What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBig Game
Jalmari Helander · Film · 2014
If you loved Big Game, start with Designated Survivor (David Guggenheim, 2016) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Big Game across media.
What hooked you in Big Game was the way high-stakes political survival forces an unlikely bond between mismatched, resourceful individuals.
Books on the same thread
Ender's Game
Orson Scott Card · Book · 2013
Explores: Child Soldiers, Alien Invasion, Moral Ambiguity.
If the young hero stepping up in Big Game resonated with you, you will appreciate how Ender Wiggin faces similar immense pressure while proving his worth in battle.
The Maze Runner (Book 1)
James Dashner · Book · 2014
Shares a thread with Big Game: Survival.
Much like the desperate escape in Big Game, this story centers on a group forced to rely on their wits and teamwork to survive a lethal environment.
The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins · Book · 2008
Explores: authoritarianism, class inequality, spectacle of violence.
The intense battle for survival in Big Game mirrors the high-stakes struggle here, where an adolescent must navigate a deadly landscape to defy the odds.
Hatchet
Gary Paulsen, Peter Coyote · Book · 2004
Explores: Wilderness Survival, Self-Reliance, Divorce.
This story captures the same core of wilderness resilience found in Big Game, focusing on a young boy who must master the natural world to stay alive.
Series on the same thread
Designated Survivor
David Guggenheim · Series · 2016
Shares a thread with Big Game: Survival.
If the political tension surrounding the presidency in Big Game kept you engaged, you will enjoy this look at the sudden, high-stakes transition of executive power.
Game of Thrones
David Benioff · Series · 2011
Explores: Power Struggles, Moral Ambiguity, War and Politics.
While broader in scope than Big Game, this series echoes the same themes of political intrigue and life-or-death struggles happening in the coldest, most remote regions.
Squid Game
Hwang Dong-hyuk · Series · 2021
Explores: Economic Inequality, Desperation, Moral Dilemmas.
The visceral survival stakes of Big Game are amplified here, where characters are forced into extreme, life-threatening scenarios that test their moral fiber and personal endurance.
Adventure Time
Pendleton Ward · Series · 2010
Explores: Friendship, Coming of Age, Existentialism.
The core dynamic of an unlikely, supportive duo traversing a wild landscape in Big Game finds a lighter, more adventurous parallel in the friendship of these heroes.
Podcasts on the same thread
The MeatEater Podcast
MeatEater · Podcast · 2026
Explores: self-reliance, ethical hunting, environmental stewardship.
If the focus on tracking and wilderness self-reliance in Big Game intrigued you, this podcast provides an expert look at the skills and ethics of outdoor living.
The Big Picture
Podcast
Explores: Hollywood, Awards Season, Film Criticism.
Since you enjoyed the specific blend of action and suspense in Big Game, this podcast offers the expert analysis and context to deepen your appreciation for cinema.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Big Game set in the wilderness?
Yes, Big Game takes place in the wilderness of Finland. After Air Force One is shot down by terrorists, the President of the United States ends up stranded in this remote location where he meets a young hunter named Oskari.
Who is the main character in Big Game besides the President?
The other main character in Big Game is a 13-year-old boy named Oskari. He is on a traditional hunting mission to prove his maturity to his kinsfolk when he discovers the President in an escape pod.
What is the primary conflict in Big Game?
In Big Game, the primary conflict involves terrorists who shoot down Air Force One and hunt the stranded President. Oskari and the President must team up to escape these hunters while navigating the wilderness of Finland.
Is Big Game about a hunting mission?
Big Game begins with Oskari on a hunting mission to track down a deer and prove his maturity. However, his mission shifts when he finds the President of the United States, forcing him to help the leader escape from terrorists.