Background information
A new NES game in 2025? A conversation with the makers of Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit
by Philipp Rüegg
Squid Game on the Game Boy: fan project brings Netflix hit to the retro classic
10/7/2025
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Pictures: Kim Muntinga
With pixel graphics and chiptune sounds, Studio 64 Bits brings Squid Game to the Game Boy and browsers. The free game with its retro charm offers well-known mini-games from the Netflix series.
If you thought the hype surrounding Squid Game was done, a new fan project will prove you wrong. Studio 64 Bits has turned the dark Netflix series into a video game. Two versions too: for your Game Boy and as a browser game. The developers are combining retro graphics with the excitement of the deadly children’s games that captivated millions of fans worldwide.
From the screen to the Game Boy
Dutch studio 64 Bits is known for its elaborate pixel art and so-called demakes: reinterpretations of modern games in a retro look. With their Squid Game project, they’ve taken on the successful South Korean series this time. Out of it, the developers programmed a game that looks like it was released on Nintendo’s first Game Boy in the early 90s.
Squid Game Boy offers three game modes that you can choose according to your mood:
- In story mode, you play through all six mini-games from the show in a fixed order. Cutscenes drive the story forward, and there are several possible endings depending on how you do.
- Alternatively, you can select the individual minigames in minigame mode and practice them.
- In hard mode, you only have one life. One mistake puts your run to an immediate end. If you make it all the way, you’ll unlock a secret ending.
Minigames include the infamous Red Light, Green Light challenge. You steer your character across the screen, while the giant puppet with a rotating head alternately commands you to stop or gives you a clear path. If you move on the red light, the game ends fatally. Other games include the Dalgona cookie game and the glass bridge. The fight for survival in the dormitory also plays a role in Lights Out.
Browser version and Game-Boy ROM
64 Bits offers the game for free on Newgrounds, where you can play it directly in your browser. If you like things even more nostalgic, you can download the Game-Boy ROM from Itch.io and play it on an emulator or even real hardware. The developers are making the ROM available free of charge, but emphasise it’s a fan project with no commercial intentions.
Close attention to detail
Visually and with the sound, the game’s strongly geared towards Game Boys. The animations are minimalist but lovingly designed. Its music also immediately transports you to the 8-bit era. The famous melody played by the puppet from the series is turned into simple chiptunes, providing a strange mixture of nostalgia and thrills.
The game runs smoothly, both in the browser and on emulators. The controls are simple, and the authentic Game Boy frame integrated into the browser version by 64 Bits is particularly charming. This makes the game feel like you’re actually playing it on the iconic handheld.
Header image: 64 bits
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