Top survival game shows on Netflix to satisfy your thrill fix post-'Squid Game' Season 2

After the intense twists of 'Squid Game' Season 2, Netflix offers a lineup of survival game shows filled with suspense, strategy, and gripping challenges to explore while awaiting the final season.

1. Alice in Borderland: Every move counts

Alice in Borderland, Netflix's adaptation of the popular manga, premiered on December 10, 2020, and quickly captivated audiences worldwide. The first season hit Netflix's Top 10 in over 40 countries and territories, solidifying its place as a sci-fi thriller packed with action and intrigue.

The story begins with Arisu, a disillusioned gamer, and his friends Chota and Karube, who find themselves mysteriously trapped in an eerily empty Tokyo. They soon discover the city isn’t entirely deserted—it’s the site of a deadly survival game. Forced to participate in life-threatening challenges, the trio must strategize to stay alive. Each "game" is unique, imaginative, and progressively more intense, as they unravel the mystery behind cryptic clues like “Return to the Beach.” Along the way, they encounter allies and adversaries, including the resourceful Yuzuha Usagi and the sharp-minded Chishiya.

Season 2, released in 2022, introduces new twists and intense challenges. Season 3 is expected in 2025, though Netflix hasn’t confirmed an official date.

With eight fast-paced episodes each, seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Netflix.

2. The 8 Show: Strategy, Survival, and Social Experimentation

Released earlier this year, Netflix's The 8 Show introduces a high-stakes social experiment that combines humor, strategy, and intense psychological drama. Within just three days, it climbed to 7th place in Netflix's Global Top 10 TV series, amassing 1.7 million views.

The story centers on Bae Jin-su, a man crippled by debt, who enters a mysterious game with a life-changing financial reward. Locked in a surreal, multilevel facility with seven other participants, Jin-su quickly learns that every decision—down to eating or sleeping—comes with a cost, both literally and socially. Earning money for every minute spent in their rooms, contestants must navigate inflated prices for basic needs, cunning hierarchies, and cryptic rules designed to test alliance. As players improvise to survive and unearth hidden dynamics, the show teases deeper challenges ahead.

The series invites viewers to ponder how far people will go to secure their futures—and at what cost to their humanity.

The first season including eight episodes is now streaming on Netflix.