Squid Game’s Deadly Take On Our Desi Games – Even Gen Z Will Feel The Nostalgia News24 –

When the popular South Korean series Squid Game was first released in 2021, I skipped it, even as it became the talk of the town. Everyone was discussing the scary doll, the deadly children’s games, and those green tracksuits, with the memes going viral. But when I asked my friends what it was all about, I got the same answer from everyone – “It’s brutal… so much blood… not for the faint-hearted… people die horribly.” I can’t stand the sight of blood, even if it’s not real and just on screen. So, I gave it a pass. No regrets!

When Season 2 dropped in 2024, I once again ignored all the hype and buzz. Season 3 arrived in June 2025, and it was everywhere again – the excitement this time was even higher, because the previous season had generated more curiosity. The craze even led Google to launch an interactive game inspired by the Korean show’s Red Light, Green Light challenge, featuring the creepy doll Young-hee. As I typed Squid Game on Google Search, the game popped up! And being a gaming enthusiast, I couldn’t help but play it – it was fun!

That’s when I decided to brave it and watch the first season. Yes, it was brutal and there were some gory scenes that I skipped. But it was also a bit nostalgic as it featured games – real ones. Games I had played growing up – on dusty playgrounds, during power cuts, at school, and with friends and cousins. That’s what made the connection, and I ended up binge-watching, episode after episode.

Here are the games featured in the series, and I bet you played them in your childhood too. I’m sure even Gen Z is familiar with them. Nostalgia guaranteed!

1. Red Light, Green Light (Statue)

This was the first game in the show and I instantly recognised it. In our version, someone would turn their back and shout “Statue!” We’d then slowly move forward, trying to tap them before they turned around. But the moment that person did, we would freeze – and if you were caught moving even a toe, you were out!

Well, it was all innocent fun! In Squid Game, if the creepy doll turns around and catches anyone moving, they’ll be shot dead – mercilessly!

2. Marbles (Kanche)

This one hit my nostalgia wires! Who can forget Kanche? I played it with my friends every day, in the narrow gullies, on the dusty grounds outside my house. I remember carrying those little marbles in cloth pouches or even socks. There was competition and fights. To be honest, I even stole some from my elder brother’s stock! If I had more than my friends, I’d feel like a Kancha queen. Emotional.

This is how we played the game: a circle was drawn on the ground, and some marbles were placed in it. The basic aim was to hit the designated marbles, and if you succeeded, you could collect them.

But in Squid Game, two players were handed 10 marbles each, and they were asked to play a game of their choice. The allotted time: 30 minutes. Each player’s goal was to win all of the other players’ marbles within the time limit. If lost, they are eliminated.

3. Tug of War (Rassa Kashi)

Two teams, a rope and pulling each other – this one is among those classic games that are still being played and enjoyed. Strength and coordination are the keys to winning. Be it a simple colony event, a sports day at school or just casual play – Rassa Kashi always brought laughter, energy and excitement.

Forget laughter, it was a nail-biting sight in Squid Game, where the goal was to pull the opposing team off their platform, resulting in their fall to their death.

4. Glass Bridge (Langdi Tang)

Though it was not an exact match for Langdi Tang, it definitely gave childhood game vibes. However, our game was not death-defying – it was fun! We would hop on one leg with the aim of tagging opponents.

In Squid Game, two rows of glass panels formed a bridge, with only one side of each pair able to hold a player’s weight, while the other side was weak and shattered under pressure. Players had to cross the bridge in 16 minutes, carefully choosing between the two glass panels – an all-luck game. They fell to their death if they stepped onto the wrong one.

Well, it reminded me of another version of the game we played back then, one where we had to hop our way across a line, avoiding certain “danger zones.” This too was risky, though not deadly!

5. Gonggi (Five Stones or Gutte)

While Gen Z today often needs expensive and fancy gadgets to enjoy playing games, we simply gathered small stones from our gullies, for free, and turned them into priceless treasures. The game we played using those stones was known as Five Stones or Gutte in India, while it is known as Gonggi in Korea.

A player scatters five stones on the ground, then tosses one into the air, and tries to pick up the rest of the stones before catching the tossed one. This is repeated, with the player needing to increase the number of stones picked up at a time.

In Squid Game, the game appeared similar, but the rules were stricter. Players had to complete five levels flawlessly under time pressure. Failure meant elimination.

6. Spinning Top (Lattu)

The spinning top, or Lattu, has been entertaining children for generations. In our version, the common aim was to launch the lattu and make it spin for as long as possible.

In Squid Game, each player had to make the top spin inside a marked circle. If their top stopped spinning before a set time or went outside the circle, they failed the round. The consequence? Immediate elimination!

Overall, the show left me feeling nostalgic – the games that came one after another shocked me more than the deaths or plot twists. It brought back those faded memories, flashbacks of simpler times, when games were just games. Who would’ve thought those childhood games would one day be turned into battles for survival in a TV series?

ALSO READ: Nostalgia Mode On! Mario Bros To Prince of Persia – My Favourite Retro Games From The ’80s