Pinoy Squid Game: 6 Games Turned Deadly

It’s been a month since Squid Game 2 graced our screens through its deadly twist on traditional Korean games. This got us thinking: What if there was a Pinoy Squid Game? If so, which games do we include for a killer reinterpretation?

1. Patintero

Think of this as a high-stakes version of evading capture. In this game, players must run from one end of the field to the other without being tagged by the “guards,” who try to block their path in lines. In this version, you need to be agile because once you get caught, the guards can threaten to kill you.

2. Piko

If you’re familiar with hopscotch, you’ll love (or hate) this one. Here, players hop through a series of numbered squares to complete the course without stepping on the lines or losing balance. And if you misstep, let’s just say death awaits you. 

3. Tumbang Preso

We can have a headstart because the Squid Game 2 cast played this themselves! You just need a can and some slippers, depending on the number of players. A “guard” stands by the can at a distance, while others throw the slippers to knock it over. The “guard” now has to catch players who try to retrieve the slipper, and those they catch are eliminated.

READ: Para sa Pelikula: How the PH Film Industry can be like Korea’s

4. Luksong Tinik

Not to be confused with luksong baka (though that could also be included in a Pinoy Squid Game), this game requires players to create a human “thorn” by bending down or lying on the ground. The “thorns” increase each round, so other players have to jump over without touching them.

5. Pepsi-7UP

Consider this a localized version of the show’s Red Light, Green Light game. Imagine a huge doll inspired by Pinoy folklore, calling out “Pepsi” to the players as they run towards it. To stop them, it will yell “7UP” and check if there are any moving players.

6. Sungka

Physical games are not the only requirement for a Pinoy Squid Game. In this game of numbers and strategy, players take turns moving small shells or pebbles across a wooden board with holes. The goal is to capture more pieces than their opponent by landing in certain spaces.

Every move counts when the Pinoy Squid Game turns childhood favorites into high-stakes challenges. And only those with skill, strategy, and some swerte will survive until the end.