MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD! The final season of Netflix’s global phenomenon has delivered its most heart-wrenching conclusion yet. Here’s everything you need to know about how Squid Game ended after three seasons of psychological horror.
Table of Contents
Quick Finale Breakdown
| Key Detail | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Winner | Player 222 (Jun-hee’s baby) |
| Prize Money | 45.6 billion won |
| Gi-hun’s Fate | Dies sacrificing himself |
| Final Game | Sky Squid Game (3 towers) |
| Shocking Cameo | Cate Blanchett as US recruiter |
| Series Status | Final season (spin-offs possible) |
Who Won Squid Game Season 3?
In the most unexpected twist, Player 222 – Jun-hee’s newborn baby – wins the entire competition. The infant becomes the youngest Squid Game champion ever, representing hope for future generations according to creator Hwang Dong-hyuk.
Gi-hun’s Ultimate Sacrifice
Our beloved protagonist Player 456 makes the ultimate sacrifice in the final moments. Facing the choice between pressing a button to kill the baby or sacrificing himself, Gi-hun chooses death. His final words – “We are not horses. We are humans. And humans are…” – remain unfinished as he falls to his death.
Why This Matters: Gi-hun’s sacrifice proves to the Front Man and VIPs that contestants retain their humanity despite the games’ brutality.
The Final Game: Sky Squid Game
The season’s climactic challenge involves navigating three massive stone towers shaped like a square, triangle, and circle. Players must kill competitors to advance between towers, with survivors splitting the prize money.
Character Fates Revealed
Major Deaths:
- Gi-hun (Player 456) – Sacrificial death
- Myung-gi (Player 333) – Falls during fight with Gi-hun
- Multiple players during Sky Squid Game
Survivors:
- Jun-hee’s baby (the winner)
- No-eul (Pink Guard) – Escapes with hope of finding her daughter
- Detective Jun-ho – Survives and continues his mission
That Cate Blanchett Cameo Explained
The finale’s most shocking moment comes in Los Angeles, where Front Man In-ho witnesses a suited woman (Cate Blanchett) playing ddakji with a homeless man. This scene sets up a potential American Squid Game spinoff.
What It Means: The games aren’t limited to Korea – they’re a global operation with recruiters worldwide.
Front Man’s Character Arc
In-ho’s journey comes full circle as he delivers Gi-hun’s belongings to his estranged daughter in LA. Gi-hun’s sacrifice helps In-ho rediscover his “humanity and conscience”, marking a potential redemption arc for the series’ antagonist.
Series Conclusion & Future
This marks the definitive end of Squid Game – there will be no Season 4. However, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has discussed potential spin-offs, with the Cate Blanchett cameo heavily suggesting an American version.
Rumored Projects:
- American Squid Game (potentially with David Fincher)
- Prequel showing events between Seasons 1-2
Critical Reception
Early reviews are mixed but praise the emotional impact:
- Audience Score: 50% on Rotten Tomatoes (compared to 83% for Season 1)
- Critics’ Consensus: Dark, devastating, but a fitting conclusion
The Deeper Meaning
Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk intended the baby’s victory to represent hope. As he explained, “The baby represents the future generation… we have the responsibility to leave a better world for the future generation”.
Watch & Explore More
Ready to experience the finale yourself? All six episodes of Squid Game Season 3 are now streaming on Netflix.
The end of Squid Game leaves us with powerful questions about humanity, sacrifice, and hope. While Gi-hun’s story concludes, the global reach of these deadly games suggests the nightmare is far from over.
Read more: Squid Game Season 3 Games Explained: Complete Guide to Rules, Deaths & Game Order
