Squid Game season 2 ending explained as Player 001 changes the game completely

Warning: spoilers ahead for Squid Game season 2.

With Squid Game season 2 finally dropping on Netflix on Boxing Day, there’s no doubt that many fans around the world will have immediately binged the whole thing in one go.

There were twists and turns aplenty throughout the seven new episodes, as Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who won a massive ₩45.6 billion (£24.8 million) when he took part in the life-threatening game in season one, sets out on a warpath for revenge.

Rather than choose to live his life freely with his newfound fortune, Gi-hun is hellbent on making the creators of the game pay for all of the misery they’ve caused and the lives they’ve taken.

However, his plan to infiltrate the game, convince the other players to be on his side and to go up against the dreaded Front Man isn’t as smooth-sailing as he would have hoped.

Here’s what happened at the end of Squid Game season two ahead of the third outing being released next year.

Squid Game season 2 ending explained

In the second season of Squid Game, Gi-hun is on a desperate mission to end the game once and for all after entering the lethal competition for a second time.

Gi-hun is desperate to end the game, but his mission isn’t going to be easy (Picture: No Ju-han/Netflix)

The Front Man has secretly disguised himself as Player 001 in the game (Picture: No Ju-han/Netflix)

However, he has no idea that the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) – the mysterious individual who’s in charge of the game behind the scenes – is actually Player 001, a man who he befriends and trusts.

After helping many of the players survive Red Light, Green Light in the first round, Gi-hun tries to convince the other participants to choose to leave the game when they’re given the option to vote over their fate.

When the votes result in the game carrying on – as most people select the option to stay and continue playing – Gi-hun concocts a plan for a coup, with the aim of overpowering the red-suited soldiers and gaining access to the control room.

Following a bloodbath brawl between the players, which begins in the bathroom and continues at night in the dormitory, Gi-hun and his allies manage to seize several soldiers’ guns after playing dead.

As they head to the control room, the group face gunfire from soldiers along the way, with Gi-hun accompanied by his friend from home, Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan).

Sadly, Jung-bae suffers a heartbreaking fate (Picture: No Ju-han/Netflix)

The Front Man is never one to be underestimated (Picture: No Ju-han/Netflix)

But Gi-hun doesn’t realise that of course, the Front Man – who he believes is a trusted comrade, and has joined them in the coup – is deceiving them by pretending to be on their side.

Player 001 kills two of the other players who joined Gi-hun in the coup before suiting up as the Front Man again, causing the attempted rebellion to come crashing down in failure.

Not only that, but Jung-bae is also murdered right in front of Gi-hun’s eyes in a heartbreaking twist of the knife.

So, the game is seemingly set to continue… for now.

When is Squid Game season 3 coming out?

The third and final season of Squid Game is due to be released in 2025, so there won’t be too long to wait.

Several characters introduced in season two have already been killed, including Thanos (Picture: No Ju-han/Netflix)

Who knows who will make it out alive in season 3? (Picture: No Ju-han/Netflix)

In a statement, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk stated: ‘I am beyond excited to be writing this letter to announce the date for Season 2 and share the news of Season 3, the final season.’

The writer added: ‘The fierce clash between [Gi-hun and Front Man’s] two worlds will continue into the series finale with Season 3, which will be brought to you next year.’

Squid Game is available to stream on Netflix.

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