Red light, green light: These Squid Game trendjacks stopped us in our tracks

Netflix dropped a late Christmas present with the return of the highly anticipated second season of Squid Game. The South Korean dystopian thriller quickly became a global phenomenon after its premier in 2021, captivating audiences with its intense storyline and compelling characters.

By the end of 2024, Squid Game had reached an astounding 330 million viewers and over 2.8 billion hours viewed, according to Variety. After the release of season two, the series skyrocketed to the top of the "Netflix Global Top 10", amassing 68 million views in its debut, ranking top in 92 countries, breaking the record for most views for a show in its premiere week and breaking into the "Most Popular List" in record time, according to Netflix.

This viewership not only solidified Squid Game as a cultural sensation but also demonstrated the immense global appeal of non-English language content on streaming platforms. With that, brands wasted no time in trendjacking the series' hype and using it in their own marketing strategies. From iconic guard-inspired costumes to eerie but delectable snacks, brands are hopping on the Squid Game train to get people talking. 

Below are some of MARKETING-INTERACTIVE's favourite social trendjacks that we'd give the cash prize to. 

Don't miss: Some 'Wickedly' good trendjacks by brands

1. Meiji Singapore 

"Red light, green light. Snack right". Meiji Singapore promoted popular snacks such as Hello Panda, YanYan, Chocorooms and Uproll in a recent Instagram post. 

2. 313@somerset

313@somerset gave customers the green light to visit popular Korean restaurants in the area. 

3. Paya Lebar Quarter 

Paya Lebar Quarter aimed to inspire Singaporeans to shop for their guard-inspired outfits at various stores in the mall.

4. Crocs Malaysia

Crocs raced to jump on the trend with their latest Squid Game-inspired shoes.

5. CASETiFY

The latest Squid Game x CASETiFY drop features tech accessories with new prints inspired by the new season and fan-favorite designs from the original release.

6. Duolingo

Duolingo urged users to catch-up on their Korean lessons with a humorous reel featuring the Duolingo bird dressed in guard costumes. 

7. Call of Duty

Call of Duty launched new Squid Game-inspired characters in their virtual world. 

8. PUMA Malaysia

Puma dropped their latest collaboration with Squid Game, showcasing outfits inspired by characters in the series.

8. est Cola Thailand

est Cola's latest campaign brought Squid Game guards to the street to distribute their products. 

9. Tealive Asia

Tealive dropped their latest collaboration with the Netflix series, urging customers to try their latest refreshing drinks inspired by Squid Game.

10. Mister Potato Malaysia

Malaysia's beloved snack brand also jumped on the trend, releasing its very own squid-flavoured potato chip. 

Have more to share? Send me what you've seen at dhanyav@marketing-interactive.com.

Related articles:  
Brands hop on the trend as Olivia Rodrigo brings her GUTS tour to SG  
These are the most adorable Moo Deng brand trendjacks across SEA thus far  
Here are our favourite MY Paralympics trend jack posts so far