The third and final season of Netflix’s Squid Game is almost here! In this article, we discuss 10 predictions for Season 3.
*Please note, this article contains major spoilers from Season 1 and 2 of Squid Game*
All good things must come to an end, and Season 3 of Squid Game, which will be the show’s final season, is just around the corner. The hit South Korean Netflix series has introduced some complex, fascinating characters. Some were lovable fan favorites (Ali), while others left us seething just thinking about them. Here’s looking at you, Deok-su.
At the center of the series is our beloved protagonist, Gi-hun, and with the games closing in on him for a second time, the future isn’t looking so bright for Player 456. This harsh reality is leaving fans on edge, wondering how his story will conclude.
Since the release of Season 2 in December 2024, viewers have had months to speculate how the games could end. After all, the series left us on quite a cliffhanger, with many unanswered questions we’re hoping to have resolved. Will Jun-ho find the island and help the remaining players escape? Does Gi-hun finally find out Front Man’s identity once and for all? What are the consequences of the rebellion? Thankfully, we only have just over two months before we find out!In this article, I will discuss 10 predictions for Squid Game Season 3. Please note that some of these theories are mutually exclusive, and a few are far more plausible than others. With that said, let the games (and predictions) begin!
1. No-eul and Sae-byeok are sisters
This is a theory I committed to straight away, and I think it’s a vital piece of the puzzle entering the show’s final season. In episode 2 of Squid Game Season 2, titled “Halloween Party”, we learn that No-eul is trying to find her child after shooting her superior and fleeing from North Korea. Another important fact is that right before her visit to the broker, Gi-hun visits the same man to check on Sae-byeok’s mother. As she is still in North Korea, he wants to check on the woman’s well-being. After all, he made it his duty to ensure her family was taken care of after her untimely death in the games. He even looked at a photo of Sae-byeok and her mother in the broker’s office, which I believe was a hint planted for the audience.
As a quick refresher, Sae-byeok is the North Korean woman who came in third place during Squid Game Season 1. She was injured by shards of glass during the Glass Bridge challenge, and violently stabbed by Sang-woo thereafter. Both Sae-byeok and No-eul are from North Korea, and they even share a last name. While many people have the same surname in Korea, in this instance, I don’t think it’s a coincidence. Though Sae-byeok never mentions having a sister, it’s not unreasonable to think that she kept it a secret to protect herself after her sister’s hasty escape from North Korea. Another possibility is that the pair weren’t on speaking terms after their father was killed.
2. Nae-yeon is No-eul’s daughter
I know some may think this is a reach, and it is certainly one of my most off-the-wall predictions. Still, it’s a theory that could pan out. During the first few episodes of Season 2, we see No-eul quite fond of a little girl (named Nae-yeon). The audience later finds out she is sick with cancer. After the child drops her hat on the ground and is rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, No-eul stops by the health facility to return the kid’s hat to her, all while being undetected by the child’s father. Though it appears No-eul has a soft spot for the kid, due to her motherly instincts and the fact her own child is missing, I think one of Season 3’s biggest twists could be that the little girl is actually No-eul’s daughter. How exactly this could piece together is what still remains a mystery. Maybe the child made it to South Korea after all, and her “dad” (Gyeong-seok, aka player 246) isn’t actually her biological father.
3. Myung-gi will sacrifice his life for Jun-hee
In the beginning of Squid Game Season 2, we learn that Jun-hee is pregnant with Myung-gi’s child. The pair both enter the games, unaware of the other’s involvement until they see each other on the island. Myung-gi is portrayed as a deadbeat ex-boyfriend who isn’t supportive of Jun-hee. However, over the course of the games, he shows remorse for his behavior towards her, even protecting her in one of the games. Although Jun-hee believes his caring approach may be due to the fact he will get more money if they make it out alive together, I do think that he cares for her. We know the games aren’t above pairing players together with only one making it out alive, and I think if Myung-gi were put in this position, he would sacrifice himself to save his ex-girlfriend and their unborn child.
4. Player 388 (Dae-ho) is a traitor
I love seeing Kang Ha-neul portray a friendly, supportive character. However, my spidey senses are tingling, and I have my suspicions about him. In Season 2, Dae-ho reveals that he is a former marine. Yet, when asked about his family and whether his father was a marine too, he acts sheepish and excuses himself from the group. Thereafter, player 388 states that his name means tiger. Ironically, one of the VIP masks is a tiger. Though this could be a reach, I can’t help but wonder if there’s a link between the two.
