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Key Points 'Squid Game: The Challenge' is a real competition with theatrical, non-lethal eliminations. Season 1 winner Mai Whelan received the full $4.56 million prize. Season 2 contestants Curt and Zoe Stinson told Parade dorm life was 'uncomfortable' but also 'a lot of fun.' When Netflix first announced Squid Game: The Challenge, many wondered the same thing: is this real? Could hundreds of contestants actually compete in real-life re-creations of the infamous Squid Game arenas — without anyone getting hurt? The answer is yes — it’s absolutely real. But unlike the scripted Korean drama that inspired it, no one is in actual danger. The Netflix series is a real competition show featuring real people fighting for a real $4.56 million prize, but the eliminations are purely theatrical. Each player wears an ink pack in their tracksuit that “explodes” when they’re knocked out of the game. RELATED: ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ Season 2 Cast Includes Poker Pro, NFL Alum & 4 Pairs of Family Members The Prize Is Real — and So Was the Winner To prove just how real the competition is, the winner of Squid Game: The Challenge season 1, Mai Whelan, actually received the full $4.56 million cash prize. Mai, a 55-year-old retired immigration adjudicator from Virginia, outlasted 455 other contestants in the show’s debut season. After her victory aired, she told Netflix’s Tudum that she used part of her winnings to renovate her home — and planned to donate the rest to causes close to her heart. “My heart is with people, animals, and climate change,” she said. “If we continue what we’re doing, there won’t be a future for all the little kids growing up right now.” Her story underscores what makes Squid Game: The Challenge stand apart from other reality competitions — the life-changing stakes are 100 percent real. RELATED: She Beat 455 People to Win $4.56 Million on ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ Season 1 What Season 2 Contestants Say About Living the Game For season 2, Parade spoke with father-daughter duo Curt and Zoe Stinson, who competed together on the show — and they confirmed that the experience was just as intense and surreal as it looks on screen. Zoe Stinson told Parade, “I would say living in the dorm, it was definitely an experience — no access to my products or access to spray tans. [laughs] So that was an adjustment. But definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience just sharing one living space with like hundreds of other strangers. It’s not something many people get to say they’ve done, but it was a lot of fun.” Her father Curt Stinson added, “I’m a very social person. I love meeting new people. And so it was my playground. I think I probably embarrassed Zoe because I bounce around and want to get to know everybody and get to know everyone’s story. It’s like what I love to do.” He continued, “It’s uncomfortable living, right? You start off with 456, and then half of those people go away. And then you’re now realizing you’re living with these people for a while. It was exciting. That part of it, I really enjoyed.” RELATED: ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ Season 2 Episode Drop Schedule, Trailer & More Why Season 1 Contestants Said They Stayed in a Hotel After the first season aired, several season 1 contestants told TheWrap about less-than-ideal production conditions. They said that before the games began, contestants were housed at a hotel rather than the dormitory featured on-screen — and that logistics were at times disorganized. According to TheWrap: “All of the contestants confirmed to TheWrap that they stayed in the same hotel and were given specific meal times. Contestants were not allowed to order food from off of the premises.” Some players described missed meals, delayed arrivals, and limited access to essentials. After early eliminations, the show reportedly switched to a voucher system for food and drinks at the hotel bar. “We care deeply about the welfare of our cast and crew. All appropriate health and safety measures were taken throughout the filming period,” a spokesperson for the show told TheWrap. RELATED: ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ Season 2 Sneak Peek Reveals More Pentathlon Games (Exclusive) Why Season 2 Was Different While season 1 contestants described a hotel stay and an extremely long filming day at the beginning of filming, season 2’s cast — including the Stinsons — actually lived inside the show’s signature dormitory setting once the game began. That difference likely comes down to logistics. In season 1, the opening challenge (the iconic Red Light, Green Light sequence) took an entire day to film, eliminating more than half the players immediately. Because so many contestants left after just one round, many never got to move into the dorms. For season 2, the production appears to have learned from that experience. The first challenge this time cuts the field dramatically within hours, allowing remaining contestants to move into the dorms almost right away — and giving audiences a closer look at their alliances and personalities. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 So, Is ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ Real? Yes — it’s a fully real competition series featuring hundreds of real contestants vying for a record-breaking cash prize. The strategy, endurance, and social gameplay are genuine; the only thing staged are the “fatal” eliminations. And if there’s any doubt left, Mai’s multimillion-dollar win proves it — Squid Game: The Challenge may look like fiction, but its life-changing stakes are very real.
