom.

2 Sweet Home

A Group Of Neighbors Fend Off Zombies

The final zombie-centric K-drama on this list is one of the best: Sweet Home. With an impressive three seasons under its belt, this series follows Hyun-su, a young man who moves into a rundown apartment complex after the tragic deaths of his family. However, his luck only worsens when a mysterious plague begins turning humans into monsters. Alongside his neighbors, Hyun-su tries to keep himself alive, while also figuring out what this new apocalypse means - and how it may affect him.

There are countless apocalyptic K-dramas out there, but Sweet Home is one of the best. Just like Squid Game, it has a really enjoyable cast full of unique characters who all have their own motivations and beliefs. Furthermore, Hyun-su is a truly lovable main character, and his journey through this apocalypse is compelling. Sweet Home may not have the same premise as Squid Game, but the series emphasizes the same ideas of community and mystery.

1 The 8 Show

Eight People Are Trapped In A Game Show

Finally, the K-drama that is most like Squid Game that viewers must check out is The 8 Show. Premiering in 2024, this series follows eight individuals who become trapped in an eight-story building and must participate in a game show if they want to get out. The longer they stay in the building, the more money they earn.

Clearly, The 8 Show has the strongest ties to Squid Game, at least in terms of story and tone. The series relies on the fact that the characters are part of a competition that they don't truly enjoy, yet the promise of money makes the scenario more complicated. Plus, The 8 Show has the benefit of having a smaller cast, which makes it easier for audiences to become invested in the characters. All in all, The 8 Show is a perfect watch for those looking for something like Squid Game.

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