When Is "Alice in Borderland" Season 3 Coming? The Mysterious Joker, a Look Back at Past Seasons, and What’s Next!

"Alice in Borderland" is a Japanese survival thriller that has become a worldwide hit as a Netflix original series. The original work is a manga of the same name by Haro Aso (published by Shogakukan's "Weekly Shonen Sunday Comics"), which gained attention for its unique world-building and thrilling developments.

The story follows Ryohei Arisu (Alice), an aimless young man who suddenly finds himself lost in an alternate world called "Borderland," where he must challenge "games" with his life at stake. Meeting unique characters like Usagi and Chishiya, experiencing cooperation, betrayal, and the death of comrades, Alice gets closer to uncovering the truth behind "Borderland"...!

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Types Of "Games"(げぇむ)

In "Alice in Borderland", the "games" are classified by suit and number of playing cards, with the difficulty and risk of death increasing as the number gets higher.

• Hearts (♥): Psychological type. Trials focused on psychological warfare and interpersonal relationships.
• Clubs (♣): Balance type. Team battles where teamwork is key.
• Diamonds (♦): Intelligence type. Centered on brain teasers and puzzle-solving elements.
• Spades (♠): Physical type. Physical battles that test strength and speed.

This simple setup is one of the attractions that draws many fans to the series.

Main Characters

Arisu (Ryohei Arisu): Yamazaki Kento

A lethargic young man who used to shut himself in his room playing video games, constantly compared to his more successful younger brother. In the "Borderland," he faces life-threatening "games" that force him to confront the meaning of life. He possesses exceptional intuition, keen observational skills, and a heart that deeply cares for his companions.

Usagi (Yuzuha Usagi): Tsuchiya Tao

Former climber. It is characterized by high athleticism and tough mental strength. He struggled with his past with his father and lost the meaning of life, but through his encounter with Alice, he regained the courage to believe in someone.

Chishiya (Shuntaro Chishiya): Murakami Nijiro

A young man who rarely shows emotions, always calm and collected. He has a cold side that doesn't hesitate to sacrifice others to survive. Using his high logical thinking skills, he clears various "games".

Karube (Daikichi Karube): Machida Keita

Arisu's close friend and a former bartender. Despite his boisterous personality, he has a sensitive heart. His charm lies in his high physical ability, courage, and loyalty to his friends.

Chota (Chota Segawa): Morinaga Yuki

Arisu and Karube's best friend. Though timid, he's a kind and friendly mood-maker. While he struggles mentally with the harshness of the "games", he continues to believe in friendship and tries to act for his companions until the end.

Ann (Rizuna Ann): Miyoshi Ayaka

A former police officer. She calmly clears "games" with her excellent observational and analytical skills.

Aguni (Aguni Morizono): Aoyagi Sho

A former Self-Defense Force member. A fighter who combines overwhelming combat skills with a loyal personality.

Niragi (Suguru Niragi): Sakurada Dori

A man with a malicious and aggressive personality. He resents Arisu and Usagi for their ability to maintain hope in any situation.

Kuina (Kuina Hikari): Asahina Aya

A former apparel store employee. Characterized by her dreadlocks, her weapon is her high combat ability utilizing her karate experience.

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When Is "Alice in Borderland" Season 3? The Mysterious Joker and Plot Predictions

"Alice in Borderland" Season 3 is officially scheduled to be released in September 2025. This will be the first time a Japanese live-action series on Netflix enters a third season. From here, let's take a look at some specific plot predictions.

Who is the Joker? Does the character appear in the original manga?

In the final scene of Season 2, the Joker playing card was shown in a mysterious and symbolic way. Also, since the Joker card appears in the official announcement art for Season 3, it's almost certain that the Joker will have a major impact on the upcoming story.

In the original manga, a character referred to as the Joker does appear, but he is depicted only as a dark shadow with just his mouth visible, and his true identity is never revealed. How will he appear in the new season—if he appears at all? It looks like we won’t be able to take our eyes off the story until the very end.

