I prefer the first season of Squid Game. I connected more with the players' emotional journeys and their initial return to normal life before rejoining the game. However, I also appreciate the second season's subversion of the clear-cut morality of the first season. The second season presents murkier choices and motivations, exemplified by character 11's moral boundaries and the Frontman's (001) dark reflection of 456, highlighting the complexities of their choices and the consequences. 001 couldn't save his wife. 456 still had his daughter, but instead of choosing to leave to be with her he stays to try and take down the system.
Lastly I find the fairer challenges and balanced teams in the second season to be refreshing and an improvement over the first.
It doesn't quite make up for the emotional connection I had with the first season's players but I really do enjoy seeing it subvert the first season.