Squid Game Notebook

Battle Royale

Koushun Takami

A brutal dystopian novel about a group of high school students forced to fight to the death by a totalitarian government. The story explores themes of survival, human nature, and social dynamics under extreme pressure. Similar to Squid Game, it features a deadly competition where participants must eliminate each other to survive.

Ender's Game

Orson Scott Card

A science fiction novel about children trained in a military school to fight an alien threat. The protagonist undergoes increasingly complex and dangerous challenges that test his strategic skills. Shares themes of competition, survival, and psychological manipulation.

The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins

A young adult novel set in a dystopian world where teenagers are selected to compete in a televised death match. The story follows Katniss Everdeen as she fights for survival in a brutal competition designed for entertainment. Shares similar themes of survival, social commentary, and life-or-death challenges.

Scythe

Neal Shusterman

A science fiction novel about a society where selected individuals must perform controlled population management. The story involves complex moral challenges and competitive selection processes. Shares themes of structured competition and ethical dilemmas.

Lord of the Flies

William Golding

A classic novel about a group of boys stranded on an island who descend into savagery. The book explores human nature, survival instincts, and the breakdown of social order under extreme circumstances. Similar to Squid Game, it examines how people behave when traditional rules are suspended.

Red Rising

Pierce Brown

A science fiction novel set in a hierarchical society where a lower-class protagonist infiltrates an elite competition. The story involves brutal challenges, social commentary, and survival strategies. Similar to Squid Game, it explores power dynamics and human resilience.

The Maze Runner

James Dashner

A science fiction novel about teenagers trapped in a mysterious maze who must work together to survive. The story involves complex challenges, survival strategies, and uncovering hidden truths. Similar to Squid Game, it features a deadly game-like environment with high stakes.

The Long Walk

Stephen King

A dystopian novel about a grueling walking competition where participants must maintain a strict pace or face deadly consequences. The story explores human endurance, psychological pressure, and survival. Similar to Squid Game in its examination of extreme competitive scenarios.

Ready Player One

Ernest Cline

A science fiction novel about a virtual reality competition with high stakes and complex challenges. The protagonist must navigate a digital world filled with puzzles and obstacles to win a massive prize. While less violent, it shares the competitive game-like structure and high-tension narrative.

The Running Man

Stephen King

A dystopian novel about a deadly game show where contestants must survive while being hunted. The protagonist fights for survival in a brutal, televised competition. Directly inspired by themes of survival entertainment similar to Squid Game.

Divergent

Veronica Roth

A dystopian novel set in a society divided into factions based on personality traits. The story follows a young woman who must navigate a dangerous competition and societal challenges. Shares themes of survival, competition, and challenging social structures.

Arena One

Morgan Rice

A post-apocalyptic novel about survival competitions in a devastated world. The story follows characters fighting in brutal arena-style challenges. Shares themes of survival, competition, and human endurance under extreme conditions.

The Selection

Kiera Cass

A dystopian novel about a competition where young women compete for a prince's attention. While less violent, it shares themes of structured competition and social dynamics. Explores survival strategies in a controlled environment.