A creepy new character and a release date: Here's everything we know about Squid Game season 3.

Well, Netflix has done it again. After dropping a season 2 finale so chaotic it left us all collectively Googling "therapy," Squid Game is ready to ruin our lives all over again (in the best possible way).

Season three, the final chapter of this global phenomenon, is already on the way — and it's promising bigger twists, darker turns, and plenty more reasons to scream at your TV.

Watch: Squid Game The Challenge Official Trailer. Post continues below.

So, what's next for Gi-hun, the Front Man, and that terrifying robot duo? Here's everything we know so far about Squid Game season 3.

When is Squid Game season 3 coming out?

Yes, we have a release date for Squid Game season 3… sort of.

Netflix recently confirmed that Squid Game's final season will be coming "in 2025" — but exactly when to block out time in our diaries? That's yet to be seen.

Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk previously told The Hollywood Reporter that he was "nearly done with the editing portion of season 3", also telling Variety, "I probably expect [season 3] to launch around summer or fall next year."

AKA winter or spring in this hemisphere.

We have an official poster! Image: Netflix.

And, not that we're complaining, but why so soon after the gut-wrenching season two finale? Here's the twist: Seasons two and three were filmed back-to-back.

"I originally envisioned seasons two and three as a single story," Hwang said. "That's how I wrote it. But in the process, it came out to be too many episodes. So I thought it'd be better to divide it into two."

So, we are essentially getting the second half of one massive story, and Netflix knows we're desperate for answers. Bless.

Squid Game 2. Image: Netflix

What happened in Squid Game season 2?

To put it simply: absolute chaos.

Squid Game season 2 ended on a note so dark it made the Game of Thrones Red Wedding look like a picnic.

Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) led a player rebellion, determined to bring the games to an end. Teaming up with Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan), Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon) and others, he stormed the control room in a desperate bid to overthrow the system.

But as always, the Squid Game organisation was five steps ahead.

Character Hyun-ju, in Squid Game season 2. Image: Netflix.

The most heart-wrenching moment? Jung-bae's death at the hands of the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who was revealed to be In-ho, a previous winner of the games posing as Player 001.

As Gi-hun watched his best friend executed before his eyes, it became clear that rebellion would not be enough.

We were all shocked and horrified, and director Hwang explained to Variety exactly why season two ended this way.

"I thought that that was an adequate moment to put a stop and give [Gi-hun] a little bit of closure along [his] long story arc."

What happens in Squid Game season 3?

Let's just say Gi-hun isn't exactly thriving. And if you caught the post-credits scene in the final episode of season 2, you might already have an inkling as to what's coming.

Hwang teased, "If you watch that clip, it's going to give you a slight hint as to where season 3 might take you."

Spoiler: It involves the terrifying doll Young-hee meeting her equally creepy male counterpart, Chul-su, setting the stage for a whole new level of deadly games.

Squid Game 2. Image: Netflix

Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has also promised that our beleaguered Player 456 is about to hit a major crossroads.

"So all of his failures lead to this heavy, heavy crisis of having to lose his very best friend, Jung-bae, at the hands of The Front Man," Hwang told Variety.

"What state is Gi-hun going to be in? And what will he choose to do? Will he continue on with the mission? Is he going to give up or persist? You're going to meet our character Gi-hun at a very critical crossroads as we begin the third season."

Translation: it's time for Gi-hun's moral compass to get a serious workout.

After losing absolutely everything (including his best friend and the… will to smile, which is fair given the circumstances), he's grappling with guilt, failure and some existential dread that we imagine is pretty common in a high-stakes death game. Right?

Hwang has already warned us, "Gi-hun will not be the man he was in season two."

Yikes.

Will he rise as the rebel hero we're all rooting for, or could he — plot twist — start slipping into Front Man territory? Either way, it sounds like Gi-hun is gearing up for his dark and moody era, and we're absolutely terrified.

Who's coming back for season 3?

Squid Game season 3 is bringing back some familiar faces, and plenty of heartbreak.

Lee Jung-jae is a lock to return as Gi-hun, our perpetually unlucky Player 456 who just can't seem to stay out of the game. His mission to take down the entire operation is far from over, and honestly, he's probably got the therapist bills to prove it.

Detective Jun-ho is also tipped to return, still hellbent on exposing the island's secrets and confronting his brother, In-ho, AKA The Front Man. Family reunions have never been this awkward.

And yes, Lee Byung-hun is back as the enigmatic and absolutely infuriating Front Man. If you thought his betrayals in season two were bad, just wait. This guy probably sleeps in a plot twist-shaped bed.

Let's not forget the dolls. Young-hee is back, and she's bringing her creepy male counterpart, Chul-su. Because nothing says "thrilling television" like two giant killer robots with the moral compass of a malfunctioning Roomba.

Is Squid Game season 3 the final season?

It's official: the third season of Squid Game will be the show's swan song, and we're already emotionally preparing ourselves for the heartbreak.

Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk confirmed the news in the most bittersweet way in 2024, writing to fans: "I am beyond excited to be writing this letter to announce the date for season two and share the news of season three, the final season.

"The fierce clash between [Gi-hun and Front Man's] two worlds will continue into the series finale with season three, which will be brought to you next year."

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Hwang explained why season three will be the end of the line. "When I was thinking about the idea for the ending of season three, I think it sort of naturally came to me that this was the finale," he said.

"I believed that with that story, I was able to tell everything that I wanted to tell through the story of Squid Game and also in the perspective of Gi-hun as a character. We don't need any further stories from here."

Translation? This final season will be an emotional roller-coaster — one we're both dreading and dying to ride.

Feature image: Netflix.