Squid Gameseason 2 introduces the game of Gonggi as a minigame within one of the show’s potentially fatal rounds, and it moves so quickly that it can be difficult to know what’s going on for the uninitiated. Originating in Korea, just likeSquid Gameitself,Gonggi is also known as Korean Jacks, or simply Seven Stones (despite only five “stones” being required). Gonggi is one of the fiveSquid Gameseason 2 gamesthat combine to create the second round of the tournament. It’s a game that champions hand-eye coordination, patience, and precision.
Many of theSquid Gameseason 2 players have different skill sets, and so the teams nominate the most suited player to each game in the second round. Although Gonggi could possibly come back as part ofSquid Gameseason 3’s story, the dramaticending ofSquid Gameseason 2suggests the upcoming final season is perhaps more likely to attempt to conclude the current tournament rather than start it all from scratch. Either way,the Netflix show has succeeded in bringing Gonggi to a wider audience.
Gonggi’s 5 Rounds Explained: How The Challenge In Squid Game Works
The Korean child’s game has surprisingly strict and complex rules
Unlike large portions of the viewership,all the players inSquid Gameseason 2are already familiar with Gonggi’s rules and how to play the game.There are five rounds in Gongii, with five “stones” required to play. The game’s origin means literal stones were once used, but colorful plastic alternatives are now favored instead. The rounds become progressively harder as they progress. In short, the general aim of each round is to pick up all five stones with one hand in a specific sequence.
Gonggi Round 1
Gonggi begins with the player scattering five stonesat the same time from one hand onto a flat surface. From there, the player must only pick up one stone at a time, but by launching it into the air and catching it in the same hand. This is then repeated until there are no stones left on the surface - which is usually the ground or a table. This is considered the easiest round, but the biggest challenge is making each individual catch while trying not to spill the ever-growing collection in the player’s palm or disturb the other stones.
Gonggi Round 2
Scatter the stones again and try to retrieve them. However, this time, the way this is done is a little different. Firstly, throw a single stone up in the air and catch it with the same hand. Then,the player must throw the palmed stone in the air, scoop up two more stones simultaneously, and catch the thrown stone. With just two stones remaining on the floor (if no mistakes have been made), the player then repeats the previous step (but with three palmed stones this time) so they eventually have all five stones in one palm.
Gonggi Round 3
The difficulty increases again with Gonggi’s third round. The round’s opening is identical to the first two steps of rounds 1 and 2: scattering the stones, then retrieving just one of them by throwing it into the air and catching it again. After that, the player is required to throw their palmed stone in the air and scoop up three more, then catch the falling stone. The final step to Gonggi’s third round is to throw one of the palmed stones into the air, scoop up the final stone from the ground, and catch the one that’s just been launched.
Gonggi Round 4
Unlike the previous three rounds,Gonggi’s fourth round doesn’t start with the scattering of the stones. Instead, it begins where round 3 ended - with all five stones already in the player’s hand. Then, the objective is to throw just one stone in the air, place the four remaining stones on the ground, and catch the stone that was hurled into the air. To finish the round, the player throws the stone in their hand up in the air, scoops up the four on the ground, and once again catches the final stone as it falls.
Try to make sure the four stones are grouped closely together when they’re placed on the ground in this round, but it’s against the rules to adjust their positioning after the fact. They may only be touched again during the act of retrieving them while the other stone is in the air.
Gonggi Round 5 (The Final Round)
No points are earned in the first four rounds of Gonggi. However, if the player has executed the game flawlessly to this point without breaking the rules or making any mistakes, then the fifth round is where points are scored. It’s also very different from the other rounds in terms of what’s required of the player.The round begins with a handful of all five stones. From there, the goal is to throw up all five stones and catch them on the back of the same hand. This is the penultimate step in the entire game.
All five stones must be caught on the back of the hand for the player to continue. Otherwise, the player has failed.
The final step in round 5 is what gives the player the potential to score points. From their position on the back of the hand where they were caught in the previous step, the player must throw the five stones upwards and catch them in the palm of the same hand. Although there are different scoring systems, the one that’s used most widely is thatall five stones must be caught for any points to be scored. Following this system means completing all five rounds back-to-back earns the player five points.
There Are A Few Ways To Mess Up In Gonggi
Gonggi players automatically fail if any mistakes are made
Because of the precise nature of the steps that need to be completed for a successful game of Gonggi, there are also quite a few ways the player can fail to score any points.The first way is the failure to retrieve all the pieces from the groundrequired to pass a round, and there are no second attempts. Another is to accidentally touch a stone that the player isn’t trying to pick up. Perhaps most obviously, failing to catch the stone the player has thrown into the air is another way to mess up a round.
One of the most brutal rules when it comes to ways of failing pertains to Gongii’s fifth round.
One of the most brutal rules when it comes to ways of failing pertains to Gongii’s fifth round. In short, when trying to catch the five stones resting on the back of your hand, the player is forbidden from rotating their hand so that it is palm-up. Instead, the stones need to be launched from a hand with its palm to the ground, and the hand must remain that way during the process of the catch.
If any of these mistakes are made and the player is in a group of other competitors, the stones should be passed to the next person so they can attempt a successful round from the beginning.
Why Gonggi Is Perfect For Squid Game
Gonggi’s inherent innocence pairs well with Squid Game’s creepily deadly atmosphere
A massive part of what contributes toSquid Game’s darkness is the creative decision to use childish games in a tournament that can very easily turn into a bloodbath. The innocence of the games themselves sits brilliantly at odds with the macabre scenario in which the players find themselves. However,not all childhood pastimes would be well-suited toSquidGame, but Gonggi fits in very well.
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Even though Gonggi may be a relatively easy game to win for those who grew up playing it, it’s fundamentally quite a tricky one to complete quickly and flawlessly. This is true even outside the context of potentially being shot dead for failing (which obviously isn’t part of the actual game), but when staring down the barrel of an assault rifle, the need to succeed at Gonggi inSquidGamemust multiply a thousandfold, which can’t be that helpful when a steady hand is required.
Squid Game
Cast
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
