Squid Game: Korean Gonggi Game

In Korea, Gonggi is what marbles or Chinese jump rope once were over here: a playground game, played with five small stones on the floor or on the table. You throw one stone up, gather the others while it is in the air and catch it again. Round by round there are more stones to pick up, and to finish you balance all five on the back of your hand.

This set carries the principle over into the visual language of Squid Game. The Netflix series sends heavily indebted contestants through harmless children's games with deadly stakes, and its trademarks are the circle, triangle and square. Those exact three symbols are on the five Gonggi stones, each in a different color: red, blue, green, yellow and purple. The two worlds go together well, because in the series it is precisely the games from childhood that turn into a trial.

The stones are made of sturdy PVC and sit comfortably in your hand, good for throwing up, flicking and catching. They come packed in a metal tin in Squid Game design that measures 10 x 7 cm at a height of 2.5 cm and fits into any jacket pocket. That makes the Squid Game Gonggi game as much a pastime for the road as a gift for fans of the series.

On your own you can practice the throwing quickly; it gets exciting with two players or in a group: whoever keeps their nerve while everyone watches goes on. One set is enough for several players, and you throw in turn. A round needs neither power nor setup, just a free tabletop and a steady hand.

Contents: 5 Gonggi stones in red, blue, green, yellow and purple
Symbols: circle, triangle, square
Material of the stones: PVC
Dimensions of the tin: 10 x 7 cm, height 2.5 cm
Series: Squid Game