Following its September 2021 debut, Squid Game quickly broke records and became Netflix’s most-watched original series.
The Korean survival drama follows hundreds of desperate, cash-strapped players, who accept a strange invitation to compete for in children’s games for millions of dollars.
They soon discover that these games have deadly high stakes, and the more players that are “eliminated,” the more money gets added to the final jackpot.
This dystopian mini-series instantly hooked millions of viewers; but if you were among them, you may have been disappointed to learn that there were only nine episodes.
But don’t worry—if you’ve powered through Squid Game and are looking for another dark, twisty series to keep you up at night, you’ll love these 10 books that we’ve given the green light.
10 Unsettling Books Like Squid Game
If you couldn’t get enough of Squid Game, here are 10 books you’ll want to read after you finish binging the Netflix hit.
1. Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
Set in a dystopian future Japan, 42 high school students are taken to a remote island and armed with weapons.
They are forced to fight each other to the death until only one of them is left standing. Anyone who breaks the rules will be instantly killed by the collar strapped around their necks.
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The parallels to Squid Game are pretty clear here: wealthy sponsors fund this fight to the death where there can only be one winner, and watch as representatives from 12 districts kill each other and fight for survival on live television.
3. All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody
What makes All of Us Villains similar to Squid Game is that, unlike books like the Hunger Games, where participation is forced, this year’s competition gives seven teens a choice.
If they choose to compete, there can only be one winner—which means one survivor. Their prize will be control over a wellspring of high magick, the most powerful resource in the world.
4. #MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil
A group of convicted felons living on Alcatraz 2.0 must fight to survive as a group of masked individuals tries to kill them off one by one.
The main storyline follows Dee, who was wrongfully convicted of killing her stepsister. Oh, and did we mention that this is all part of a live-streaming reality show?
5. The Plotters by Un-Su Kim
The Plotters takes place in an alternate Seoul, where assassin guilds compete for market dominance. While the assassins do the killings, the “plotters” are the masterminds behind them.
One day Reseng, an assassin, steps out of line on one of his “jobs,” which not only throws off the plotters’ carefully calculated plans, but leads him to uncover an extraordinary scheme.
Now, he must decide whether he wants to take back control of his own life, or continue being a pawn.
6. Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka
In this best-selling Japanese thriller, five assassins on a bullet train from Tokyo compete for a suitcase full of money.
There’s Nanao, the “unluckiest assassin in the world;” the deadly duo of Tangerine and Lemon; Satoshi, nicknamed “the Prince;” and a fifth assassin who has a score to settle with the Prince since he casually pushed a young boy off a roof.
The question is, who will get to the last station alive?
7. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
As you may remember from your high school lit class, Lord of the Flies explores just how quickly a group of young boys descend into savagery when left to govern themselves.
Left on a remote island and far from civilization, the order they try to establish quickly collapses, and darker instincts begin to take over.
8. Alice in Borderland by Haro Aso
Although not yet available in English (you’ll have to wait until March 2022), you can already binge on the Netflix adaptation of Alice in Borderland.
Arisu, the main character of this manga, is sick of his life and longs to be somewhere else. One day, he is transported to a parallel world called Borderland with two of his friends, but he quickly finds this place is anything but paradise, as the only way to survive is to win a series of deadly games.
9. “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell
This 1924 short story follows Rainsford, a big-game hunter who is shipwrecked and stranded on a remote island. He finds wealthy man living there, who is an avid hunter himself—but he’s tired of chasing animals.
Rainsford quickly finds himself becoming the hunted in his host’s elaborate game, and he must outwit the experienced hunter if he wants to survive.
10. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
Another iconic short story, “The Lottery” was first published in The New Yorker in 1948. It’s set in a fictional small town where each year, a member of the community is selected at random.
Only at the end do we learn the consequence of being selected: to ensure prosperity for the coming year, there must be a sacrifice.
Get Your Thrills with Dystopian Reads
If you’re a fan of Squid Game, you may also be interested in these 23 dystopian novels that offer dark but thought-provoking reads.
Or, if you prefer to binge-watch rather than binge-read, you can check out 14 of the best TV shows based on books, including thrillers, dark comedies, and more.
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 23 Best Dystopian Novels for a Thought-Provoking Read
- 14 TV Shows Based on Books: What to Binge-Watch After You Binge-Read
- 16 Books Like The Hunger Games
- 12 Best Horror Audiobooks to Listen to for a Scare
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
