'Squid Game' Season 3 Release Date: Netflix brings the fun back soon

Just like our intrepid hero, Player 456, we're all in for the next series of trials of Squid Game. Unlike Gi-Hun, we'd prefer it if the games never ended. At least we've got season 3 coming up. Thanks, Netflix!

Squid Game has been one of the top shows of all time for the giant streaming service, or any venue, for that matter. In the first four weeks of its international release, season 1 drew 142 million households and a staggering 1.65 billion hours viewed. That's more than twice the views of the first 28 days of Bridgerton. That would be a phenomenal horror series: Bridgerton: 28 Days Later. But I digress.

Just before season 2 launched, the initial run reached 330 homes and 2.8 billion hours viewed. Season 2 brought several twists to the mayhem as Player 456 returned for another round of fun and games. That's all the spoilers you'll get here, so you can uncover your eyes. You're not actually watching the show right now, you know. But you will be able to watch season 3 very soon.

Netflix brings Squid Game back for season 3 on June 27th

The quick turnaround from season 2 to season 3 may be a bit of a surprise. However, both seasons were filmed back-to-back, so it makes sense for Netflix to build on the success of season 2. While I haven't reviewed the second season yet, I have watched every tense moment. It's rare for a sequel, whether a second film or a second season, to improve on the first. Squid Game was so stunning and original, that it would be nearly impossible for season 2 to top it.

I can't say that season 2 improved on season 1. It tells a different story, and the cast of characters has changed significantly. If you watched season 1, you know why. That being said, I really enjoyed the parallel stories told here. Again, no spoilers, but the games have continued. Shocker, I know.

I don't think I'm giving too much away revealing that season 2 ends on a cliffhanger. All the more reason we need to see what happens next in Squid Game. Player 456 has, um, some stuff going on at the end of the season. There's a team searching for the island where the games are played, as well. You can expect those loose ends to be neatly tied up, as creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has said this will be the final season of the show.

Don't fret, Squiddies. He originally said that Squid Game would only have one season. As quoted in The Hollywood Reporter, Hwang added, "...if the time comes, and it just so happens that I’m able to come up with a character or a different story, then maybe there might be a comeback. But I’m thinking more along the lines of a spinoff.”

So take heart. Not literally - I think that was in season 1. There's no official word yet on the episode count, but Forbes reported/speculated there would be seven episodes, as it's a continuation of the new story arc. Season 3 arrives on June 27th, in all its gory. Yeah, I used it before, but it still fits.

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