Squid Game is a South Korean dystopian survival thriller series about 456 financially desperate people who accept a secret invitation to compete in a series of deadly children's games. The contestants risk their lives for the chance to win a massive cash prize of ₩45.6 billion (approximately US$39.86 million)

. The games are traditional Korean children's games, but with lethal twists, such as "Red Light, Green Light," "Tug of War," and the final "Squid Game," which is a complex tag-like game played on a squid-shaped court

. The show serves as a powerful social commentary on economic inequality, debt, and the ruthless competition in modern capitalist society. It highlights how people in deep financial hardship are driven to extreme measures to escape poverty, reflecting broader societal issues and the widening wealth gap

. The wealthy elite, called VIPs in the series, watch and bet on the contestants' lives, adding a disturbing layer of exploitation and spectacle

. The title "Squid Game" refers to the final game in the series and is symbolic of the harsh competition and survival instincts in society

. The series has been critically acclaimed for its gripping premise, character development, and its allegorical critique of capitalism and social disparity

. In summary, Squid Game is about survival, desperation, and the human cost of economic inequality, portrayed through a deadly competition based on children's games