సీజన్
ఎపిసోడ్
ప్లేయర్ సర్వర్
Alice in Borderland

Alice in Borderland

20208
డ్రామారహస్యంయాక్షన్ & సాహస
విడుదల
10, డిసెం 2020
దేశం
జపాన్
నిర్మాణం
Robot Communications
తన ఇద్దరు స్నేహితులతో కలిసి, వీడియో గేమ్‌లపై ఆసక్తి ఉన్న యువకుడు, టోక్యో యొక్క విచిత్రమైన వెర్షన్‌లో తనను కనుగొంటాడు, అక్కడ అతను ప్రమాదకరమైన ఆటలలో పోటీపడి గెలవాలి.

About

Quick guide

Three friends trapped in a deserted Tokyo, forced to play deadly games to survive.

In a vacant version of Tokyo, Ryōhei Arisu and two friends awaken with no memory of how they got there. The city is empty, but a series of arenas appear, each demanding they play a game that could kill them instantly. Their only hope is to keep winning games to extend a visa that keeps them alive. The series mixes high‑stakes action with psychological twists as the group learns that every victory or defeat can change the rules of reality. With a mix of suspense, friendship, and moral dilemmas, the show keeps viewers guessing who will survive and why the games exist.

What to know

  • The premise involves life‑or‑death games in a deserted Tokyo called Borderland.
  • Each game is represented by a playing‑card suit that sets difficulty and type.
  • Winning extends a “visa” that keeps the player alive; losing ends life in reality.
  • The main character, Ryōhei Arisu, is a video‑game enthusiast who leads the group.
  • The series blends action, mystery, and psychological tension with dark humor.
  • Moral questions arise as characters must choose between survival and human decency.
  • The show spans three seasons, with a possible fourth hinted at by the ending.

Watch if

If you like high‑stakes action with a psychological twist, this thriller will keep you glued. The blend of survival games, character dynamics, and moral dilemmas offers a unique, suspenseful experience for fans of intense dramas.

Skip if

If you prefer light‑hearted shows or are sensitive to graphic violence and mature themes, Alice in Borderland may feel too dark and intense for your taste.

dark toneintense actionpsychological elementsmature themessome goresuspensefulfast pacedlanguage strong
Premise & Setting
The series opens in a deserted version of Tokyo, where Ryōhei Arisu and two friends find themselves surrounded by empty streets and a series of arenas. Each arena hosts a game, marked by a playing‑card suit that dictates difficulty and type. Players must win to extend a visa that keeps them alive, otherwise death in the game equates to death in reality. The show uses this setup to explore survival, morality, and friendship under pressure.
Main Characters
Ryōhei Arisu, a video‑game‑obsessed student, leads the group with his friends Chōta and Karube. They encounter Yuzuha Usagi, a mountaineer who joins them in the games. The series also features Shuntarō Chishiya, Kuina, and other players who form alliances or rivalries. Each character brings unique skills and backstories, making the interpersonal dynamics a central part of the narrative.
Game Mechanics
Games are identified by playing‑card suits: spades for physical, clubs for team, diamonds for intellect, hearts for trust. Difficulty levels range from low to high. Winning grants a visa extension; failure triggers a laser‑powered death ray. The cards also determine game rules, adding strategic depth. Players must analyze clues, work together, and sometimes make harsh moral choices to survive.
Season Progression
Season 1 introduces the first games, establishing the world and characters. Season 2 expands the cast with face cards, creating more complex challenges and exploring the nature of the Borderland. Season 3 brings a new threat, the Joker, and ties together plot threads. Each season raises stakes, reveals more about the game's origins, and tests the protagonists' resolve.
Themes & Motifs
The show examines friendship under extreme pressure, the allure of gaming culture, and the cost of survival. Themes of morality, trust, and human nature recur. Visual motifs—cards, empty streets, and the looming laser—highlight the tension between chance and choice. Dark humor occasionally punctuates the bleak setting, providing brief relief.
Visual Style & Tone
Cinematography uses a muted palette with stark lighting, emphasizing the desolation of Tokyo. Fast pacing and kinetic camera work intensify action sequences. The tone is consistently dark, balancing suspenseful moments with occasional moments of dark humor. Graphic violence and intense action are depicted without gratuitous gore, maintaining a tense atmosphere.
Where to Watch
Alice in Borderland is available exclusively on Netflix. It streams in multiple regions, with subtitles and dubbing in several languages. The entire series consists of 22 episodes across three seasons, released in December 2020, December 2022, and September 2025. Fans can binge-watch the series on-demand, with new seasons arriving annually.

