Season 1 of Alice in Borderland (今際の国のアリス, Imawa no Kuni no Arisu), a Japanese sci-fi thriller live-action drama series, was released by Netflix on December 10, 2020. It consists of 8 episodes and illustrates the First Stage of the game cycle.
On December 24, 2020 it was announced that the show was renewed for a second season[1][2], which premiered on December 22, 2022. Season 3 of the show was released on Netflix on September 25, 2025.
Synopsis[]
An unemployed gamer, Arisu, and his two friends, Karube and Chota, cause a road accident and find themselves in an empty parallel Tokyo, where they are forced to compete in a series of sadistic games in order to survive.
Cast[]
Main[]
- Kento Yamazaki as Arisu
- Tao Tsuchiya as Usagi
- Nijiro Murakami as Chishiya
- Aya Asahina as Kuina
- Yuki Morinaga as Chota
- Keita Machida as Karube
- Dori Sakurada as Niragi
- Sho Aoyagi as Aguni
- Nobuaki Kaneko as Hatter
- Ayaka Miyoshi as Ann
- Shuntaro Yanagi as Last Boss
- Yutaro Watanabe as Tatta
- Ayame Misaki as Shibuki
- Mizuki Yoshida as Asahi
- Tsuyoshi Abe as Kuzuryu
- Riisa Naka as Mira
Other[]
- Kina Yazaki as Momoka
- Ayaka Minami as Saiko
- Kento Shibuya as Jun
- Ken Aoki as Makoto
- Yuki Ito as Tetsuya
- Ippei Osako as Sugi
- Takashi Kitadai as Ken
- Shohei Abe as Yu
- Kosuke Kubota as Joe
- Minehiro Kinomoto as Hiro
- Kyotaro Tamura as Hajime
- Ode Nanako as Minami
- Shigemitsu Ogi as Kenji
- Reiko Kataoka as Sayuri
- Shuichiro Masuda as Kazu
- Ako as Emi
Episodes[]
| Picture | Title | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
 |
"Episode 1" | December 10, 2020 |
| Arisu and his friends cause a traffic accident and run into a public bathroom to hide from the police. However, when they open the door again, they see that the streets of Tokyo are completely empty. Having spent some time in this parallel world, they are suddenly invited to join their first game, "Dead or Alive", forced to try and escape from a building before the room goes on fire. | ||
 |
"Episode 2" | December 10, 2020 |
| Leaving an injured Chota with Shibuki, Arisu and Karube head out to gain more experience. They come to an apartment building, where the deadly "Game of Tag" awaits. More players join this time, including a mysterious guy, Chishiya, a climber girl, Usagi, and a strong militant, Aguni, who gives them a hint about a place that holds all the answers, the Beach. | ||
 |
"Episode 3" | December 10, 2020 |
| With Chota and Shibuki's visas fast expiring, the four enter a vast botanical garden in Shinjuku, where they take part in a cruel game of betrayal, their first Hearts game, "Hide and Seek". Only one player, who is the wolf at the end of the game, will survive, while all the lambs are fated to die with their collars exploding. | ||
 |
"Episode 4" | December 10, 2020 |
| Arisu is overwhelmed with guilt and ready to give up, but Usagi urges him to keep going. Next up is a game of endurance in an underground highway, "Distance". Players board a bus and are told to reach the GOAL, so they start running through the tunnel, facing various trials and risking their lives, only to find an unusual answer at the end. | ||
 |
"Episode 5" | December 10, 2020 |
| After Arisu and Usagi find their way to the Beach, the king of the so-called utopian haven, Hatter, forces them to help gather the remaining playing cards. The duo gets separated, and while Arisu is put in the "Light Bulb" game, Usagi has to complete the "Bingo at the Match Factory" in order to survive. Since Hatter sees potential in Arisu, he tasks Ann with testing him, while Kuina and Tatta join the same game. Aguni, Niragi, and Last Boss, the Beach militants, slay animals in an amusement park during the "Beast Hunter" game before they return to the Beach. | ||
 |
"Episode 6" | December 10, 2020 |
| Hatter's death rocks the fragile power dynamics of the Beach, and Niragi pushes for Aguni to be the new leader. Chishiya recruits Arisu and Usagi to help him change the status quo and steal Hatter's stack of cards, but betrays them for his own gain. Just as Chishiya and Kuina are about to leave the place, another event initiates the last number game, the "Witch Hunt", turning the Beach into a game arena surrounded by lasers. | ||
 |
"Episode 7" | December 10, 2020 |
| Once a safe haven, the Beach becomes the arena for the next game, where an epic "Witch Hunt" turns everyone against each other in a hostile showdown, ordered by Aguni. The militants start shooting all the players on sight and burn their bodies in the Fire of Judgement. Kuina faces her fears and battles the Last Boss, while Chishiya confronts Niragi on the roof. | ||
 |
"Episode 8" | December 10, 2020 |
| Tensions inside the resort reach a boiling point. Arisu uncovers the truth, which is supported by the evidence found by Ann, but Aguni refuses to stop the slaughter and wishes to be killed instead. As the clock nearly reaches zero, Asahi reveals an unforeseen detail, which helps Aguni regain his senses. During the Interval, Arisu, Usagi, Chishiya, and Kuina witness the beginning of the Second Stage that introduces Face Card games. | ||
Gallery[]
Promotional Images[]
Arisu, Karube, and Chota hiding in a bathroom stall from the police
Arisu and Usagi hunting
Usagi helping Arisu
Arisu looking at Usagi at the Beach
The first game begins
_Season_1_Poster_01.jpg "Alice in Borderland (Netflix) Season 1 Poster 01.jpg (1.03 MB)")
English Poster
_Season_1_Poster_02.jpg "Alice in Borderland (Netflix) Season 1 Poster 02.jpg (5.37 MB)")
Japanese Poster
_Season_1_Poster_03.jpg "Alice in Borderland (Netflix) Season 1 Poster 03.jpg (2.06 MB)")
Promotional poster
_Season_1_Poster_04.jpg "Alice in Borderland (Netflix) Season 1 Poster 04.jpg (6.94 MB)")
Promotional poster #2
_Season_1_Poster_05.jpg "Alice in Borderland (Netflix) Season 1 Poster 05.jpg (764 KB)")
Promotion poster #3
Character Portraits[]
Arisu Ryohei
Usagi Yuzuha
Chota Segawa
Daikichi Karube
Real shot location[]
Arisu Ryohei and Usagi Yuzuha talking
Arisu Ryohei and Usagi Yuzuha talking #2
Arisu Ryohei looking for people
Arisu, Karube, and Chota looking at the billboard telling them instructions
Arisu texting Karube and Chota
Videos[]
Alice in Borderland Official Teaser Netflix
English Teaser
Alice in Borderland Official Trailer Netflix
English Trailer
Alice in Borderland Official Trailer 2 Netflix
English Trailer #2
『今際の国のアリス』予告編 - Netflix
Japanese Trailer
『今際の国のアリス』 予告編 2 - Netflix
Japanese Trailer #2
『今際の国のアリス』出演キャスト特別映像 - Netflix
Japanese teaser
Trivia[]
- Filming for the first season commenced on August 13th, 2020.[3]