Alice in Borderland Plot: What the Series Is About
Arisu Ryohei is a young man in Tokyo who spends more time on video games than on his real-life direction. He is out with two friends when the city around them changes into an unsettling, near-empty version of itself. The familiar streets of Tokyo are still standing, but the rules of everyday life no longer apply.
In this strange new Tokyo, staying alive depends on taking part in games. These are not harmless pastimes: they test nerve, logic, trust and physical endurance, and losing comes at a deadly cost. Arisu must figure out how this world works and whether his gaming instincts can help him survive challenges designed to push people to their limits.
The series blends mystery, psychological tension and survival action. It keeps asking what people are willing to do when every decision could be their last. Its tagline, “Life is a game, you should enjoy it more,” hints at the dark irony running through the story. The show builds a dystopian puzzle around both its characters and the city itself.
Alice in Borderland Review Guide: What Makes It Notable
- Japanese live-action adaptation of a manga: The series is based on manga and was originally titled 今際の国のアリス in Japanese. It turns its source into a high-stakes death-game drama set in Tokyo.
- Cast: Kento Yamazaki leads as Arisu Ryohei, and Tao Tsuchiya plays Usagi Yuzuha. The supporting cast includes:
- Nijiro Murakami as Chishiya Shuntaro
- Aya Asahina as Kuina Hikari
- Nobuaki Kaneko as Takeru Danma
- Riisa Naka as Mira Kano
- Keita Machida as Daikichi Karube
- Ayaka Miyoshi as Ann Rizuna
- Dori Sakurada as Niragi Suguru
- Yutaro Watanabe as Tatta Kodai
- Director and writers: Shinsuke Sato directs. The writing credits go to Yasuko Kuramitsu, Shinsuke Sato and Yoshiki Watanabe.
- Network: Netflix.
- Format: The series has three seasons and 22 episodes in total:
- Season 1: 8 episodes, premiered December 10, 2020
- Season 2: 8 episodes, premiered December 22, 2022
- Season 3: 6 episodes, premiered September 25, 2025
- Runtime: The listed episode runtime is about 77 minutes.
- Status: The series has ended.
- Genres: Mystery, drama and action & adventure, with strong elements of survival horror, suspense and psychological thriller.
Who Will Enjoy Alice in Borderland
- Fans of death-game and survival stories built around deadly challenges
- Viewers who like psychological thrillers full of strategy, mind games and moral dilemmas
- Japanese drama fans looking for a dystopian series set in Tokyo
- Manga readers curious about live-action adaptations
- Anyone who enjoys mysteries where uncovering the rules of the world is part of the tension
Where to Watch Alice in Borderland in the Philippines
In the Philippines, Alice in Borderland is listed on Netflix, which is available with a subscription. The series is a Netflix production. Its first season premiered on the platform on December 10, 2020, and the third season premiered on September 25, 2025. For a legal viewing experience, watch it through the official Netflix service.
Trailer
Cast
Kento Yamazakias Arisu Ryohei / Alice22 episodes
Tao Tsuchiyaas Usagi Yuzuha / “Rabbit”22 episodes
Nijiro Murakamias Chishiya Shuntaro13 episodes
Aya Asahinaas Kuina Hikari13 episodes
Nobuaki Kanekoas Takeru / Bossia / The Hatter / Takeru Danma13 episodes
Riisa Nakaas Mira Kano / Kano Mira12 episodesSee credits →
Keita Machidaas Daikichi Karube / Karube Daikichi12 episodesSee credits →
Ayaka Miyoshias Ann Rizuna11 episodes
Photo: TMDB
Episode guide
| Season | Episode | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Aired | |
| 1 | 2 | Aired | |
| 1 | 3 | Aired | |
| 1 | 4 | Aired | |
| 1 | 5 | Aired | |
| 1 | 6 | Aired | |
| 1 | 7 | Aired | |
| 1 | 8 | Aired | |
| 2 | 1 | Aired | |
| 2 | 2 | Aired | |
| 2 | 3 | Aired | |
| 2 | 4 | Aired | |
| 2 | 5 | Aired | |
| 2 | 6 | Aired | |
| 2 | 7 | Aired | |
| 2 | 8 | Aired | |
| 3 | 1 | Aired | |
| 3 | 2 | Aired | |
| 3 | 3 | Aired | |
| 3 | 4 | Aired | |
| 3 | 5 | Aired | |
| 3 | 6 | Aired |
Dates are original broadcast dates in the country of origin (Korea/China). Official streaming platforms in your country may add episodes the same day or later.
FAQ
- How many episodes does Alice in Borderland have?
- Alice in Borderland has 22 episodes across three seasons: 8 in Season 1, 8 in Season 2 and 6 in Season 3.
- Where can I watch Alice in Borderland in the Philippines?
- In the Philippines, Alice in Borderland is listed on Netflix, which is available with a subscription.
- When was Alice in Borderland released?
- Alice in Borderland premiered on Netflix on December 10, 2020. Season 2 premiered on December 22, 2022, and Season 3 premiered on September 25, 2025.
- Who is in the cast of Alice in Borderland?
- Kento Yamazaki plays Arisu Ryohei and Tao Tsuchiya plays Usagi Yuzuha. They are joined by Nijiro Murakami, Aya Asahina, Nobuaki Kaneko, Riisa Naka, Keita Machida, Ayaka Miyoshi, Dori Sakurada and Yutaro Watanabe.
- What genre is Alice in Borderland?
- It is a Japanese mystery, drama and action & adventure series based on manga, with survival horror, suspense and psychological thriller elements.
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