13 Books That Echo the Intensity of ‘Squid Game’

A cornerstone of modern literature, Lord of the Flies serves as a blueprint for narratives like Squid Game, delving into humanity’s rapid descent into chaos. The story follows a group of schoolboys stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes during wartime. Cut off from civilization and adult guidance, they attempt to build a structured society. However, as hope for rescue dwindles, their fragile order collapses, revealing the darker side of human nature. Unlike Squid Game, Golding’s focus isn’t on economic systems but on the primal instincts and group behaviors that emerge under extreme pressure.

In many respects, a harsher and more brutal take on Lord of the Flies, Kōshun Takami’s debut novel introduces a chilling layer of structure. Rather than being stranded by accident, the junior high students in Battle Royale are deliberately taken to a remote location by the government, compelled to participate in a deadly competition as part of a state-sanctioned experiment and display of power. Equipped with random weapons, survival gear, and explosive collars that activate if no one dies within 24 hours, the students are thrust into a nightmarish scenario. Like Squid Game, some embrace the violence immediately, attacking their peers without hesitation, while others struggle to retain their humanity and seek ways to resist. The parallels are unmistakable, and the bonds formed during the ordeal are equally gripping and tragic.

Un-Su Kim’s 2019 novel is set in a grim version of modern-day South Korea. Reseng, a contract killer, has spent his life executing orders from the shadowy “plotters” who control everything from behind the scenes. However, when a fellow assassin is brutally killed, Reseng begins to question his role in this system. He discovers that the plotters are essentially the elite, the wealthy and powerful who manipulate events to their advantage. Reseng soon realizes he’s been a pawn in a rigged game all along. While The Plotters doesn’t revolve around games, the oppressive structure of Reseng’s life and his rebellion against it echo the struggles of Gi-hun in Squid Game. (For more of Un-Su Kim’s unique South Korean sci-fi, his recently translated novel The Cabinet offers another unsettling and thought-provoking read.)

Frederik Pohl’s 1977 sci-fi masterpiece, which swept the Hugo, Locus, and Nebula Awards, might not appear to align with the themes of Squid Game at first glance. However, a closer look reveals striking parallels. Set in a future where the rich enjoy near-immortality through advanced healthcare, the less fortunate flock to Gateway, an asteroid housing abandoned alien spacecraft. These desperate individuals gamble their lives by piloting the mysterious ships, despite not understanding their controls or navigation systems. Crews form, and the ships are launched, with participants risking gruesome deaths—such as materializing inside a supernova—in pursuit of untold riches. Much like the 456 contestants on a South Korean island, the characters in Gateway strategize and manipulate their way through a high-stakes game where the outcomes are either unimaginable wealth or certain death.

This manga is the perfect remedy for the void left by Squid Game. The story follows a college student who receives an unexpected package containing a large sum of money and learns she’s been entered into the Liar Game. The rules are simple: deceive other players to take their money while protecting her own. Those who lose are saddled with crippling debt, effectively ruining their lives. The straightforward yet brutal premise mirrors the innocent-seeming games in Squid Game, and the players’ desperate attempts to outwit each other echo the survival instincts of the green-jumpsuited contestants. Some participants even try to defy the system, reclaiming a shred of their humanity and resisting the shadowy powers orchestrating the game.

If Squid Game were distilled into a single, relentless challenge, it would resemble The Long Walk. Penned by Stephen King under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, this novel was his first, though published later in his career. Set in a bleak future, The Long Walk is a televised spectacle where 100 teenagers must walk without stopping until only one remains. Falling below a set speed results in warnings, and ultimately, being shot. The sole survivor earns money and a prize of their choosing. As the Walk drags on for days, the physical and mental toll strips the participants of their humanity and hope, leaving them as broken as Sang-woo in the final moments of Squid Game, yearning for an end to the ordeal.

In this dystopian future, a corporation takes control of the US government by paying off its debt, effectively enslaving its citizens in a crumbling economy. When debts become unpayable, lives are forfeited—unless individuals agree to become assassins, eliminating 10 other debtors to earn their freedom. Teenage Patsy takes on this grim task to save her mother from insurmountable medical bills. The story quickly spirals into chaos, blending violence and rapid pacing with a surprising romantic subplot and a gradual unveiling of the sinister truth. The novel’s exploration of debt’s dehumanizing effects and Patsy’s struggle to maintain her humanity while fighting for survival will deeply resonate with fans of Squid Game.

Of course, this iconic sci-fi series is a natural recommendation for fans of Squid Game. Each year, Panem’s 12 districts are forced to send a boy and girl as Tributes to the Hunger Games, a brutal punishment for a long-past rebellion. The children are thrown into a high-tech arena to fight to the death while the wealthy elite watch and cheer. The story is dark, action-packed, and driven by the intelligence and fury of its heroine, Katniss Everdeen. Her defiance and anger at the system’s cruelty will strike a chord with those who admired the emotional depth and rebellion in Squid Game.

Lauren Oliver’s 2014 novel, also adapted into a streaming series, is a must-read. Set in the small, hopeless town of Carp, New York, the story revolves around an underground game offering a $67,000 prize as a way out. Panic consists of escalating, life-threatening challenges—starting with a 40-foot jump into a pitch-black lake and growing increasingly perilous—all orchestrated by two mysterious judges. The players’ desperation to escape their grim reality is visceral, and as the stakes rise, the story descends into what can only be described as utter chaos. While the ending may be less bleak than others in this genre, the central question—whether risking your life for a chance at financial freedom is worth it—remains hauntingly relevant.

This manga, also adapted into a Netflix series, follows three friends who regretfully wish for more excitement in their lives. Their wish is granted when they are transported to The Borderland, a desolate, post-apocalyptic version of their world. Here, survival depends on participating in lethal games to earn a visa that extends their lives. Failure to play—or losing—results in death. Forced to compete against others trapped in this nightmarish realm, the trio must navigate increasingly brutal challenges where the stakes are life and death. If the deadly games of Squid Game captivated you, this manga is a must-read.

If the themes of debt, economic inequality, and desperation in Squid Game resonated with you, this novel will strike a similar chord. Set in a dystopian future America, debt is an inherited curse, with most citizens owing their lives to the ultra-wealthy. To settle these debts, individuals can choose to become slaves to their creditors for a set period. Most slaves take Dociline, a drug that numbs their pain and suffering, as their wealthy masters are rarely compassionate. Like Squid Game, Docile transforms the subtext of capitalist exploitation into stark reality, highlighting how money increasingly dictates our humanity.

Much like Gi-hun from Squid Game, Kaiji Itō is a gambling addict trapped in a cycle of poverty and disgrace. After being lured by a loan shark into a lethal gambling tournament centered around Rock, Paper, Scissors, Kaiji defies expectations and survives. His victory propels him into increasingly perilous games of chance. His life oscillates between fleeting success and crushing defeat—at one point, he’s forced into a labor camp to repay debts that would take decades to clear. This rollercoaster mirrors the life of a compulsive gambler, and the deadly stakes of his wagers echo the grim, desperate tone that Squid Game masterfully captures.

Blurring the line between a novel and a short story collection, Haunted follows 17 writers who lock themselves in an abandoned theater for three months, hoping solitude will spark their creativity. The narrative alternates between the stories they write—including “Guts,” a famously disturbing tale—and the chaos that unfolds within the retreat. As the writers seek fame and literary glory, they sabotage their environment, descending into violence and grotesque horror. Like Squid Game, there’s a pivotal moment when they could walk away from the madness—but instead, they embrace destruction.