How To Host Your Own Squid Game Party (Without Killing Your Friends)
Digital Content Manager | Pop Culture Nerd | Cosplay & Musical Theatre Enthusiast
Vanessa is a Sydney-based content specialist who is passionate about all things pop culture. When she isn't creating content or cosplaying, you can find her rehearsing for the next musical she's in.
The K-Drama that took the world by storm with it's thrilling, shock-inducing scenes has been a hot theme for parties since it's release in 2021. Keep your party guests on the edge of their seats using this exciting guide on how to host your own Squid Game party. Of course, being the host makes you the Game Master so be sure to look the part.
1. Send out invitations:
- Grab some Kraft paper or brown card.
- Decorate one side with a circle, triangle and square.
- On the other side, write out the invitation details including who will be a Squid Game Player and who will be a Squid Game Soldier. If you have enough people, let some be the VIPs too.
- Alternatively, send out an Evite with the same.
Image source: koreatimes.co.kr
2. What everyone should wear:
Image source: marca.com
- To keep it simple, have everyone dress in the appropriate colours:
- Players in green.
- Soldiers in red.
- Game Master (you) in dark grey or black.
- VIPs (if any) in suits and gold animal masks.
- Grab any ready-to-wear costumes from our range online or for ideas on how to make your own Squid Game costumes, check out our DIY Squid Games costumes blog here.
3. What you’ll need for the games:
Image source: marieclaire.com
Choose your games. They can be similar to the ones from the series or come up with your own using games you played in your childhood. Check out this blog by Wired.com for a rundown on each game in the Squid Game series.
- Red light, green light: You just need space for running and a game host to call out “Red Light, Green Light”. Similar alternative games to play could be 'Musical Statues', 'Musical Chairs' or 'What’s the Time Mr Wolf?'.
- Tug of war: You just need a length of rope (and some fake shackles or handcuffs to keep it authentic to the show).
- Dalgona Candy: Make your own toffee or honeycomb treats with shapes the players need to cut out with their needle. Use the same shapes as in the show, or mix it up.
- The Midnight Fight: While this one might be harder to do (you wouldn’t want to hurt your friends, after all), you can wait until it’s dark and play a version of 'Murder in the Dark' using those game rules instead.
- Marbles: a bag of marbles per player. Assign games to play or let the players choose their own marble challenges.
- The Glass Stepping Stones Challenge: We’d probably steer clear on doing this one exactly like the show. Maybe try placing small panels of board spaciously on the ground. Like the show, take turns moving forward but have Soldiers throwing water balloons at the Players. If a Player gets hit or steps off the panel to dodge, they lose!
- Squid Game: Use a field, schoolyard or sport court where you can mark out the lines for the game. Alternatively, replace this game with any one on one challenge like Handball, Slap Wrestling, Arm Wrestling, etc.
4. Decide what your game rules will be:
Image source: Reddit User: joel_motion
- For VIPS: have them watch and place bets for their own mini game. Designate some prizes or fake money to start with that they have to forfeit each time a player they bet on gets eliminated. For an adult drinking game variation, the VIPs could take a shot each time they lose their bets instead.
- For games with teams, pairs or wherever applicable, have each player's number written on paper to be pulled out of a hat at random so there’s no unfairness. (As they say in the show, everyone is given equal opportunity to play but not if you’ve seen the show and already know what to do).
- Each time a player or team loses a game, have your Soldiers squirt them with their fake blood-filled water pistols (or throw similarly filled water balloons at them) - just avoid aiming at their faces.
- Whether or not you want to completely eliminate players from participation is up to you. To keep everyone playing the whole time, you could assign ‘funds’ to each player and they must forfeit a portion of it into a collective fund (or “piggy bank”) each time they lose a game. At the end, the player who has the most funds left is the winner and can take the spoils.
5. What you’ll need for the decorations:
Image source: mothership.sg
- Set up a section as the game space. This is where you’ll set up and play the games. This can be a field, backyard or anywhere that’s suitable for the games you’ve chosen to play.
- Then set up one other section with a jungle theme like in the VIP room. This will be where you as the Game Master can be located, as well as any VIPs you have and it will face the game space.
- Decorate this area with tropical Hawaiian luau and Safari themed decorations. Think lots of leafy green plants and backdrops, wild animal patterns and props like pythons, leopards and more to recreate the crazy, wild VIP section from the show.
And that’s everything you need to recreate the best Squid Game themed party for your next event!
