How Squid Game Broke Me

When I first heard about Squid Game, it looked like everyone was talking about it. Friends, coworkers, and people on social media couldn’t stop discussing the twisted games, the bright set designs, and the strange masks. I was immediately intrigued by the premise: a group of financially desperate people risking their lives in a series of deadly children’s games to win a fortune. On the surface, it looked like another violent drama meant to shock audiences, but the buzz promised there was more depth to it than just gore.

Curious, I decided to give it a try. I started watching on a Saturday evening, thinking I’d check out an episode or two before bed. Instead, I ended up staying awake into the early hours of the morning, binge-watching several episodes. The show grabbed my attention so fast that I lost track of time. Each scene felt intense and emotional. The characters were flawed, desperate, and sometimes cruel, yet I couldn’t help but feel connected to their struggles. Their challenges reflected real-life issues that I hadn’t confronted before but still found relatable. Little did I know, these feelings would stay with me long after I finished the final episode.

By the end of the series, I felt emotionally drained. The show chipped away at my beliefs about humanity. Scenes of betrayal, suffering, and tough moral choices caught me off guard. The harsh dilemmas clashed with my optimistic view of the world and reminded me how desperation can push people to extremes. What affected me most, though, was how Squid Game made me question how I would act in a situation as dire as the one the contestants faced. I realized no one is ever fully ready to deal with life-or-death scenarios that test their morals.

So, without further ado, this is how Squid Game broke me!

Human Cruelty

One reason Squid Game had such a strong impact on me is the way it portrays violence. While I’ve watched violent shows before, the cruelty here felt different. The violence was tied to childhood games like “Red Light, Green Light,” but with deadly consequences. The bright and nostalgic set designs contrasted sharply with the brutal killings, making the violence even more disturbing. Each gunshot and pool of blood felt shocking in such an innocent-looking environment.

I remember watching the first game and feeling disbelief. In seconds, dozens of people were killed, while others panicked and tried to escape. Their screams and desperate attempts to survive showed how fragile human life can be. These players had signed up out of desperation for money, not realizing that losing meant death. Seeing them run for their lives in a setting that should have been safe made me feel uneasy. These weren’t just nameless extras; they were people with families, hopes, and regrets. Watching them die so brutally was heartbreaking.

The show also exposed a darker side of human nature. As the players realized that only one of them could win, they understood that others had to lose—or even die—for their own survival. In one scene, the players had to choose a partner, assuming they’d work together. But then they learned they would have to compete against their chosen teammate, which led to heartbreaking betrayals. These moments forced me to think about how far people might go to protect themselves, even at the expense of someone they care about.

Some of the most unsettling violence in Squid Game wasn’t physical but psychological. The masked guards in pink suits acted like faceless enforcers of a cruel system. Their anonymity symbolized how the players’ lives were seen as disposable, just parts of a larger, twisted machine. This made me think about how real-world systems sometimes treat people as numbers instead of individuals. While the show exaggerated this idea, it made me uncomfortable to think about how such cruelty could exist under certain conditions.

Watching Squid Game made me realize how easily violence can become a solution for those in power. The show suggests that under enough pressure, people can normalize cruelty. This realization was unsettling because it made me question how strong morality really is. Could I stay compassionate in a situation like this, or would survival instincts make me ruthless? The brutality, betrayals, and moral dilemmas in the show made me reflect on how fragile the line between right and wrong can be.

Psychological Anguish

Beyond the physical violence, the psychological impact on both the characters and viewers was intense. One of the reasons Squid Game had such a strong emotional effect on me was the heavy burden of emotional pain carried by each participant. You could see it on their faces as they struggled to decide whether to betray a friend or risk their own life for a small chance at a better future. This deep sense of fear and hopelessness wasn’t just limited to the characters—as a viewer, I felt it too.

The players joined these deadly games because they had no other options. Whether it was crushing debt, bad decisions, or tragic circumstances, they saw the cash prize as their only chance to turn their lives around. That desperation hit me on a personal level. I’ve never faced the kind of extreme financial struggles they had, but I’ve felt trapped by situations before. Watching the characters hold onto one final shred of hope reminded me that everyone wants a second chance. The fact that failure meant death added unbearable pressure. As I watched, I felt their anxiety and knew how easily a single mistake could end their journey.

What made the show even more impactful was how each game wasn’t just about surviving physically, but also about making difficult moral choices. Sometimes, players didn’t realize until it was too late that they would have to sacrifice someone else to move forward. This moral conflict made the games even more terrifying because you could see how much it hurt people to choose survival over their values.

For me, the emotional suffering and regret in Squid Game were harder to watch than the physical violence. Physical wounds heal, but emotional scars can last forever. Watching characters break down mentally as they realized they had lost their moral compass made me wonder how I would handle such a situation. Would I be able to live with the shame and guilt of hurting someone else to survive? This question stayed with me long after the series ended.

Darkness of Desperation

One of the most powerful aspects of Squid Game is how it highlights social inequality. The show makes it clear that the participants don’t enter the games simply because they want to. Yes, they sign the contract to compete, but their choice is shaped by a society that leaves them drowning in debt, with no way out and no better options. This premise raises tough questions about how the world pushes vulnerable people into making desperate decisions. The entire competition depends on the idea that there will always be people so desperate for money that they’ll risk their lives for it.

This level of desperation mirrors real-world struggles, even if the show exaggerates it. Many people live paycheck to paycheck, trapped in endless cycles of debt they can’t escape. Others are stuck in systems where they have little chance to improve their situation. The show makes it clear that even people who try to do everything right can end up in terrible situations because of events they can’t control, like losing a job, facing huge medical bills, or experiencing personal tragedies.

What hit me hardest was how the organizers of the games took advantage of these vulnerabilities. They used the participants’ financial struggles as a way to create entertainment, much like the wealthy VIPs who watch the games for fun. This felt like a dark commentary on the real world, where it sometimes seems like those with power and money benefit from the struggles of others. Even though "Squid Game" exaggerates this idea for dramatic effect, there’s truth to it. People with resources often have the ability to manipulate or exploit those who have none.

The relationship between the wealthy spectators and the contestants shows this divide clearly. The masked VIPs treat the players as objects of amusement. They cheer and bet on who will survive, completely ignoring the humanity of the participants. This reminded me of how certain industries or organizations treat workers as disposable and replaceable. The show made me think about how easy it is for people in power to dehumanize those beneath them.

Watching the cruelty that came from this inequality was hard to process. It made me confront the fact that desperation can push people to do anything, even turn on each other to survive. I like to believe that people stay good under pressure, but the series showed how decency can break down when survival is on the line. In many ways, Squid Game serves as a warning about what can happen in societies where the gap between the rich and poor becomes too big. If enough people feel hopeless, there is no telling what they would be willing to do.

Conclusion

When I say Squid Game broke me, I mean it broke the way I think about morality, survival, and human decency. It showed a dark side of society—one that thrives on inequality and treats human lives as entertainment. On a personal level, it forced me to question how I would react in similar circumstances. Would I stay kind, or would survival push me to abandon my values?

In the end, I can’t forget what the series revealed about desperation and cruelty. But it also reminded me of the importance of kindness in a world where so many people are struggling. Squid Game may have shaken me, but it also inspired me to care more deeply about the challenges others face. If nothing else, I hope we can use stories like this to spark conversations about how to build a better, more supportive society.

And that’s it. How Squid Game broke me. I hope you’ve enjoyed this essay. Let me know what you think in the comments below and don’t forget to like and subscribe. Until next time. Salam!