Best Squid Game Christmas gifts for the fan in your life – doll alarm clock, marbles, advent calendars and much more
- An alarm clock that ‘fires a bullet to wake you up’, cookie-cutter sets, marbles – many Squid Game gifts evoke some of the series’ most stressful moments
- For less nerve-shredding presents there’s figurines, jigsaws, colouring books and clothing, from sweatshirts to socks that can be customised
When you think of the perfect Christmas gift, something based on a bloody gore fest that makes you question your own morality may not immediately spring to mind, but then Squid Game was no normal TV series.
The dystopian survival K-drama centres on a mysterious organisation that challenges 456 players from all walks of life – each deeply in debt – to play a series of children’s games. Win and they go home rich. Lose and they die.
Some of the show’s most memorable images have been fully utilised by retail firms. The best of these has to be the “red light, green light” doll alarm clock, which is the centrepiece of the first episode’s bloody game.
“Can’t get up? The same traffic light alarm clock fires bullets to wake you up!” the item’s advertising blurb says. “When the time reaches the time you set, the heroine of the game will turn to the bed and fire a bullet to wake you up. The sounds in the game will be mixed in the middle, allowing you to get an immersive gaming experience!”
Described on Amazon as the “perfect gift for family, friends and other people who like squid survival games”, the “high simulation Squid Game alarm clock”, with “horror sound effects” and “shake head function”, may prove a little too realistic for comfort.
Squid Game: Netflix survival K-drama is wickedly entertaining
Waking up to it all would be bad enough, but trying to get to sleep with the doll looking at you from your bedside cabinet could be even worse.
Another unnerving festive item on sale is a “Korean DIY traditional sugar Cookie Cutter set”, based on the dalgona candy game (aka the honeycomb challenge) episode. In one of the most suspenseful games in the show, players had to cut shapes out of dalgona, which is a Korean sweet made from sugar and baking soda.
Complete with the same cookie-cutter shapes featured in the Netflix series, this present can help you recreate the game where contestants were given 10 minutes to scratch around a shape, without breaking the whole thing to avoid being shot. Or you could just make a tasty Christmas snack for all the family instead.
Thankfully, many other Squid Game-related Yuletide gifts are not as nerve-shredding.
A Squid Game-inspired advent calendar is available. Behind every door, you’ll find fidget toys inspired by characters and games from the show.
Whether parents have allowed their children to watch the K-drama or not, a range of kids gifts for the holiday season will also be on sale such as figurines, jigsaws, puzzles and colouring books featuring all the show’s most popular characters.
You can even get a pair of Squid Game socks for dad this year that come in two colourful designs: a pair that features iconic items from all the games, or he can customise them into his favourite signature look.
A variety of clothing is available from sweatshirts and jumpers to hoodies and T-shirts.
You can also customise some of these clothing items to specify the numbers and symbols that appear on them. If your friend or a family member has a favourite number or character, for example, you can get them their very own Squid Game player shirt.
You can even buy a set of Squid Game marbles from its most infamous episode. But even for avid fans, this may be a step too far.