What will the story of Season 3 be like?

The Joker does not appear in the original manga's sequel "Alice in Borderland RETRY". Furthermore, in the comment released by director Shinsuke Sato alongside the announcement of Season 3's production, he states, "A completely new journey that no one knows about will begin." This suggests that Season 3 is likely to be depicted as a Netflix original story.

【Comment from Director Shinsuke Sato】
Everyone thought it was over. But there was still one fragment left behind. Season 3 is beginning. A brand-new journey will begin—one that no one knows anything about. More games. More players. Who is the enemy? Who will survive? No one knows the answers on this unknown journey. Please look forward to it. (Source: Netflix)

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Which characters might appear in Season 3?

At this point, only the appearances of Arisu (Yamazaki Kento) and Usagi (Tsuchiya Tao) have been confirmed, while other characters remain unknown.

Characters who are likely to appear are those who survived Season 2. How will characters like Chishiya (Murakami Nijiro), Ann (Miyoshi Ayaka), Kuina (Asahina Aya), Niragi (Sakurada Dori), and Aguni (Aoyagi Sho) be involved in the story? Additionally, there are expectations for the reappearance of characters introduced in Season 2, such as Banda (Isomura Hayato) and Yaba (Maiguma Katsuya).

A Recap of "Alice in Borderland" Season 1

In preparation for the release of Season 3, we will now introduce the summaries, representative “games,” and highlights of Seasons 1 and 2. Let’s start by looking at Season 1.

Summary of Season 1

A young man named Arisu, bored with his everyday life, suddenly finds himself transported to a mysterious world called "Borderland" along with his close friends Karube and Chota. To survive in the "Borderland," they must win "games" to extend their visas, and Arisu and his friends become embroiled in life-threatening trials. From new encounters with Usagi to the deaths of companions and betrayals, Arisu is pushed to his limits and forced to contemplate the mystery of the "Borderland" and the "meaning of life."

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Representative "Game"(げぇむ) of Season 1

Five of Spades: "A Game of Tag"(おにごっこ)

A life-or-death game of tag set in an entire apartment building. To clear the game, players must find an unlocked room called "jinchi" (safe base) somewhere in the building within the time limit and touch the button inside. The "oni" (it) carries a machine gun, and being shot means instant death. This situation tests decision-making skills and teamwork.

Seven of Hearts: "Hide and Seek"(かくれんぼ)

Participants are divided into "wolves" and "sheep". Any sheep that makes eye contact with a wolf becomes a new wolf. At the end of the time limit, only those who are wolves survive. Because players compete to become wolves, the game develops into a situation where sheep desperately chase wolves. Will you betray your companions to survive, or sacrifice yourself for them? The bonds between people are tested.

Ten of Hearts: "Witch Hunt"(まじょがり)

A murder occurs in a hotel, and the body of a woman is found. Players must find the culprit, the "witch", within the time limit and execute them by throwing them into a bonfire to clear the game. However, if the "witch" is not found, everyone dies. This "game" embodies the ugliness of human nature, including mob mentality and indiscriminate violence.

Highlights of Season 1

The biggest highlight of Season 1 is the essence of human nature and the deep psychological warfare that come to light through the "games". Each character is pushed to their limits, sometimes acting selfishly, sometimes for the sake of their companions, which strongly conveys "the importance of living". You'll likely find yourself thinking, "What would I do in this situation..." in various scenes throughout the show.

A Recap of "Alice in Borderland" Season 2

Next, let's look at the summary of Season 2, some of its representative "games", and the highlights.

Summary of Season 2

Arisu and Usagi continue their survival in the "Borderland". What awaited them were "games" represented by face cards, which were even more difficult than the number cards they had faced before. As Arisu and his companions overcome numerous brushes with death, repeatedly building trust and experiencing partings with their comrades, they eventually approach the hidden truth of the "Borderland"...!

