Who Won Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2- Perla Figuereo (Player 072) won Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 and took home the $4.56 million grand prize. The finale was dramatic for unusual reasons: a surprising voluntary exit by Trinity (Player 398) and an injury in the final race that cleared the way for Perla’s victory. Read on for a blow-by-blow, finalist profiles, production notes, viewer reaction and what this outcome means for the series’ future.
1) Quick scoreboard; Who Won Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2
The Season 2 final five were Vanessa (Player 017), Perla (Player 072), Steven (Player 183), Dajah (Player 302) and Trinity (Player 398).
In the finale Perla Figuereo emerged victorious and collected the $4.56 million prize, becoming the show’s second multi-millionaire winner.
2) When did the finale drop — the date and platform
Netflix released the Season 2 finale globally on November 18, 2025; fans across time zones tuned in to see who would win the largest-ever reality cash prize for the series. The episode immediately sparked a wave of social posts, roundups and reaction pieces.
3) How the final episode actually unfolded (short version)
The finale began with a deceptive coin game and quickly turned chaotic when Trinity — Player 398 — voluntarily self-eliminated, helping others pass in early rounds before stepping away from the competition. The decisive final match, a version of Red Light, Green Light, saw Dajah twist an ankle and Vanessa detected by motion sensors, clearing the run for Perla to cross the line first.
4) Perla Figuereo — the winner’s arc and backstory
Perla, contestant number 072, built steady momentum across the season with calm decision-making and several clutch performances in mid-round games. Her win is notable because she made it through a gauntlet of physical and cognitive matches and then benefited from high-pressure finale circumstances. After the win, Perla’s emotional reaction and her plans for the money became part of the viral coverage.
5) Trinity — the player who shocked viewers
Trinity (Player 398) became the episode’s viral flashpoint. Rather than fight for the prize in the final rounds, he announced he would self-eliminate — deliberately sacrificing his own chance so others could proceed. Trinity then proceeded to tell fellow finalists how to choose hands or answers to maximize their passing rate. His exit prompted immediate debate across social feeds: some praised the gesture as selfless, others lamented the anticlimactic loss for competitive tension.
6) The decisive moment — Red Light, Green Light (final variation)
As in the original show, Red Light, Green Light was heart-pounding: the final race adds sensor detection and a high-stakes timing element. An early misstep by Steven (Player 183) and a motion sensor catch on Vanessa sent two contenders out early; Dajah’s ankle injury just before the finish line removed the last rival and allowed Perla to secure the win. The sequence underlined how in this show luck, injury and split-second errors alter outcomes as much as strategy.
7) Why viewers were mixed about the finale
Critics and fans reacted ambivalently. Some viewers praised the human drama: Trinity’s voluntary exit was framed by many as a memorable character beat that added moral texture to the finale. Other viewers and reviewers complained the finish lacked the raw competitive climax they expected; because a finalist voluntarily removed themselves, the final competition felt less decisive to some. The debate played out on platforms from Reddit to X.
8) What the $4.56 million prize means in context
The $4.56 million purse is one of reality TV’s largest single-season jackpots, and Perla’s victory now places her among a tiny cohort of televised reality-millionaires. The prize structure — a signature of the franchise’s attempt to evoke the perilous stakes of the original South Korean drama while keeping the competition non-lethal — continues to drive interest and controversy alike.
9) How Season 2 compared to Season 1
Season 1’s winner, Mai Whelan, took home the show’s inaugural prize and established the template: high production design, large-scale game mechanics, and a careful calibration between danger (psychological and physical) and safety. Season 2 expanded on that base with new games and more emphasis on contestants’ backstories; critics note that the new twist — players exercising moral choice like Trinity’s self-elimination — changed the tone of competition. Both seasons found big audiences, albeit with different fan reactions to the finales.
10) The final five — a quick profile roundup
• Perla (Player 072) — the winner, steady and strategic under pressure.
• Vanessa (Player 017) — chosen by many fans for underdog grit; eliminated by motion-sensor detection in the finale.
• Steven (Player 183) — had an early lead in the final race but slipped and was eliminated due to the fall.
