After three years, Squid Game season 2 has finally arrived, following the success of the original series that became Netflix’s most-watched show ever and a global cultural phenomenon. Although a second season wasn’t initially planned, the massive success of the first made it almost inevitable.
However, early reviews for season 2 are already rolling in—and they’re not as glowing as those for the first season. While not disastrous, the scores are lower so far, which isn’t entirely unexpected for a follow-up that struggles to capture the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of the original. Here’s a look at how the ratings compare:
- Squid Game Season 1: 95% critic score, 84% audience score
- Squid Game Season 2: 83% critic score, 63% audience score
While these numbers are still solid, they are a notable drop from the first season’s ratings. Some critics point to the reduction in episodes—from 9 to just 7—as a potential factor, with the show’s production delay being a symptom of the streaming era, where it can take years to produce a shorter season.
The more pressing question surrounding Squid Game season 2, however, is its viewership numbers. The first season remains Netflix’s biggest hit by a wide margin, with the all-time top 10 list showing impressive stats:
- Squid Game Season 1 – 2.2 billion hours viewed, 265.2 million views
- Stranger Things Season 4 – 1.83 billion hours viewed, 140.7 million views
- Wednesday Season 1 – 1.72 billion hours viewed, 252.1 million views
- Dahmer – 1.03 billion hours viewed, 115.6 million views
- Bridgerton Season 1 – 929.3 million hours viewed, 113.3 million views
- Bridgerton Season 3 – 846.5 million hours viewed, 106 million views
- The Night Agent Season 1 – 803.2 million hours viewed, 98 million views
- The Queen’s Gambit – 746.4 million hours viewed, 112.8 million views
- Money Heist Part 4 – 710.2 million hours viewed, 106 million views
- Fool Me Once – 629 million hours viewed, 98.2 million views
It’s clear that sequels or later seasons can still draw massive viewership—Stranger Things being a prime example. But will Squid Game season 2 reach the same heights? While it’s certain to perform well based on the success of the first season, I’m skeptical that it will come close to matching the original’s viral success. Unlike Stranger Things, which built toward a larger, ongoing story, Squid Game’s initial impact feels harder to replicate.
Season 2 will likely make it to Netflix’s top 10, and possibly even the top 5. But hitting the #1 or #2 spot again? That seems much less likely.
