Player 296 was a contestant of the 37th Squid Game.
Personality
Player 296 is a greedy, ruthless, and violent man who is quite carnal and brutal to the point of sadism. During the Special Game he murdered Player 102 just for financial gain, it is inferred that he is just as ruthless as many strong, tanky players (such as Player 202), as he managed to kill a X in the special game. Despite his ruthless nature, he is also shown to be a coward when he tries to use Lee Seung-won as a human shield when Kwon Byeong-su threatens to shoot him and other O’s.
History
Player 296 got into debt through unknown means before being in the game. While unknown, it is implied the reason was because of gambling or other shady methods. After playing Ddakji with The Recruiter he decided decided to join the Squid Games for a chance to win a huge cash prize. He called the number on the recruiting card, and got into a mysterious car. He then woke up in a giant room with 454 other players. He then made his way to the center of the room and watched as many other players debts were revealed in front of him. Later on, he signed a contract and made his way up a flight of stairs to the first game.
During the first game, he like most players doesn’t believe what Gi-hun said about getting shot, during the mass panic. He was able to control himself and stand still. During the game, he most likely hide behind the other players on Gi-Hun's commands. He eventually completed the first game after listening to Gi-hun's commands. After returning to the dormitory, many players pleaded the guards to let them go. However, after a massive increase in the prize pool was revealed, many players changed their minds. We can see him while he is sitting with his team that his vote was O.
Later during Six-Legged Pentathlon, Player 296 partnered up with Players 235, 276, 096 and 232.He decided to play ddakji and his team was able to complete the other four games in five minutes. After successfully completing Six-Legged Pentathlon, him and the other players held another vote. He decided to vote O.
Later on during Mingle, He managed to partner up with other players and passed all 5 rounds. It is unknown who he teamed with in the first four rounds, but in the final round he teamed with Player 096. After Mingle, him and the other remaining players returned to the dormitory and have a third vote. Player 296 decided to vote O again along with many other O players. This vote ends up in a tie, meaning they will vote again in the morning. Player 296 and the other players seem disappointed and move back to their beds. He is seen arguing and being aggressive towards Team X. After the events of the bathroom fight, him and the other Os have a headcount and figure out that they have less players compared to the Xs. Him and the other Os then decide to ambush the Xs during the night to put them ahead. When the lights finally go out, Player 296 and some other Os are seen sneaking over to Team X's side of the room. Eventually, Player 296 and the other Os charge into the bunks and start killing as many Xs as they could. He can be seen stabbing and throwing Player 102 to the ground and repeatedly stabbing him in the chest with a fork. After the Special Game. He decided not to participate in Gi-hun's Rebellion and instead stay in the lobby with all of the other players that also decided not to join. In the next round of voting he voted O again and can be seen celebrating and mocking Seong Gi-hun when they win the vote. He and the others saw Seon-nyeo almost getting killed by Gi-hun who made fun of his dead friends.
Later during Hide and Seek, Player 296 draws a red ball from the gumball machine, which confirms his role as a Seeker. The manager later explains that him and his team would have to kill at least 1 hider in order to pass the game. Later when the guards allow them to switch teams, He decided not to switch with a hider and kept his red vest. Player 296 and the other seekers then wait for the hiders to go into the maze and hide. After the timer to hide finishes, Player 296 and the others Seekers make their way into the maze. After making his way into the maze, Player 296 ran into the maze, ready to kill a Hider to pass the game.
Fate
When the timer for Hide and Seek ran out, Player 296 realized he failed the objective of killing at least 1 hider to pass the game. When Richard (disguised as a soldier) came up and attempted to eliminate him, he lunged at Richard and managed to pin him against a wall. He then raised his knife and made an attempt to stab Richard. Unfortunately for him, Jennifer (also disguised as a soldier), saw this happen and repeatedly shot Player 296 in his back, killing him instantly. His body was later burned by the Workers.
Kill count
| Character | Information | Image/GIF |
|---|---|---|
| "Friend or Foe" Special Game | ||
| Player 102 | Stabbed repeatedly with a fork. | 
|
| Character | Information | Image/GIF |
|---|---|---|
| "It's Not Your Fault" Hide and Seek | ||
| VIP Richard | Attempted to stab him to death with a hunting knife as self defense. | 
|
Trivia
- Player 296 and Hwang Jun-ho are the only known characters who attacked a VIP.
- Player 296 Is The Least Memorable Of 100's Team. He Had No Voicelines And Limited Scenes That Signify Him, Making Him More Forgettable Than The Other Characters. Despite This, He Is Credited As A Supporting Character And Player 442, With Many Voicelines And Recurring Scenes, Isn't.
- His number ends with a 96, same as his best friend 096.
- Player 066, Jang Do-yeong, Player 237, and he are the only Male players known to have been killed by non-player female characters.
- Additionally, he is the only one not to be killed by Kang No-eul.
- He was also the only seeker who got eliminated in the 200's range to not be eliminated by Hyun-ju.
- He Is The Last On Screen Player To Be Killed By The Guards (Although It Is A VIP In Disguise.).
- He and No Sang-hun are the only players who tried to defend themselves after losing the game.
- Player 296 almost gave a VIP their "justice", but failed, considering how tanky he is, he could do that to all the VIPs, making him one of the unluckiest seekers
- He is the only one out of Jeong-dae's team main nine to not speak, aside from the confrontation with the Xs, though no words can be made out.
- He is the last player in the 29X range to be eliminated in the 37th squid game.
Behind the scenes
Player 296 was portrayed by Woo Kang-min. He is credited as "탈락남" (tallagnam) in Korean, which roughly translates to "eliminated man".
Appearances
- Season Two
- "001" (icon)
- "O X"
- "Friend or Foe"
- Season Three
Gallery
Season Two
Season Three
Behind the scenes
References
- ↑ The 37th Squid Game began directly after Seong Gi-hun met with the Front Man on October 31, with Hide and Seek occurring on November 5, as a day was skipped after the tiebreak vote.