Netflix confirmed Thursday that Alice in Borderland will return for a third season this September, offering fans of survival thrillers a compelling alternative as Squid Game concludes its run.
The Japanese series follows Arisu, a gamer who finds himself transported to an empty, alternate version of Tokyo where he must participate in deadly games to survive. Each game corresponds to a playing card that determines its difficulty and theme, ranging from logic puzzles to physical endurance challenges. Winners earn “visa” days to extend their survival, while losers face death.
Alice in Borderland maintains an audience score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. The series shares thematic elements with Squid Game — ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances where they must play for their lives while confronting moral dilemmas.
The series leans more heavily into science fiction than its Korean counterpart. Tokyo becomes a nightmarish game board where every location presents potential danger. The show’s visual style emphasizes stark, cinematic elements that balance surreal and brutal imagery.
Season 2 expanded the series’ worldbuilding significantly, deepening the mythology surrounding the games and the alternate reality. The action sequences are tightly choreographed, with tension maintained throughout episodes.
The timing of Netflix’s season 3 announcement coincides with mixed reception for Squid Game‘s final season. Many viewers found the pacing slower and character development less satisfying than previous installments of the record-breaking series.
Alice in Borderland is based on the manga series by Haro Aso. The adaptation captures the source material’s blend of psychological horror and survival elements while expanding visual spectacle for the streaming format.
The September premiere date gives new viewers time to catch up on the existing seasons before the story continues.
