Why Squid Game Season 3’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Has Critics & Audiences Very Divided

June 29, 2025

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The article contains major spoilers for Squid Game season 3.

Squid Game has been Netflix’s most popular show ever since it launched in 2021. It was released at the perfect time, having secured a captive audience during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also drawing viewership during the long wait for Stranger Things season 4. Netflix, recognizing its success, ordered seasons 2 and 3 to be filmed back-to-back.

Due to this Netflix approach, season 2 was released in late 2024, which was followed by season 3 six months later. Thankfully, audiences did not have to wait very long to see the end of Seong Gi-hun’s (Lee Jung-jae) tragic story. Unfortunately, they have not been wholly pleased with the show’s climactic final season.

Netflix still has a chance to improve the show’s reputation, as a Squid Game US-based spin-off is rumored to be in development. Still, after three seasons of following Gi-hun’s story, disappointment with the ending could be a significant issue for the show. As popular as the show has been, it still needs to maintain a good reputation for its spinoff’s sake.

Critics & Audiences Are Divided On Squid Game Season 3

The Popcornmeter Is 51%

The stakes are higher than ever, as this is the final season of the original Squid Game. After following Gi-hun’s story for three seasons, he deserved to receive positive recognition as his narrative concluded. Unfortunately, the reception has not been quite as positive as it might have been. Instead, Netflix is facing sharp criticism from the average viewer.

As with the rest of the show’s run, audiences and critics have been deeply divided about Squid Game season 3. While critics continue to praise the series in general, audiences have not been quite as favorable. In fact, the reception has been outright negative for nearly half of all viewers, according to the show’s Rotten Tomatoes scores:

Squid Game Seasons	Tomatometer Score	Popcornmeter Score
1	95%	84%
2	83%	63%
3	81%	51%
Overall	88%	66%

The show has never shied away from upsetting viewers by killing off beloved characters, but it has not been able to thrill them as much as the original season did. Critics and audiences have both seen a decline in their satisfaction with every passing season. While critics are not nearly as negative, even their average has declined by 14 points.

Hyun-ju holding her baby in Squid Game season 3, episode 2

Jun-hee’s baby was the most important character in Squid Game season 3, not only during the games themselves but also for the aftermath of the story.

Audience ratings, meanwhile, have declined by an astounding 33%. From the near-universal acclaim that season 1 received from critics and viewers alike, that represents a massive concern for a show that was shaping up to be Netflix’s flagship franchise. With Stranger Things‘ final season on the way, Netflix needs to recapture its audience before moving on to the eventual spin-off.

Audiences Were Not Happy With How Squid Game Season 3 Ended

Many Felt Mixed About Gi-hun’s Demise

Squid Game season 3’s ending is the true underlying reason behind the disappointing response. After season 2 saw Gi-hun failing in his attempt to rebel against the Front Man, season 3 offered him one final chance to win his second set of games. The protagonist even managed to make it to the final round, where he only needed to survive.

One of the masked guards putting up their hands in Squid Game season 2 and Gi-hun looking unhappy

Squid Game season 2’s shorter episode count has proven divisive, but it will actually help the third and final season of the Netflix series.

Tragically, for Gi-hun to live, he would have to kill both Myung-gi (Yim Si-wan) and Jun-hee’s (Jo Yu-ri) baby. Myung-gi was willing to kill his own child to claim the 45.6 billion won prize, but Gi-hun could not accept it. Determined to cling to his humanity and his sense of morality, he fought Myung-gi, who eventually fell to his death, and then stepped off the platform.

45.6 billion won is equivalent to $31.42 million in U.S. dollars.

Gi-hun’s sacrifice ensured that the baby would live a long and happy life. With such a large nest egg, she would never need to suffer as Gi-hun and Jun-hee had. Instead, Jun-hee’s wish would be fulfilled, as the baby would win the games and enjoy a good life, solely because Gi-hun and her mother sacrificed themselves for the next generation.

Naturally, viewers who had been following Gi-hun’s story for so many years were devastated by his death. Many of the reviews argue that the ending was unsatisfying, specifically because of his death. With Gi-hun’s demise, the games will go on as if nothing had happened, seemingly making the entire show pointless.

