- Character complexity: Depth beyond first impressions
- Emotional impact: How much they affected viewers
- Story importance: Their role in the narrative
- Memorable moments: Iconic scenes and lines
- Actor performance: Bringing the character to life
The Rankings
#10: Abdul Ali (Player 199) The most heartbreaking example of trusting too completely. His death at Sang-woo's hands remains one of TV's cruelest moments.
#9: Han Mi-nyeo (Player 212) Unpredictable, manipulative, and strangely sympathetic. Her final act of revenge was perfectly in character.
#8: Hwang Jun-ho The detective's investigation gave us the outside perspective on the games, and his relationship with his brother added personal stakes.
#7: Kang Sae-byeok (Player 067) The defector who wanted nothing more than to save her family. Her quiet strength and tragic ending epitomized the show's themes.
#6: The Front Man / In-ho A former winner turned enforcer, his philosophy and his conflicts with Gi-hun were endlessly compelling.
#5: Cho Sang-woo (Player 218) The show's most complex antagonist. A good person who made increasingly terrible choices, culminating in a finale that showed both his fall and his final redemption.
#4: Oh Il-nam (Player 001) The twist that recontextualized everything. His final scene with Gi-hun was a masterclass in philosophical debate.
#3: Jang Deok-su (Player 101) Pure menace. He represented the brute force approach to survival and served as the first season's most hatable presence.
#2: Seong Gi-hun (Player 456) Our protagonist, whose journey from desperate gambler to reluctant hero to determined avenger anchored the entire series.
#1: The Show Itself Perhaps controversially, the real "character" that won viewers over was Hwang Dong-hyuk's vision—the games, the setting, the rules, and the social commentary that made everything resonate.
Honorable Mentions
- The Recruiter (Gong Yoo): Limited screen time, maximum impact
- The VIPs: Representing the wealthy who profit from suffering
- Young-hee (The Doll): The non-human character everyone recognizes