Netflix confirms new season of hit mystery show 'Crime Scene Zero' following global breakout success

13 Jan 2026, 21:19 by K-Soul · allkpop

What started as a surprise smash on Netflix is now officially returning with a new season.

The role-playing mystery variety show 'Crime Scene Zero,' in which players take on the roles of suspects and detectives to uncover the culprit hidden within a case, has confirmed production of a new season on Netflix.

According to Netflix, on January 13, 'Crime Scene Zero' has been greenlit for another season and will once again meet viewers. The program follows a role-playing format in which participants fully immerse themselves in assigned characters and deduce the criminal using clues provided throughout the case.

The Netflix release of 'Crime Scene Zero' was met with strong praise for its expanded scale, more refined universe, and intricately constructed cases that reflected the production team’s accumulated expertise. Viewers highlighted the compelling character play created by the cast, the variety of devices and twists designed by the producers, and the tense deduction process that heightened immersion. The psychological warfare unfolding in an environment where no one can be easily trusted has also been cited as one of the show’s defining strengths.

Producer Yoon Hyun Jun commented, “It took some time to even consider returning, but with Netflix’s full support, we plan to create another great season under the keywords ‘back to basics’ and ‘evolution.’” He added, “I’m grateful to the fans who support us every season and provide active feedback, and I ask for your continued interest and encouragement.”

Anticipation is already building over what new formats, settings, and storylines the upcoming season will introduce.

A Legendary Deduction Series: Crime Scene

The role-playing mystery variety show 'Crime Scene' features cast members assuming different roles—such as suspects and detectives—to uncover the culprit within a case. The participants gather at a single crime scene, act and testify according to their assigned roles, and ultimately identify the true criminal through clues and logical deduction. The culprit is always one of the cast members, creating a structure in which no one can be fully trusted.

What sets the show apart is its unscripted deduction process combined with the cast’s spontaneous role-playing. While the production team designs the overall case structure and clues, each episode unfolds differently as participants engage in reasoning, psychological battles, and heated discussions. Viewers are given the same information as the cast, allowing them to actively take part in the deduction and experience a high level of immersion.

Beyond its mystery elements, Crime Scene has been praised for balancing tension, cast chemistry, and entertainment value. With this formula, the series has established itself as one of the defining works in Korea’s mystery variety genre and has continued to draw steady interest across multiple seasons.

Netflix Debut and Global Reach: Crime Scene Zero in 2025

Released last year, Netflix’s 'Crime Scene Zero' marked the franchise’s first appearance on the global streaming platform. It serves as an extension of the 'Crime Scene' series that began on JTBC in 2014. After Seasons 1 through 3 aired on television, the franchise returned in 2024 with Crime Scene Returns on TVING, before launching a new season in collaboration with Netflix.

While earlier seasons built a loyal fanbase through JTBC and domestic OTT platforms, 'Crime Scene Zero' significantly expanded its reach by debuting on Netflix as a global release.

The season featured director Jang Jin, broadcaster Park Ji Yoon, comedian Jang Dong Min, actor Kim Ji Hoon, and IVE member Ahn Yujin, each taking on distinct characters and participating in the deduction. With larger sets, more elaborate case designs, and intense psychological interplay among the cast, the show presented standalone cases in each episode. Crime Scene Zero was released worldwide through Netflix.

The program has been spotlighted as a representative example of a Korean variety format succeeding on a global streaming platform. Built around a role-playing deduction game, 'Crime Scene Zero' entered Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English TV) shortly after its release, drawing widespread attention.

According to official Netflix data, the show recorded 1.1 million views and 5.9 million hours watched in its first week, ranking among the platform’s most popular content during that period. These figures indicate notable engagement from viewers across multiple countries, demonstrating resonance beyond Korea.

With its immersive sets, cohesive universe, and carefully selected cast, 'Crime Scene Zero' has been recognized as a strong example of Korean mystery variety content proving its competitiveness on global OTT platforms.

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