The Netflix series soon became popular because of its intricate plot. This survival drama presents 456 players who agree to enter a series of games that people used to play when they were children. The contestants, who are known to be financially struggling, are promised to win ₩45.6 billion ($38.6 million) after they win the set of games. What they don’t know at first is that every failure will cost a life.

So what are these games? Inspired by his own struggles and economic inequality in South Korea, the film director and screenwriter Hwang Dong-hyuk wrote Squid Game, which later turned into a successful series. Squid Game is an actual game that gained popularity in the '70s and '80s. The game got its name from the squid-shaped figure drawn at the start of the game. This is when players divide into two teams and fight for who will “dominate” the playground.

The series also gave a start to the Dalgona candy challenge. The show presented a Dalgona candy carving challenge, after which people also started making this candy and sharing their carving experience on TikTok. If you’re also interested in how to make this candy, Ayeh Farr, creator of Cooking With Ayeh, shared a TikTok on how to make your own candy and participate in this carving challenge.