Alice in Borderland

Alice in Borderland

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9 / 10

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Overview

With his two friends, a video-game-obsessed young man finds himself in a strange version of Tokyo where they must compete in dangerous games to win.

Media

Alice in Borderland | Official Trailer #2 | Netflix

Cast

Fist Air Date:

2020-12-10

Episode Runtime:

undefinedm

Production Companies:

Robot Communications

Genres:

Action & Adventure Drama Mystery

Keywords:

based on graphic novel brisk fight game live action remake psychological thriller quest supernatural survival suspenseful tokyo, japan urgent wonder

More Show Details

Vote Average: 8.1/10

Vote Count: 2692 Votes

Show Popularity: 41.3369

Show Status: Ended

Show Type: Scripted

Spoken Languages: Japanese

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 02 May 2026 at 7:40 pm

9 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 9/10 THE SUMMARY Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) is a listless, video-game-obsessed young man who feels out of place in modern Tokyo. While hanging out with his two best friends in Shibuya, a mysterious flash of light empties the city, leaving them in a deserted, post-apocalyptic version of the capital. They soon discover they are trapped in a deadly game of survival. To stay alive, they must compete in twisted, high-stakes games—ranging from physical puzzles to brutal psychological traps—where the prize for winning is a "visa" for a few more days of life. Fail, and a laser from the sky ends the game permanently. THE PROS This show is an epic achievement in the survival-thriller genre and hits a 9 because the tension never lets up. The games are incredibly creative and act as a total highlight, especially the "Seven of Hearts" game which remains one of the most pained and emotional moments in TV history. Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya have honest chemistry as they navigate this nightmare together, and the show isn't afraid to kill off major characters, making the stakes feel real. The production design of an empty Tokyo is a fair shout for some of the best visual work on Netflix, creating an atmosphere that is both beautiful and terrifying. THE CONS It stays at a 9 because some of the later subplots at "The Beach" can feel like a bit of a slog as the show introduces a large group of new characters who aren't all as interesting as the core team. It misses a perfect 10 because a few of the CGI animals in the early games can look a bit flat and take you out of the moment. The dialogue can occasionally lean into "anime-style" tropes that might feel a bit melodramatic for viewers who prefer a more grounded Western thriller. A few of the physics-defying stunts are a head-scratcher, even for a show about a mysterious digital world, but they are a small price to pay for the overall quality. THE VERDICT 9/10. A smart, brutal, and visually stunning journey through a digital hell. It’s a great result for fans of *Squid Game* who want something with a bit more of a sci-fi edge. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • To film the famous empty Shibuya Crossing scene, the production couldn't actually shut down the world’s busiest intersection; they built a massive, identical set in an open-air studio miles away and used green screens for the background buildings.• Each suit in the card-based games represents a different type of challenge: Spades are physical, Diamonds are mental, Clubs are team-based, and Hearts are psychological "games of betrayal."• Kento Yamazaki, who plays Arisu, is a massive star in Japan and has starred in several other live-action adaptations of popular manga, earning him the nickname "The Prince of 2.5D." THE VIBE Like a neon-lit nightmare that won't end. It smells of ozone, city dust, and the metallic tang of a ticking time bomb.

TV Show Poster

Season 1

8 Episodes

Air Date: 2020-12-10

An aimless gamer and his two friends find themselves in a parallel Tokyo, where they're forced to compete in a series of sadistic games to survive.

TV Show Poster

Season 2

8 Episodes

Air Date: 2022-12-22

The games are deadlier, this world more wild and cruel; but will Arisu ever make it back to the real world — and will it be worth everything he's lost?

TV Show Poster

Season 3

6 Episodes

Air Date: 2025-09-25

Videos

Alice in Borderland | Official Trailer #2 | Netflix

Alice in Borderland | Official Trailer | Netflix

Alice in Borderland | Official Teaser | Netflix

Cast

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Alice in Borderland

Reviews for

Alice in Borderland

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 2 May 2026 at 8:40 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 9/10
THE SUMMARY
Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) is a listless, video-game-obsessed young man who feels out of place in modern Tokyo. While hanging out with his two best friends in Shibuya, a mysterious flash of light empties the city, leaving them in a deserted, post-apocalyptic version of the capital. They soon discover they are trapped in a deadly game of survival. To stay alive, they must compete in twisted, high-stakes games—ranging from physical puzzles to brutal psychological traps—where the prize for winning is a “visa” for a few more days of life. Fail, and a laser from the sky ends the game permanently.
THE PROS
This show is an epic achievement in the survival-thriller genre and hits a 9 because the tension never lets up. The games are incredibly creative and act as a total highlight, especially the “Seven of Hearts” game which remains one of the most pained and emotional moments in TV history. Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya have honest chemistry as they navigate this nightmare together, and the show isn’t afraid to kill off major characters, making the stakes feel real. The production design of an empty Tokyo is a fair shout for some of the best visual work on Netflix, creating an atmosphere that is both beautiful and terrifying.
THE CONS
It stays at a 9 because some of the later subplots at “The Beach” can feel like a bit of a slog as the show introduces a large group of new characters who aren’t all as interesting as the core team. It misses a perfect 10 because a few of the CGI animals in the early games can look a bit flat and take you out of the moment. The dialogue can occasionally lean into “anime-style” tropes that might feel a bit melodramatic for viewers who prefer a more grounded Western thriller. A few of the physics-defying stunts are a head-scratcher, even for a show about a mysterious digital world, but they are a small price to pay for the overall quality.
THE VERDICT
9/10. A smart, brutal, and visually stunning journey through a digital hell. It’s a great result for fans of *Squid Game* who want something with a bit more of a sci-fi edge.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• To film the famous empty Shibuya Crossing scene, the production couldn’t actually shut down the world’s busiest intersection; they built a massive, identical set in an open-air studio miles away and used green screens for the background buildings.
• Each suit in the card-based games represents a different type of challenge: Spades are physical, Diamonds are mental, Clubs are team-based, and Hearts are psychological “games of betrayal.”
• Kento Yamazaki, who plays Arisu, is a massive star in Japan and has starred in several other live-action adaptations of popular manga, earning him the nickname “The Prince of 2.5D.”
THE VIBE
Like a neon-lit nightmare that won’t end. It smells of ozone, city dust, and the metallic tang of a ticking time bomb.

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