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John Carney

When you think of the perfect Christmas gift, something based on a bloody gore fest that makes you question your own morality may not immediately spring to mind, but then Squid Game was no normal TV series.
The dystopian survival K-drama centres on a mysterious organisation that challenges 456 players from all walks of life – each deeply in debt – to play a series of children’s games. Win and they go home rich. Lose and they die.
Doesn’t really give you a warm Christmassy feeling does it? But after Halloween saw a range of costumes and outfits relating to the Netflix series flying off the shelves, merchandisers are taking it a step further for the holiday season.
Some of the show’s most memorable images have been fully utilised by retail firms. The best of these has to be the “red light, green light” doll alarm clock, which is the centrepiece of the first episode’s bloody game.

“Can’t get up? The same traffic light alarm clock fires bullets to wake you up!” the item’s advertising blurb says. “When the time reaches the time you set, the heroine of the game will turn to the bed and fire a bullet to wake you up. The sounds in the game will be mixed in the middle, allowing you to get an immersive gaming experience!”
Described on Amazon as the “perfect gift for family, friends and other people who like squid survival games”, the “high simulation Squid Game alarm clock”, with “horror sound effects” and “shake head function”, may prove a little too realistic for comfort.
Squid Game: Netflix survival K-drama is wickedly entertaining
Waking up to it all would be bad enough, but trying to get to sleep with the doll looking at you from your bedside cabinet could be even worse.
Another unnerving festive item on sale is a “Korean DIY traditional sugar Cookie Cutter set”, based on the dalgona candy game (aka the honeycomb challenge) episode. In one of the most suspenseful games in the show, players had to cut shapes out of dalgona, which is a Korean sweet made from sugar and baking soda.
Complete with the same cookie-cutter shapes featured in the Netflix series, this present can help you recreate the game where contestants were given 10 minutes to scratch around a shape, without breaking the whole thing to avoid being shot. Or you could just make a tasty Christmas snack for all the family instead.

Thankfully, many other Squid Game-related Yuletide gifts are not as nerve-shredding.
A Squid Game-inspired advent calendar is available. Behind every door, you’ll find fidget toys inspired by characters and games from the show.
Whether parents have allowed their children to watch the K-drama or not, a range of kids gifts for the holiday season will also be on sale such as figurines, jigsaws, puzzles and colouring books featuring all the show’s most popular characters.

You can even get a pair of Squid Game socks for dad this year that come in two colourful designs: a pair that features iconic items from all the games, or he can customise them into his favourite signature look.
A variety of clothing is available from sweatshirts and jumpers to hoodies and T-shirts.
You can also customise some of these clothing items to specify the numbers and symbols that appear on them. If your friend or a family member has a favourite number or character, for example, you can get them their very own Squid Game player shirt.
You can even buy a set of Squid Game marbles from its most infamous episode. But even for avid fans, this may be a step too far.


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Squid Game

Best Squid Game Christmas gifts for the fan in your life – doll alarm clock, marbles, advent calendars and much more

The Squid Game doll alarm clock comes with “horror sound effects” and “shake head function” - the perfect Christmas gift for a Squid Game superfan.

The doll turns its head when the alarm goes off.

Squid Game cookie-cutter set.

Squid Game advent calendar.

Christmas 2021 in Hong Kong: 10 of the best deals, from a night with an igloo to a Wild West Christmas, cinnamon spice spa and festive music

Dust off your ugly Christmas sweates for Basehall’s contest. 

Pretend you’re glamping this Christmas with an igloo on your private terrace at The Mira hotel, one of several out-there experiences Hongkongers can have this Christmas. 

Ugly sweaters will be part of Basehall’s Christmas festivities. 

Staycations are available at the Island Shangri-La this Christmas.

Classic eggnog at Sevva.

The Christmas constellation at the Peninsula.

Afternoon tea and teddy bears at the Ritz Carlton.

The Hong Kong WinterFest Christmas Town at the West Kowloon Cultural District. Photo: SCMP/Sam Tsang

There’ll be a gold rush this holiday season at Stanley Plaza’s Wild West-themed Christmas market.

Try a cinnamon and spice spa at the Mandarin Oriental. Photo: Mandarin Oriental

Squid Game has sales of white slip-on Vans shoes rocketing and searches for retro tracksuits soaring, as fans copy iconic looks from the South Korean drama on Netflix

The white slip-ons and tracksuits from Squid Game have become popular items for the series fans. 

A still from Squid Game on Netflix.

Lee Yu-mi and Jung Ho-yeon in a scene from Squid Game. Fans have ironed white player numbers onto green tracksuits to dress as contestants in the fictional survival games the show depicts. Photo: @hoooooyeony/Instagram

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An alarm clock that ‘fires a bullet to wake you up’, cookie-cutter sets, marbles – many Squid Game gifts evoke some of the series’ most stressful moments
For less nerve-shredding presents there’s figurines, jigsaws, colouring books and clothing, from sweatshirts to socks that can be customised



From an alarm clock that ‘fires a bullet to wake you up’ to themed marble sets from its most infamous episode, there’s no shortage of Squid Game gifts this Christmas.


Christmas 2021

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