Six Amazing Survival Series You Need To Watch

Survival, life-or-death themed series are amazing at portraying human nature, cruelty, betrayal and desperation, while still keeping you entertained with big-stakes games, gore and violence.

Squid Game, Netflix most popular TV series is a perfect example and there are many more life-or-death series and movies that brilliantly capture these thrilling themes as well. 

6.Night Has Come (K-Drama)

A Korean drama like Squid Game and it’s every bit as thrilling as you’d hope.

This 12-episode series follows a class of high school students on a retreat that soon turns into a nightmare. They’re forced to play a deadly real-life version of the Mafia game, where betrayal and deceit mean life or death.

With its intense emotional moments and clever plot twists, Night Has Come captures the essence of Squid Game while adding that signature K-drama depth and suspense.

5. Zero: The Bravest Money Game

If you loved Squid Game’s mix of moral choices and deadly games, this Japanese series should be your next watch. 

 Zero Ukai, a middle school teacher who secretly acts as a modern-day Robin Hood in his neighborhood. When he joins a dangerous survival game set in an unfinished amusement park, he must risk his life for a chance to win 100 billion yen.

With only one season (10 episodes), Zero: The Bravest Money Game delivers a tight, thought-provoking story that explores greed, courage, and sacrifice, all while keeping you glued to the screen.

4. Alice in Borderland (Netflix)

If you haven’t seen this yet, you’re missing one of the best Squid Game-style shows out there.

A gamer named Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) and his friends suddenly find themselves in a deserted, alternate version of Tokyo. To survive, they must play a series of deadly games — each one more difficult than the last, depending on the playing card chosen. Fail to play, and a laser from the sky ends your life instantly.

With amazing characters and plot, Alice in Borderland keeps you hooked from start to finish. The series currently has three seasons, the latest of which just dropped last month.

3. Escape Room (Netflix)

This two-part Hollywood thriller (Escape Room (2019) and Escape Room: Tournament of Champions) is a perfect mix of puzzle-solving and panic.

Six strangers from different backgrounds are invited to participate in what seems like a fun challenge for a $10,000 prize. But soon, the puzzles turn deadly, and one wrong move could mean instant death.

Each room tests not only their intelligence but also their will to survive. It’s fast-paced, full of twists, and perfect if you love mind games mixed with danger.

2. Battle Royale 

Before Squid Game, there was Battle Royale, widely considered the original blueprint for modern survival thrillers.

Based on the Japanese novel of the same name, the story follows a class of junior high school students who are randomly selected by the government and sent to a remote island. There, they’re forced to kill each other until only one student remains.

1. The Platform 🇪🇸 (Netflix)

If Squid Game made you think deeply about class, greed, and humanity, then The Platform will hit even harder.

This Spanish dystopian thriller takes place in a vertical prison where inmates are fed via a descending platform loaded with food. The higher levels feast while the lower levels starve , unless they resort to horrific measures.

Each month, inmates are randomly moved to new levels, turning the entire system into a gruesome experiment on human nature and inequality. The Platform is an unforgettable two parts movie available to watch on Netflix.