Some Squid Game Season 3 Deaths Felt Undeserved

Whereas Player 100 Was Allowed To Survive Until Round 6

To make matters worse, some of Squid Game season 3’s deaths were both undeserved and unfair to the characters in question. Gi-hun choosing to kill the cowardly but good-hearted Kang Dae-ho, for instance, seemed out of character. Dae-ho did prove to be an unreliable ally, but he never meant to hurt anyone, so Gi-hun’s decision to strangle him was shocking.

None of these characters deserved to die so horribly, which is the entire point of Squid Game.

By contrast, Jang Geum-ja’s death was telegraphed, but it was still somewhat undeserved. Her decision to kill Park Young-sik, her own son, was shocking, but she did it to save Jun-hee. It is devastating that she chose to end her life shortly after, especially given that she still had an interest in protecting the baby.

Squid Game is packed with many disturbing moments that stay with viewers for a long time, but its most unsettling game does not appear until season 3.

Among them all, the most undeserved death was Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon), who quickly became the fan-favorite character in the recent games. After having fought hard and sharply in the last few rounds, many audiences felt that she died too soon in the series, especially in contrast to Player 100, who had a greater screen time.

None of these characters deserved to die so horribly, which is the entire point of Squid Game. These people are forced to turn to heinous actions to survive in a world that never cared to cater to them. Just as Jun-hee and Gi-hun were forced to sacrifice themselves, they died because they had dreams of a better life, which is devastating.

Viewers who were looking to entertain themselves with high-stakes TV were unsatisfied with that ending. Instead of offering conclusive character arcs, most of the cast never had the chance to redeem themselves, nor had the time to develop their character arc. They died with no resolutions in their lives, which inevitably upset many viewers.

Some Criticism Addresses The Lackluster Depth Of Squid Game Season 3

The Final Episodes Showed Little Of The Front Man

Just as audiences were displeased with the character arcs, they were also upset about the lackluster depth of the final episodes. With only a short six-episode season, the cast and crew needed to wrap up the games in a very short period. That left little room for character development and growth.

Gi-hun did not have the opportunity to properly mourn his friends, after all, nor did the season offer much more insight into the reality of the games. That should come with the inevitable Squid Game spin-off, but the final season of a show should be working to answer any remaining questions.

Custom Squid Game image of Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun

Squid Game season 3 serving as the show’s swan song may seem like waste potential, but Netflix’s decision to end the show so soon is good news.

The biggest head-scratcher was the lack of answers regarding the show’s antagonist, the Front Man. After entering the games in season 2 and providing more fascinating insight into his origins, the last season rarely showed much of the villain until the final episode. Even then, his attempts to sabotage Gi-hun received limited screen time, with some audiences noticing that the VIPs had a greater focus.

In addition, the showdown between Gi-hun and the Front Man was not well-executed. After setting up the philosophical battle about humanity, the highly anticipated confrontation was rushed and wasn’t properly resolved. As a result, many audiences expressed their dissatisfaction when Gi-hun learned that Player 001 was the Front Man, as there was little depth to this reveal.

There is so much left to be explored from this season, which inevitably upset viewers. The drastic decline in the show’s reputation likely relates to the lackluster finale, which did nothing more than set up a future for a baby and hint at the show’s potential American spinoff. Given that viewers were far more attached to the adults in the series, that was never going to end well.

Squid Game Season 3 Ending Is Called One Of The Worst Series Finales

It Just Didn’t Provide The Resolution As It Should Have

Many viewers have been complaining about the slow pace, the predictable twists, and the alleged melodrama that permeated the season. Most of the complaints are either aimed directly at the ending or the existence of the baby at all. Most viewers still had a positive reception, but it was mostly criticism.

Unfortunately, some of the reviewers have referred to the season as one of the worst series finales of all time. Given the undying disappointment of the finales of House, Game of Thrones, and other major shows, that is a high bar to cross. This ending is likely not quite as disappointing as that, but it is a worrying sign.

Squid Game season 3 ended with the implication that the games would be moved to the United States.

With Stranger Things also set to end this year, Netflix needs to ensure that audiences will engage with upcoming Squid Game content. It has invested millions in this franchise for a reason, and it is because it has the potential to last. The negative response to season 3 is certainly worrying and proof that Netflix may need to revive interest in this series.

Netflix needs to address Squid Game‘s criticism directly. It would be unwise to bring Gi-hun back, but the next show should offer its protagonist an opportunity to make a difference in more than just one baby’s life. The show was certainly effective at communicating its themes, but it would never satisfy audiences with such an open ending.