What do the symbols on the Squid Game masks mean? The shapes explained

26 December 2024, 09:40

What do the shapes mean in Squid Game? Picture: Netflix

By Capital FM

What do the triangle, circle and square symbols mean on the Squid Game masks?

After a long wait, Squid Game has finally returned.

As fans of the hit Netflix show delve deeper into the mysterious world of the K-drama alongside Lee Jung-jae's Gi-hun, many are finding easter eggs and clocking all the hidden clues and details within in the series.

With Squid Game season 2 now back on our screens, you'll probably be looking for a bit of a refresher on all the meanings behind certain elements of the actual games. Who is the Front Man? Is Squid Game a real game?

What do the symbols on the pink Squid Game workers masks mean? Here's an explainer on how the hierarchy works in the Squid Game compound.

What do the Squid Game mask shapes mean?

How do the Squid Game workers rank?

The deadly game within Squid Game sees the Players (dressed in green tracksuits) ushered around the compound by workers/guards wearing red/pink outfits.

The workers who keep the players in check all adorn mysterious masks with shapes on them. These symbols actually show their rank within the games.

There are three types of workers in the game - those who wear circle masks, square masks and triangle masks. All of these workers answer to the mysterious Front Man, who wears as plain black mask during the games.

What does the circle masks in Squid Game mean? Picture: Netflix

What does the Circle mask in Squid Game mean?

Circle workers are the lowest ranking, they must answer to their superiors and can "only speak when spoken to".

Circles are responsible for the most basic of tasks within in compound. They clean up after the game events, cook the dalgona cookies, serve food to the players in the dorm room, serve food to the other workers, remove corpses from the arena and incinerate the bodies of the dead.

What does the Triangle mask in Squid Game mean?

Triangles are placed on the middle rung of the Squid Game hierarchy – they act as armed soldiers.

Throughout the games, the Triangles will be the ones enforcing the rules with guns in hand. On top of shooting (or "eliminating") a player when they lose a game, the Triangles also confront players if fights start to break out. They also escort the players around the compound.

Despite enforcing the rules, the Triangles do not get to make the rules so while they have some semblance of physical power over the other workers, they still abide by the Front Man's strict rules and answer to the Square masks.

What do the Square masks mean in Squid Game?

Squares are effectively the bosses within the worker's group, they keep their fellow triangles and circles in check and call the shots.

Those wearing Square masks are able to directly communicate with the Front Man and receive their directions from him. They also have access to the surveillance room. The square workers are above the contestants, the circle workers, and the triangle workers, but they are still ultimately workers.

In season 1, Jun-ho joined the games as a Circle worker before stealing a Square mask after a worker is killed. His new status allows him to gain access to new areas of the compound, and get closer to the Front Man.