EXCLUSIVE: Daily Star’s Carly Hacon took on Squid Game: The Experience in London — here’s her hot take on how it really stacks up to the savage thrills of the Netflix show…
As a huge fan of Netflix’s Squid Game, I was buzzing to find out I could try it out for myself after it landed at ExCeL London.
After binging the series (let’s be honest, who hasn’t?), there couldn’t have been a better time for myself and five pals to give it a whirl after finding the tickets on Moonpig.com.
However, we were all in for a shock as we didn’t exactly breeze through as seasoned players… As a disclaimer, we looked more like rookies and certainly didn’t take home the top spot.
What quickly became evident was that some of us weren’t just here to play, some were here to win (the lads in our group, and particularly my partner, had that killer instinct).
Relationships and alliances didn’t seem to matter much once we were given our numbered vests. All the ‘mushy stuff’ went out the window and was replaced by cold, calculated competitiveness. Sounds savage, right?!
However, this could be due to how alike the experience was to the show’s dystopian world. From the moment we stepped into the arena, we could hear the show’s eerie theme tune and spot several staff members dressed in hooded jumpsuits and masks, just like the series.
After being given our welcome pep talk, we were told by staff that “cheating is encouraged” which the room laughed it off at first. But we quickly realised that people weren’t joking. I witnessed players begin scheming, exploiting weaknesses, and occasionally shoving their friends out of the way to gain the upper hand.
Now, let’s talk about the challenges… What seemed easy on the show, like Red Light, Green Light, turned out to be far more difficult than expected. It was a test of reflexes, strategy, and, apparently, the ability to betray your loved ones without hesitation (My partner told a guard I had cheated. The cheek!).
At one point, a Tug of War game nearly turned into an Olympic event (with less skill and more panic) as two teams battled it out against each other with little to no sportsmanship. We also played The iconic Marbles and Mind-bending Memory Steps, as well as some other challenges that weren’t featured in the show, but I’ll leave those to the element of surprise for budding visitors.
It really felt like we had stepped into an episode of the show, except without the actual life-or-death stakes, of course. Despite the high-pressure atmosphere, no one actually got hurt in the game’s arena, unless you want to count the bruised egos and shattered pride of particular players.
The experience was a wild, hilarious, and slightly humiliating rollercoaster of adrenaline, plot twists, and moments that made us question our life choices (and relationships). You really do find out some home truths about your group, like who’s the backstabber, the secret strategist and who simply loses their head when tension hits.
If you’re like me and a massive fan of the show, then you are guaranteed to love it. Even if Squid Game isn’t your thing to watch on the box, Squid Game: The Experience London makes an exhilarating day out with your pals — just be prepared to lose a little dignity… And possibly a friend or two.
Tickets start from £79 (for two) or £152 ( for four) on Moonpig.com.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