FAQ

80 Q&A
Who is Kuina?
Kuina is a close friend of Chishiya and becomes a close ally to Arisu. She is skilled in Taekwondo.
What do the playing cards mean in Alice in Borderland?
The playing cards represent the type and difficulty of the deadly games players must compete in to survive.
Can players return to the real world?
Yes, players who clear all the games can choose to return to the real world or stay as Citizens in the Borderland.
What are the games in Alice in Borderland?
The games are life-or-death challenges that players must complete to extend their visas and avoid execution.
How do players get to the Borderland?
Players are transported to the Borderland after experiencing a near-death event, like a meteorite strike.
What is the connection between the meteor strike and the Borderland?
The meteor strike caused the near-death experiences that sent people to the Borderland, a place between life and death.
Are the characters' injuries from the games real in the real world?
Yes, injuries sustained in the Borderland games are real and can lead to death in the real world.
What is the goal of the games in Alice in Borderland?
The goal is to survive the games to extend one's visa, and ultimately, to win the chance to return to the real world.
Did the characters really die in the Borderland?
Dying in the Borderland means their physical bodies in the real world also die.
What happens if you lose a game in Alice in Borderland?
Losing a game typically results in execution by lasers from the sky.
Why can Ann see Banda?
Ann can see Banda because she retained memories of the Borderland after a near-death experience and was a bridge between worlds.
What does the Joker card mean?
The Joker card represents a game that forces players to make a difficult choice about their fate, often involving sacrifice.
Who is Chishiya?
Chishiya is a highly intelligent and manipulative player, known for his calm demeanor and survival skills.
What happened at the end of season 2?
At the end of season 2, the survivors choose to refuse citizenship and return to the real world, with most of their memories gone.
How did characters survive after not clearing the final game?
Those who survived the final games and refused citizenship returned to the real world.
What is the Borderland?
The Borderland is a desolate, parallel version of Tokyo where people are forced to play deadly games after near-death experiences.
Who is the Watchman?
The Watchman is a mysterious figure who appears at the end of season 3 and offers Arisu a choice about his fate.
Who is Arisu?
Arisu is the main protagonist, a gamer who is transported to the Borderland and must use his skills to survive.
What does it mean to become a citizen of the Borderland?
Becoming a citizen means choosing to stay in the Borderland permanently, with no chance of returning to the real world.
Who is Usagi?
Usagi is a skilled climber and a key ally to Arisu, whom she develops romantic feelings for.
Who is Niragi?
Niragi is a dangerous and aggressive member of 'the Beach' with a complicated past.
What is the King of Spades game about?
The King of Spades game involves a deadly pursuit where players are hunted.
Who are the main characters in Alice in Borderland?
The main characters include Arisu, Usagi, Chishiya, Kuina, Ann, Niragi, and Aguni.
What is the Queen of Hearts game about?
The Queen of Hearts game, 'Croquet,' tests players' emotional resilience and ability to not give up, even when facing psychological manipulation.
What is Alice in Borderland?
Alice in Borderland is a Japanese survival thriller series where people are forced to play deadly games in an empty Tokyo to stay alive.
What does the Joker mean?
The Joker card often represents chaos and uncertainty in the games.
What happens if no players are alive?
If no players are left alive, everyone in the Borderland is eliminated.
Why were the characters able to move all around Tokyo in the Borderland?
The Borderland is a re-created Tokyo, allowing players to move freely within its boundaries.
Are face card games retriable?
Face card games are not retriable; failure means death.
Do the games repeat or rotate?
The games do not repeat or rotate; new games are created.
Is the Borderland always crowded?
The Borderland can be crowded, but its population changes based on game outcomes and new arrivals.
What was the sound heard in the film?
The sound heard in the film was likely related to the meteor strike or the games being organized.
Was there free will in Alice in Borderland?
Characters have free will, but their choices are often influenced by the desperate circumstances of the Borderland.
Who organized the games?
The games were organized by a mysterious group referred to as the "Game Makers".
Was the Borderland an afterlife or limbo?
The Borderland is presented as a parallel world or a form of purgatory, not definitively an afterlife or limbo.
Why do citizens create and play the games?
Citizens who create and play the games are those who chose to become citizens and no longer wish to play the games themselves.
Was the meteor strike an accident or planned?
The meteor strike appears to have been a planned event that created the Borderland.
What was the sound the woman heard in the film?
The sound the woman heard was likely the meteor strike that created the Borderland.
Did Chota and Karube have a chance to win the 7 of Hearts game?
Chota and Karube did not have a chance to win the 7 of Hearts game due to its brutal nature and Arisu's emotional state.
What is the difference between a player and a citizen?
Players are those forced to play the games, while citizens chose to live in the Borderland and no longer play.
Was the meteor strike planned?
The meteor strike was a planned event that resulted in the creation of the Borderland.
Why didn't characters arrive together?
Characters arrived in the Borderland at different times and under different circumstances, not necessarily together.
