Squid Game Season 1 recap highlights Player 456's shocking victory and emotional aftermath

In "Squid Game" Season 1, Player 456, Seong Gi-hun, wins a deadly competition with 456 contestants, ultimately claiming nearly $38 million. The games, designed for the entertainment of wealthy VIPs, involve brutal challenges where players are killed if they fail. Gi-hun survives five rounds, forming bonds with fellow contestants. In the final game, he faces his childhood friend Sang-woo. Unable to kill him, Gi-hun becomes the winner when Sang-woo takes his own life, leaving Gi-hun as the last man standing. After winning, Gi-hun struggles with loss and guilt. He learns that an old friend was a creator of the games. Motivated by a chance encounter with a recruiter, he decides to return to the games, setting the stage for Season 2.