Survival isn’t guaranteed in Squid Game: Unleashed. As in the hit Netflix show, there’s something trying to kill you at every turn, whether it’s a giant saw blade, a disintegrating platform, or a doll with a motion-sensing turret. And that’s before you consider the 31 other players all fighting for the same prize pot. 

Luckily, unlike the show, you don’t have to worry about brawls in the dormitory or getting your organs sold. All the action — but none of the politics — stays on the playing field in this pocket-sized party royale. It’s brutal out there in the pastel dystopia, but we have some tips to make getting to the finish line a little easier. 

If there’s a common theme among all the disparate games, it’s this: Take it slower than your instincts tell you to. Whether that means waiting for a bunch of other suckers to find the faulty glass panels in Glass Bridge or stopping while there’s still time in Red Light, Green Light, your chances of crossing the finish line increase when you take a little extra time. 

Red Light, Green Light 

The first couple of times you play, you’ll get shot and have to restart. If you want to finish faster, slow down. It sounds counterintuitive, but trust us. Stop moving when there are still a few seconds left on the green light clock. Fight the urge to use up all your time, and you’ll be rewarded. You’ll be on the other side of the finish line, bonking fellow finishers with a baseball bat in no time. Also, be sure to play with the sound on so you can stop quickly when the alarm bell rings. 

Glass Bridge 

Not every tile will break beneath your feet. The easiest way to find out which ones will? Let the rest of the horde fall to their deaths and do it for you. Hang back by the starting line, and soon enough the true path forward will be revealed. If you do miss and find yourself falling, there are a handful of springboards underneath the bridge that can propel you back onto solid ground. 

Floor Is Lava 

Another nightmare scenario brought to life. You’ll be jumping and fighting for space again here, except this time it’s back and forth between an ever-changing series of small islands that are rising and sinking. Our old favorite the baseball bat will work wonders here. 

Late for School 

This is a literal nightmare scenario, except this time your life is on the line. You must get around the hedges, sidestep the electrified swimming pools, and jump across rows of flaming BBQ grills. Where it gets tricky is crossing traffic. One way to make it easier is, again, to be patient. You don’t need to dart across the streets just because you reached them — to avoid becoming the meat in an asphalt sandwich, wait for the first cohort of buses to pass. Once you get a feel for the pacing, you can make your way across the street and one step closer to the finish line. 

Stair Race 

This one is all about timing. From dodging the shapes on your way up the stairs to steering clear of sliding columns, you need to find the rhythm of the level if you want to succeed. To be victorious, you have to fight for space among the rest of the crowd and avoid anyone brandishing a weapon. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the striped markings on the floor, as something like a stomper or roller ball can surprise you there.

Dalgona 

While you’re still tracing cookie shapes, this is not your father’s Dalgona! You’ll need to run over as many discs with shapes on them (umbrellas, triangles, circles) as you can. From there, you’ll carve out holes in the giant cookie that serves as the floor. Then you’ll do it again and again until you hit the ground in this race to the bottom. Run to the finish line as fast as you can. 

Snow Day 

Being the last one standing is the name of the game here. Unfortunately, you’ve got breaking panels of ice and approximately 30 other players to contend with. Go for the power-ups strewn about the map, and plan your jumps from one ice square to the next. Given the ever-shifting nature of the level, it pays to be tactical and have a goal in mind before you start jumping around. Be careful as you skirt the ice edges, as all it takes is one dodgeball to put a frosty end to your day.

Squid Game 

Stay near the center and work your way out toward the squid’s borders. That’s the easiest way to use a steady supply of items against the rest of the contestants to maintain a defensive position. When you find a target, don’t let up until you’ve pushed it outside the squid’s lines. Sometimes a baseball bat really is your best friend. 

Ready for more? Here’s everything you need to know about Squid Game: Unleashed.