Squid Game Team Building: Challenges That Work for Teams

You’ve been asked to organise “something Squid Game” for an away day or social. Squid Game team building can be fun rather than awkward: keep the childhood games, lose the stakes, and score teams on points instead of knocking people out.

That is how we approach Squid Game-inspired challenges at Gold Tier Events, where they sit within our outdoor team building offer. Below: which games translate, how to make them inclusive and safe, and when to book a supplier.

What is Squid Game team building?

Squid Game team building uses simple playground-style games, inspired by the TV series, as team challenges. It borrows the games, not the consequences. Nobody is eliminated for real, and nobody is humiliated.

The show built its drama around ordinary children’s games such as Red Light, Green Light and tug of war. That is exactly why they work for teams: everyone already knows the rules, so you spend the time playing rather than explaining.

Which Squid Game challenges work for work teams?

The best ones are quick, low-skill and easy to score as a team: Red Light, Green Light, tug of war, marble-style skill games, ground-level memory puzzles and group-forming rounds. Here is how each translates.

Red Light, Green Light

Players move towards a finish line when the caller says “green” and freeze on “red”. It needs open floor and a clear voice, and it is easy to explain in ten seconds. Instead of sending movers back out of the game, send them back to the start line for a few seconds, or award points to the team with the most players across the line.

Tug of war

A familiar sports-day classic, and a natural fit for large groups. Run it as a best-of-three between teams, and mix up the teams between rounds so colleagues from different departments pull together. Check the ground is firm and grippy, and keep rounds short.

Marbles-style skill challenges

In the show, marbles became a high-stakes duel. For work, turn them into stations: flicking, aiming or pitching small objects at a target for points. They need little space and suit mixed abilities, because accuracy beats strength. They also run well alongside other activities.

Stepping-stone memory puzzles

The show’s glass bridge is dangerous. A safe version keeps everything at ground level: teams work out a hidden path across floor tiles by trial and error, and each team member’s mistake helps the next. It tests communication and memory, not nerve.

Mingle-style group-forming rounds

Here a caller shouts a number and players must quickly form groups of exactly that size. Skip any penalty for those left over. Give them a simple task instead, such as sharing a fact with the group, so the round also helps people meet colleagues they don’t usually talk to.

How do the challenges compare?

Use this table to choose by space and what you want to test. Group sizes and space vary by format, so treat this as a guide and confirm specifics with your supplier.

How do you make it inclusive and safe?

Replace eliminations with points, give every player a role, and carry out a proper risk assessment before the day. Safety and inclusion come from the way the games are designed, not from rules added afterwards.

• Points, not eliminations. If a player is “out”, give them a job: referee, scorekeeper or cheerleader. Or send them back to the start rather than out of the game.
• Mobility and pace. Offer seated or low-movement versions, such as marbles stations or scoring roles, so everyone can contribute on equal terms.
• Non-drinkers and varied comfort levels. Don’t tie the day to alcohol, and make participation optional without drawing attention to it.
• Surface and space. Running and pulling need a safe, even surface and room to stop. Walk the area beforehand.
• Supervision and insurance. Ask your supplier for their risk assessment and confirm what insurance covers. For official guidance on managing risk, see the Health and Safety Executive’s risk assessment advice.

How do you handle the theme sensitively?

Not everyone has seen the show, and some people dislike its violence. Tell colleagues the theme and tone in the invitation, make clear it’s about playground games, and avoid fake weapons, tracksuit-and-number gimmicks that imply elimination, or anything that mimics harm.

A light touch works best: a bit of branding or theming, an upbeat host and a points board do more for the mood than any prop. You can also pair the games with a different format later in the day, such as a game show or quiz for people who prefer to watch or think rather than run.

Should you run it yourself or book a supplier?

You can run simple games yourself, but a supplier takes care of the setup, scoring, hosting and safety planning, so you can join in. DIY can work for a small group and a simple game or two. For larger or mixed-ability groups, outdoor space or a full day, book help.

At Gold Tier, setup, breakdown and all equipment are provided with our corporate events, along with professional hosts and custom branding and theming if you want it. We deliver across the UK. See our team building events for how the formats fit into a wider day, or compare it with indoor options such as CSI Investigation in our indoor team building formats.

FAQs

What are good Squid Game team building ideas?

Red Light, Green Light, tug of war, marble-style skill challenges, ground-level stepping-stone memory puzzles and group-forming rounds all translate well. They are simple, quick to explain and easy to score. Run them as team points games rather than eliminations, so nobody sits out for long.

Is Squid Game team building appropriate for work?

Yes, if you borrow the childhood games and leave out the show’s stakes. Skip prop weapons, fake violence and anything that singles people out. Tell the group the theme in advance, make taking part optional, and offer a different role to anyone who doesn’t want to join in or hasn’t seen the show.

How many people do you need for Squid Game-style games?

It depends on the challenge. Tug of war and Red Light, Green Light work with a team or two, and also scale to large groups when you run several rounds. Skill challenges can run as stations. Confirm numbers and space with your supplier, who can adapt the format to the size of your group.

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