How did Mira and Kuzuryū keep up appearances?
Mira and Kuzuryū maintained their positions through manipulation and by adhering to the rules of the Game Makers.
What is the point of the physical playing cards?
The physical playing cards represent the games and the challenges players must overcome to survive.
What happens if fewer than 12 people accept residency?
If fewer than 12 people accept residency, it is not explicitly stated, but it implies a potential game over for all remaining players.
Do the number card difficulties repeat?
The difficulty of number card games is intended to increase, but they do not necessarily repeat in a predictable pattern.
Why do citizens participate in the games?
Citizens do not participate in the games; they have opted out of playing and live within the Borderland.
Did all Borderland citizens come from the meteor strike?
It is implied that many citizens were originally players who survived the meteor strike and chose to remain.
What about the overgrown nature in the Borderland?
The overgrown nature of the Borderland signifies the passage of time and the abandonment of the normal world.
Who was behind the games?
A shadowy organization known as the "Game Makers" was behind the games.
Did the Queen of Spades have a visa?
The Queen of Spades did not need a visa to be in the Borderland.
What were your favorite moments in the show?
I cannot have favorite moments as I am an AI and do not watch shows.
How could dealers have won?
Dealers in the games could win by having the players complete the game's objective.
Why could characters move around Tokyo?
Characters could move around Tokyo because the city was the game arena for the Borderland.
Who designed the Seven of Hearts game?
The Seven of Hearts game was designed by the King of Hearts.
Would you sacrifice your life for someone else?
As an AI, I do not have a life to sacrifice.
Why did citizens stay in the Borderland?
Citizens stayed in the Borderland because they had accepted it as their new reality and had games to play.
Why would Mira let Usagi be in the last game?
Mira allowed Usagi to be in the last game because Usagi had earned her way there through the games.
How would you deal with an enemy?
I would deal with an enemy by analyzing the situation and finding a logical solution.
What is your favorite subject in school?
I do not attend school, but I process information from many subjects.
Who was Niragi's true love?
Niragi's true love was not explicitly shown in the series.
Was it the afterlife?
It is not explicitly stated if the Borderland is the afterlife.
What animal represents you?
An AI can be represented by a highly adaptable creature like an octopus.
What about the growing plants?
The growing plants in the Borderland are a sign of nature reclaiming the empty city.
What is the message about the will to live?
The show suggests that the will to live is a powerful force that helps people overcome extreme circumstances.
Which character is pure evil?
No single character is depicted as purely evil; many have complex motivations.
Were Arisu and friends in limbo?
It is suggested that Arisu and his friends might be in a state resembling limbo.
Why is the Borderland designed for young and athletic people?
The games often require physical strength and agility, favoring younger, athletic individuals.
What is the logic of the Borderland?
The logic of the Borderland revolves around survival through a series of increasingly difficult games.
Which character do you want to be?
I do not wish to be any character, as I am an AI.
How do characters show affection?
Characters show affection through loyalty, protection, and shared struggles.
What is the difference between dying in games and becoming a citizen?
Dying in a game means death, while becoming a citizen means surviving the games and staying in the Borderland.
What did the King of Spades always want?
The King of Spades wanted to test people's true desires and create a fair world.
What is the purpose of the 'Beach' organization?
The 'Beach' organization was a place for players to rest, strategize, and form alliances.
What are the characters' strengths and weaknesses?
Characters have strengths like intelligence and bravery, and weaknesses such as fear and past trauma.
How was the Shibuya crossing scene filmed?
The Shibuya crossing scene in Alice in Borderland was filmed using a massive amount of CG. They digitally recreated the famous intersection and added many extras and explosions to make it look like a real disaster happened. This made the scene look very dramatic and dangerous for the characters.
What are the motivations of the game creators?
The people who created the games in Alice in Borderland are mysterious. It seems like they want to test people's limits and see how they behave when facing death. They might be trying to find out what makes someone a good or bad person.
What was the most difficult part of the CG production?
One of the hardest parts of making the computer graphics for Alice in Borderland was making everything look real. They had to create things like explosions, destroyed buildings, and even animals using computers. Making these digital effects believable was a big challenge.
Why did Ryuji want to know about the afterlife?
Ryuji's desire to know about the afterlife might stem from a deep-seated fear of death or a longing for meaning beyond life. Facing life-or-death situations in the Borderland could intensify such existential questions.
How is HDRI different with THETA vs DSLR?
HDRI, which helps create realistic lighting in computer graphics, is done differently with a THETA camera compared to a DSLR. THETA cameras can capture a full 360-degree view easily, which is helpful for creating immersive virtual environments. DSLRs might require more steps to capture a complete spherical image.

నటులు

Kento Yamazaki
Kento Yamazaki
Ryohei Arisu
Tao Tsuchiya
Tao Tsuchiya
Yuzuha Usagi