• Dajah (Player 302) — a finalist who suffered an ankle injury at the end, preventing a comeback.
• Trinity (Player 398) — a polarizing figure who chose self-elimination and became the season’s most-talked-about character.
(Netflix’s promotional materials also spotlighted these five before the finale aired.)
11) Production notes: set, safety and prize logistics
Netflix maintained strict safety protocols and medical oversight across all games. The production made clear contestants were competing for a cash prize rather than life-or-death stakes, and that physical games were engineered with safety redundancies. The set design, staged challenges and theatrical framing contribute to the show’s cinematic look while protecting participants. Netflix also used the Tudum blog and official articles to profile finalists ahead of the finale.
12) What contestants said post-finale (social media reactions)
After the finale aired, finalists posted mixed reactions — relief, disappointment, gratitude and confusion at Trinity’s choice. Perla shared emotional thank-yous and made plans public about potential uses for the winnings. Meanwhile, Trinity’s posts and interviews framed his decision as moral and reflective, which further polarized fan sentiment. Social feeds filled with clips and comment threads within minutes of the winner announcement.
13) Hot takes from reviewers and trade press
Entertainment outlets gave the finale varied grades: some praised Perla’s win as emotionally satisfying, while others criticized the finale for removing competitive tension. Critics also debated the morality play angle: did Trinity’s choice elevate the show’s human dimension, or did it undercut the premise of a survival-style competition? Analysts flagged the finale as a talking point that will probably increase interest in Season 3.
14) Fan reaction highlights — social media scroll
Fans split into camps: #PerlaSupporters celebrated the win, #TeamTrinity debated the ethics of voluntary exit, and others called the finale “anticlimactic.” Memes, reaction videos and long-form Reddit threads sprang up immediately. The finale’s unusual sequence made it a trending topic across platforms for much of the weekend.
15) What this outcome means for casting and Season 3
Netflix already announced Season 3 casting is open, and producers will have raw material to sell: dramatic game design, the moral-drama moment with Trinity, and another successful large-prize season that attracts viewers and advertisers. Expect casting calls to emphasize personality diversity and backstory hooks — the shows’ producers know that character beats can create cultural moments even more than final competitions sometimes do.
16) Ethics, spectacle and reality TV design — quick debate
Trinity’s self-elimination forced a larger conversation about show design: is a reality competition primarily a test of skill, a moral experiment, or a crafted narrative? Producers will balance viewer expectations for suspense with contestants’ autonomy. The controversy highlights how modern reality shows operate both as competition and as live moral theater — and how producers and audiences sometimes prefer one framing over the other.
17) FAQs fans ask right away
Q: Who won? — Perla Figuereo (Player 072) won Season 2 and $4.56 million.
Q: When did the finale air? — The finale premiered on November 18, 2025 on Netflix.
Q: What happened to Trinity? — Trinity voluntarily self-eliminated and helped others pass before leaving the finale. His exit dominated social conversation.
18) How to watch the finale legally (and avoid spoilers)
The episode is available on Netflix worldwide; if you haven’t watched it yet and prefer no spoilers, set content filters on your social platforms and mute trending tags. Official recap articles and clips will proliferate soon after broadcast, so the spoiler window is short but intense.
19) Lessons for reality-TV producers (editor’s note)
Producers get two important takeaways: (1) design must anticipate player unpredictability — contestants can and will upend narrative arcs; and (2) character-driven moments (like Trinity’s choice) can generate huge social buzz even if they frustrate viewers seeking pure competition. Both outcomes drive attention and future casting interest.
20) TrenBuzz final take
Perla’s victory is the headline, but Trinity’s moral exit is the moment that will be replayed in reaction videos and think pieces for weeks to come. This finale proved the show is no longer just a spectacle of games — it’s a stage for human choice under pressure. Expect Season 3 to lean into that tension, balancing gamecraft with contestants’ personal stories to generate the next viral moment.
TrenBuzz disclaimer
This article summarizes verified reporting and the finale episode of Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 current as of Nov. 19, 2025. It contains spoilers. For direct quotes, player interviews and the full episode, consult Netflix and the official Tudum coverage. This post is informational and not a substitute for watching the show.