Another strange occurrence is the fact that during the rebellion, Dae-ho can’t aim accurately while shooting. In fact, you’d think he’d never handled a firearm in his life due to his poor aim. This makes his marine claim questionable. He also didn’t bring the ammo back to the rest of the team, which made me wonder if he was intentionally jeopardizing the rebellion because he is a mole in the games.
5. Player 388 (Dae-ho) is the son of Oh Il-nam
I know people reading this article are probably rolling their eyes right now. Though I’ll admit this theory is one of the most unlikely, I still think it’s got traction. As discussed in prediction 4, Dae-ho changes the subject when asked about his father by other players. This immediately made me question why he wouldn’t want to give out simple information about a family member. As a Squid Game mega fan, that’s when I started to think of all the possible reasons he would avoid discussing his dad, and I landed at this far-fetched, but possible explanation. Then there is the fact that his name means tiger, which ties back into my thoughts about the tiger mask and the VIPs. A coincidence? Perhaps, but I can’t shake this theory, so I’m running with it.
6. No-eul will help Gi-hun and other players escape/take down the masterminds behind the games
Gi-hun and No-eul both visit the same broker in Season 2 and briefly pass each other on the stairs, which doesn’t appear to be a coincidence. If No-eul and Sae-byeok are in fact sisters, I think this will come to light at some point. No-eul will discover that Gi-hun not only tried to save her sister but also helped her younger brother find a surrogate mother and loving home. Since No-eul is rebelling against the Squid Game leaders anyway, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to see a team-up between her and Gi-hun in Season 3. Having someone who works for the establishment on Player 456’s side would be a great breakthrough for him, and I can certainly see this happening.
7. It will be revealed that Oh Il-nam is the father of Front Man and Jun-ho
One of the biggest twists in Season 1 of Squid Game was the shocking moment viewers discovered that player 001 (Oh Il-nam) was the mastermind behind the games. After his death, we saw Front Man visit him, though we never learned why the two began working together and how they became acquainted. The audience also learns that Jun-ho and Front Man are actually half-brothers. They share the same father, though his identity is never revealed and their dad is never referenced. Due to this, one can’t help but wonder if Oh II-nam was an absent father and Jun-ho has never had a solid relationship with him, but Front Man was in contact with him the whole time. Of course, if this prediction is true, it would debunk my number 5 theory on this list, though these two predictions aren’t mutually exclusive.
8. Jun-ho will kill Front Man
In a world of deceit and corruption, Jun-ho is one of the only characters in Squid Game that has kept his moral compass intact. After being shot by his brother (Front Man) in Season 1 of the series, he still chose to keep his sibling’s identity hidden when later teaming up with Gi-hun. While the cop seems loyal, I think that if anyone is going to kill Front Man, it will be Jun-ho. Though it might be out of character, I believe he will be put into a situation where he must decide between his brother or saving innocent people, and ultimately, he will choose the latter.
9. Jun-ho will discover his kidney was harvested from someone who died in the games many years prior
As soon as it was revealed that Front Man had given his brother Jun-ho a kidney, I couldn’t help but wonder if his transplanted kidney was harvested from the games. Though this theory could be debunked in many ways and seems unrealistic, I do find it interesting that Front Man giving his brother an organ is a plot point that exists in the first place. Could this shocking revelation be the final straw for Jun-ho and what leads to him killing his brother in the end? If prediction 7 is correct and Oh Il-nam is the cop’s father, was he secretly involved in helping Jun-ho receive the kidney transplant? We will soon find out!
10. Gi-hun will become the Front Man
How Gi-hun’s story will end is something I have thought about constantly over the last few months. One thing I love about South Korean cinema and television shows is that they aren’t afraid to take risks and subvert expectations, which often leads to bittersweet conclusions for protagonists. This is why I believe that Gi-hun could very well end up as the Front Man at the end of the series. However, for this to happen, I think there would need to be a tradeoff, as he isn’t evil by nature.
What that tradeoff could be is still unclear, though I wonder in the end if he will sacrifice himself to the games to allow the other players to escape. On the flip side, he could be forced to become Front Man to keep his daughter safe from harm. Gi hun’s unwavering dedication to saving lives explains Front Man’s sadistic fascination with breaking him. Also, the man behind the mask hasn’t killed player 456, despite the inconveniences he has caused to the games. This suggests Front Man has an ultimate objective when it comes to the fate of our protagonist. Though Gi-hun previously won the games, the second time around, he might end up selling his soul to the devil for some greater good.
And that concludes my 10 Predictions for Squid Game Season 3. Do you agree with any of these theories? What are your predictions going in the final season? Whatever the outcome, I have faith that the show will conclude in the most bold, brutal, and unforgettable way!
Season 3 of Netflix’s Squid Game will be released on June 27, 2025.
