Squid Game Season 3 Records Best 10-Day Viewership For Netflix Despite Mixed Reviews
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Squid Game Season 3 has once again confirmed that it is far more than just a streaming series. It is a cultural juggernaut that continues to break records and spark passionate reactions around the world. Released on June 27, 2025, the third season quickly soared to the top of Netflix’s charts, amassing an astonishing 106.3 million views within just ten days. This milestone secures its place as the third most-watched non-English language show in Netflix history, trailing only the previous two seasons of the same franchise.
The scale of this achievement is hard to overstate. Within the first three days of release, the season racked up over 60 million views and more than 368 million hours watched. Those figures made it the biggest TV debut ever recorded on Netflix, surpassing not only other international titles but also several English-language blockbusters. For Netflix, it was clear evidence that the appetite for the series remains enormous, even after nearly four years since the first season took the world by storm.
One of the biggest reasons for this explosive success was the deep connection viewers had developed with the story and its characters. Since its debut in 2021, Squid Game has captivated audiences with its brutal competition, psychological tension, and biting commentary on class and desperation. By the time Season 3 arrived, fans were eager to find out how Seong Gi-hun’s quest to bring down the deadly game’s creators would finally end. The stakes felt higher than ever, and the series benefited from months of anticipation and speculation about what twists the finale would hold.
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While the numbers were undeniably historic, reactions to the season itself have been much more divided. Many critics appreciated the ambition of the final episodes and the way the narrative tried to balance shocking action with more reflective moments. Performances by the main cast, particularly Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun, received consistent praise for their intensity and emotional weight. For some viewers, the finale delivered exactly the kind of big, dramatic conclusion they had hoped to see.
However, a significant portion of both critics and fans found faults that were hard to ignore. One of the most frequent complaints was about the overuse of computer-generated imagery, including an animated baby that quickly became a lightning rod for criticism and memes online. Some felt that these digital effects undercut the show’s gritty realism. Others argued that the season’s pacing was uneven and that the last-minute rewrite of the ending left parts of the story feeling rushed or inconsistent. The reaction was evident in audience scores across review platforms. While Rotten Tomatoes showed an approval rating around 78 percent from critics, the audience ratings were notably lower, reflecting disappointment among some longtime fans. Metacritic’s score of 66 out of 100 further highlighted that, although the season was generally well received, it fell short of the acclaim heaped on the first season.
Also Read: Squid Game Season 3 Review: Did the New Chapter Deliver the Thrills?
Despite these critiques, Squid Game Season 3 represents a significant milestone for Netflix and the broader streaming landscape. It proves that a series with a strong cultural impact can continue to generate massive viewership, even when later seasons divide opinion. For the platform, the numbers demonstrate that audiences are increasingly drawn to event television experiences that become global conversations, regardless of whether every fan agrees on their quality.
Looking ahead, the franchise appears far from finished. Netflix has already confirmed that Squid Game: The Challenge, the reality competition spin-off inspired by the show, will return for another season. Meanwhile, rumors continue to circulate about a potential American adaptation, possibly involving director David Fincher. These developments suggest that Squid Game’s cultural momentum is likely to keep growing in the years to come.
In the end, Squid Game Season 3 has shown that sometimes, the sheer power of anticipation and emotional investment can drive record-breaking success, even when reviews are mixed. Whether fans loved the finale or found it disappointing, millions of people around the world tuned in to watch the conclusion of a story that has left a lasting mark on modern entertainment.