'Squid Game 3': 10 Standout Players From The Netflix Hit Series' Final Season

Just like its first season which took the world by storm in 2021, Squid Game 3 (2025) is just as intense, captivating and heart-wrenching, with a good many players whom you will either love or loathe.

Created by South Korean writer and director Hwang Dong-hyuk, the premise remains the same for the third and final season of Netflix's blockbuster survival thriller K-drama.

Specifically-picked by a shady organization helmed by the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) and his masked guards, 456 mostly debt-ridden players risk their lives playing deadly children's games in order to win the grand prize of KRW45.6 billion (USD33.6m).

Squid Game 3—which boasts brilliant acting, heartrending story arcs and stunning production design—continues to cement its status as a global cultural phenomenon after garnering a record-breaking 60.1 million views in its first three days and becoming the first Netflix series to debut No. 1 in 93 countries.

Even Season 2 (2024)—primarily an introduction to brand new players and games—drew 68 million views across the first four days after its launch.

The original Emmy-winning Squid Game provided viewers with unforgettable characters such as eventual winner Player 456, Seong Gi-hun (Best Actor Emmy winner Lee Jung-Jae); Player 067, North Korean defector Sae-byeok (SAG Best Actress Jung Ho-yeon); and Player 240, kinslayer Ji-yeong (Guest Star Emmy winner Lee Yoo-Mi).

In Squid Game 3, many players too captured the hearts of viewers with their demise causing much anguish, while certain bad players were also memorable.

Without further ado, here are the 10 standout players from Squid Game 3.

(HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD if you have yet to see the series!)

10 Standout Players in 'Squid Game 3'

1. Player 120

Though despised and rejected by many, transgender Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon ) remains the kind, considerate and selfless person that she is.

While her ex-Special Forces skills showcase her military prowess, her heartfelt bonding with Players 149 and 222 made them the most beloved trio of the series.

Hyun-ju being literally being backstabbed by Player 333 right after she found the exit in the deadly Hide-and-Seek challenge is easily one of the most heartbreaking moments in the show.

2. Player 149

One of the oldest players, Geum-Ja (Kang Ae-sim) took part in order to help her son Player 007, Yong-sik (Yang Dong-Geun) pay off his gambling debts.

Ever so kind, she advises her son to first look out for himself, makes time to look after pregnant Player 222, and consoles Player 456 when he has given up all hope. In the pivotal Hide-and-Seek game, she made the hard decision to protect Player 222 and her new-born baby over her son's survival, only to remorsefully hang herself thereafter.

3. Player 222

Pregnant and with a manipulative boyfriend (Player 333), the resilient Jun-hee (K-pop singer Jo Yuri in her acting debut) gets by thanks to kind players such as Player 456 and especially Players 120 and 149 who helped deliver her baby.

At the Jump Rope challenge, a badly injured Jun-hee willingly falls to her death after making Player 456 promised to ensure her baby survives.

3a) Player 222 x 2

The big twist in Squid Game 3 was when Jun-hee's newborn daughter was given her number 222 and made an official player in the 37th Squid Games.

Poor baby is abstained from voting and miraculously becomes the eventual winner, thanks primarily to Player 456's selfless sacrifice.

Baby Player 222 and her KRW45.6 billion winnings ultimately ends in the care of the Front Man's detective brother (see #9 below), a situation that was not accepted favorably by many fans.

4. Player 456

One of the key reasons why Squid Game 2 and 3 are successes is the return of Season 1 winner Player 456, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae reprising his role). He was determined to bring down the Squid Game system but eventually found the system too strong and formidable.

His desire to ensure everyone survives the games is admirable but when caught in hopelessness, even a nice good guy proves that intense emotions can lead one to the unforgiving dark side.

Gi-hun's faith in humanity remains though when he made his ultimate sacrifice, believing that the Front Man will ensure that baby Player 222 rightfully wins and lives.

5. Player 001 (a.k.a The Front Man)

Front Man In-ho (Lee Byung-hun) unmasking himself did not seem practical, but his antics as Player 001 were fun and his ultimate bonding with Player 456 was fascinating, to say the least.

Gi-hun may have become morally damaged, but we dare say he manages to convince the Front Man to see the good in people, leading the latter to ensure baby Player 222 and Gi-hun's daughter's futures are provided for at the series climax.

6. Player 333

Player 333, Myung-gi (Yim Si-wan ) is arguably the Joffrey Baratheon of Squid Game, the guy everyone loves to hate. Not only does he treat the woman carrying his child badly, he ends up killing one of the most beloved characters, Player 120 (plus a few others at that).

He does not really cared for Jun-hee and their baby, only wanting to get their share of the prize money in order to pay off his massive debts.

He was cunning to the end but he was no match for the "righteous" Gi-hun. Truly, no tears when he falls to his death in the final challenge.

7. Player 100

Actually, if there is one player who is more loathsome than Player 333, it is Player 100, Jeong-dae (Song Young-chang).

Loud, pushy and obnoxious, the old dude is the one who kept pushing others to keep the competition going.

By sheer luck and some underhand tactics, Player 100 makes it to the final Sky Squid Game round where he continues to egg the other finalists to do the dirty work, before he succumbs to what many viewers felt was a too-quick and unsatisfactory death.

8. Guard o11

As the sharp-shooting Pink Guard 011, No-eul (Park Gyu-young ) offers an intriguing look at the life of a Masked Man.

Bullied by certain Pink Guards for messing with their human organ trade, the North Korean defector—who yearns to find the daughter she left behind —finds new purpose when she takes it upon herself to save Player 246, Gyeong-seo (Lee Jin-uk) who has a young daughter stricken with cancer, from some truly extraordinary circumstances.

9. Detective Doofus

Detective Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-jun) a.k.a the Front Man's brother is a standout for being the most useless character in Squid Game 3.

Determined to destroy the Squid Game operative, he goes round like a headless chicken in both Season 2 and 3, believing in a boat captain who is obviously crooked and getting a few good men killed, without achieving his goal even when he finally infiltrated the island three years later.

That he becomes the dubious guardian of baby Player 222 and all her winnings left a rather sour taste in many viewers' mouths.

10. The American Recruiter

Barely 30 seconds of screen time, just three words, and multiple slaps heard around the world, Oscar winner Cate Blanchett's stunning cameo in the Squid Game 3 finale was nothing short of brilliant.

So the deadly Squid Game also take place in the USA and perhaps other countries too. Will there be spin-offs? Well, if rumors are to be believed, I rather director David Fincher returns to Netflix with Mindhunter 3 rather than Squid Game USA. Watch this space...

Special Mention: The VIPs

Just like in Season 1, the VIPs—filthy rich people who watch and bet on the outcome of the deadly games—are seemingly portrayed by untrained actors and badly English-dubbed at that, truly standing out like sore thumbs in the otherwise excellent Squid Game 3.

As if they are not despicable enough by disguising as Pink Guards to kill off losing players and insisting a newborn baby becoming a player, their drab and dry performances absolutely grated on viewers.

According to the Radio Times, the VIPs are played by British actor David Sayers, American Bryan Bucco, French actor/dancer Jordan Lambertoni and Hongkong actress Jane Wong.

Squid Game 1 to 3 are streaming exclusively on Netflix.

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