👉Alice in Borderland (Complete Series) eBook version / Haro Aso [Yahoo! Shopping]

Representative "Game"(げぇむ) of Season 2

King of Clubs: "Osmosis"(すうとり)

A 5-on-5 team battle played on a massive field. Teams compete to steal points, and the team with the highest total score when time runs out wins. Each team starts with 10,000 points, which can be freely distributed among members. There are three ways to increase points: “Battle,” where players touch opponents to compete based on who has more points; “Item,” where players gain points by pressing hidden buttons scattered around the arena; and “Jinchi,” where players earn 10,000 points by touching the opponent’s safe zone. Coordination and strategy within the team—such as point distribution, timing battles, and acquiring items—determine the outcome of the match.

Jack of Hearts: "Solitary Confinement" (どくぼう)

A psychological battle set in a prison. All participants are fitted with special collars, and the mark on the back of the collar is updated every hour. Players must enter a solitary cell five minutes before the end of each hour and answer what their collar's mark is, but since they can't see their own mark, they must rely on other players to tell them. The game is won by killing the Jack of Hearts hidden among the participants while exchanging information about marks. In a situation where players must rely on information from others, the trust between participants is tested.

King of Diamonds: "Balance Scale" (てんびん)

A psychological battle set in a courthouse. Five participants choose a number between 0 and 100, and the person who chooses the number closest to 80% of the average of all numbers wins. Losers lose one point, and when they reach 10 points, sulfuric acid pours down from the balance scale above their head, resulting in instant death. The last person standing is the winner. As the number of players decreases, new rules are added, such as invalidation when the same number is chosen and doubling the point deduction for losers with an exact match. Participants are forced into a high-level psychological battle, reading each other's thoughts.

Highlights of Season 2

The appeal of Season 2 lies in the intensified, larger-scale "games" and confrontations with formidable enemies. The deepening bonds between Arisu and his companions through the "games", as well as the growth of characters who played active roles in Season 1, such as Chishiya, Kuina, and Aguni, are not to be missed. Additionally, the scenes that approach the truth of the "Borderland", which was not revealed in the previous season, are must-see.

Did Arisu and the others return to reality? Explanation of the ending

Towards the end of Season 2, it was revealed that the "Borderland" was a "world between life and death" experienced simultaneously by people who were in cardiac arrest in the real world. In the real Tokyo where Arisu and others were, many people went into cardiac arrest due to the explosion of a giant meteorite, and Arisu and his companions were among them. In other words, they were wandering between life and death, forced to play games to survive. The games in this world could be interpreted as "trials for those with the will to live to return to reality."

After the games ended, the survivors were given the choice to either permanently stay in the "Borderland" or return to the real world. Many, including Arisu and Usagi, chose to return to the real world. When Arisu and Usagi reunite in a hospital in the real world, they have lost their memories of the "Borderland", but they are depicted as having special feelings for each other, saying, "Have we met somewhere before?" "We might have..."

How was "Alice in Borderland" filmed? 

"Alice in Borderland" became a topic of conversation for its thrilling action and grand visual beauty. In particular, the scene where Shibuya's Scramble Crossing turned into ruins attracted many viewers' interest, wondering, "How was this filmed?"

The open set used for filming was about 1.5 hectares (15,000 square meters) in size, faithfully recreating Shibuya's Scramble Crossing down to the smallest details. The set included meticulous recreations of station and building exteriors, as well as street garbage and grime. The unique world of "Alice in Borderland" was created by combining this set with footage actually shot in Shibuya and utilizing VFX (visual effects), employing a variety of filming techniques.

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Excited for What's Next in "Alice in Borderland"!

This time, we introduced a recap of Seasons 1 and 2, along with our predictions for what might unfold in Season 3. What kind of “game” awaits next? We can’t wait to find out. Whether you’ve already watched the series or are new to it, now is the perfect time to catch up on Seasons 1 and 2 and get ready for the release of Season 3 around September 2025!