Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Morbid dystopia-inspired game has violence, cursing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Squid Game: The Challenge
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 11 kid reviews
Kids say the show is a mixed bag, with some viewers appreciating its entertainment value and set design while others criticize it for not living up to the suspense and themes of the original. Many believe it's suitable for older kids, citing minimal real danger, yet some find it overly dramatic and lacking in depth, making it feel boring and drawn out.
- entertainment value
- lack of suspense
- suitable for older kids
- overly dramatic
- repetitive content
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Inspired by the popular Korean dystopian TV series Squid Game, SQUID GAME: THE CHALLENGE is a competition where folks compete in children's games in hopes of winning $4.56 million. The game begins when 456 challengers of all walks of life play "Red Light, Green Light" and try to cross the finish line without being "shot" (disguised individuals watching them from behind computer screens activate paint-filled squibs on the eliminated contestants). Those who survive start building alliances, scheming, and doing what they can to make it through each round. For every person eliminated from the game, $10K is added to a giant piggy bank that descends from the ceiling, which serves as a physical reminder of what the last person standing will win. Throughout each episode, contestants also sit alone in monitored and guarded interview rooms talking about themselves. The stakes are high, but each player has a reason for wanting the money, and will do what they can to get it.
Is It Any Good?
The macabre game show features contestants performing in a strange sort of cosplay, but with much higher stakes. The overall production attempts to recreate the ominous Squid Game universe by using similar music, sounds, set designs, and costumes while requiring players to compete in children's games where losing means immediate elimination. Not surprisingly, trying to be the only survivor in a simulated life-or-death game creates a lot of tension. But despite taking the loss of fellow contestants very hard, each player remains committed to sacrificing their friends, family members, and allies if it brings them one step closer to winning. Some folks may find watching players navigate Squid Game: The Challenge's weird and cut-throat reality dystopia entertaining, but the fact that it's a live-action game inspired by the morbidity and violence portrayed in a fictional series is disturbing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the game's first challenge. What went into to (re)creating it? Did it have to be so violent?
The contestants on Squid Game: The Challenge range from students and video game experts to parole officers and physicians. Was it the cash prize or the fact that they're Squid Game fans that compelled them to be a part of the show?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 22, 2023
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Game Shows
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate