The highly anticipated Squid Game Season 3 is finally out on Netflix—but not everyone’s impressed. While fans rushed to stream the final chapter of the global hit, major foreign media outlets are giving it brutally honest reviews, calling the new season “one-dimensional,” “pointless,” and lacking the spark that made the original so iconic.
Released on June 27, Squid Game 3 continues the story of Gi Hun (played by Lee Jung Jae) as he returns to the deadly games with a personal goal—only to face new heartbreak. It also follows Front Man (Lee Byung Hun) who secretly reenters the game, and reveals the fates of the surviving players caught in the brutal world once again.
But despite the intense storyline, The New York Times wasn’t impressed, saying,
“There should have been something surprising for viewers in season 2 or 3.”
They also called the characters “more one-dimensional and predictable than ever,” especially criticizing Jun Ho’s subplot as “the most pointless,” and calling the VIP scenes “cartoonish and meaningless.”
Variety agreed that the final season ends with a “tragic finale,” saying it feels more like a stretched-out version of season 2 than something fresh. They also wrote,
“Season 3 doesn’t feel as flashy,”
pointing out the repetitive game format and lack of new faces, though they did praise some “convincing plot twists.”
Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter delivered one of the harshest takes:
“The Netflix hit that once thrilled viewers ends with an unsatisfying conclusion.”
They added that the VIPs were awkward and bizarre, and that the creators seem to think loud lines like “It’s getting more exciting!” would actually convince the audience. Still, they admitted there were a few “powerful twists” and moments that showed how cruelty hides behind fake ideas of fairness.
From the UK, The Guardian called the ending “unbelievably shocking,” but not in a good way.
“The cruelty is worse, the violence never stops, and the satire is almost gone.”
The review also said the season felt like an “extra” or side story rather than a real continuation of season 1’s brilliance, and more like a typical action thriller than meaningful social commentary.
Still, not all reviews were negative.
TIME magazine called the season’s cruelty “charming in its own way” and said it “delivers a powerful punch.”
Collider praised the finale as “overwhelming and beyond expectations.”
Financial Times noted the show’s fast pace and sharp direction keep things exciting, while Bloomberg highlighted the deeper question:
“What is left of our humanity?”
Decider even called the final twist the “most shocking of all seasons” and said it stayed true to the show’s emotional core.
Squid Game still holds the title of Netflix’s most-watched series ever, with Seasons 1 and 2 racking up a combined 600 million views. Season 2, released in December last year, broke records in its first week and is now the 3rd most popular Netflix series of all time.
Despite the mixed reviews, Squid Game 3 is now streaming—and whether you love it or hate it, fans everywhere are tuning in to see how it all ends.
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