Squid Game Unleashed: Fun Game, Bad Adaptation

Squid Game Unleashed: A Fun Game That Misses the Mark

Netflix’s Squid Game: Unleashed mobile game offers a fun, Fall Guys-esque experience, but it fails as a Squid Game adaptation. While aesthetically similar to the show, featuring familiar characters and a cartoonish yet bloody style, the game lacks the core elements that made the series so compelling.

Where Unleashed Falls Short

The game’s focus on fun undermines the original’s tension. Respawning mechanics and short game durations eliminate the high stakes and suspense. Although free for Netflix subscribers (and temporarily free for non-subscribers), the game incorporates typical free-to-play elements like unlocking characters and costumes with in-game currency, resulting in numerous pop-ups and notifications.

This jarring contrast between the playful gameplay and the show’s dark themes is a major flaw. The inclusion of features like a twerking emote for a character whose death was a pivotal moment in the show highlights this dissonance.

A Fun Game, But Not a True Adaptation

Unleashed is a well-designed mobile party game, but its lighthearted approach completely misses the point of Squid Game. Unlike Fortnite’s successful adaptation of the Battle Royale concept, Unleashed fails to capture the show’s essence, highlighting a disconnect between the game’s playful nature and the source material’s grim reality.