Alice in Borderland Season 3: The Joker’s Game Begins

After nearly three years, Alice in Borderland is finally back. Netflix dropped Season 3 on September 25, 2025, and this time the story pushes beyond the original manga, giving fans something familiar yet unpredictable.

Unlike some shows that roll out weekly, all six episodes landed at once, making it a perfect candidate for a binge. The setup looks darker, more emotional, and more ambitious than ever.

What’s New This Season

The first two seasons largely followed Haro Aso’s manga, but Season 3 breaks new ground. The lingering Joker card from the Season 2 finale takes center stage, and the story leans into unexplored territory.

Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) and Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya) are back in the real world, their memories of Borderland fading. That fragile peace doesn’t last long—Usagi suddenly disappears, forcing Arisu to return to the deadly games to find her. A new antagonist, described as a “scholar of the afterlife,” enters the picture, obsessed with death, memory, and what comes after.

Along with familiar faces, the season introduces new characters and games designed to be more unpredictable and dangerous than anything before. The Joker’s presence hints at rules that no one fully understands.

Screen Shots

Why It Matters

Here’s why Season 3 feels like more than just another round of survival:

1. Personal stakes
   Arisu isn’t just trying to survive—he’s fighting to save Usagi. The games now carry an emotional weight that makes the tension even sharper.

2. Surprises for everyone
   With the story moving past the manga, even longtime fans can’t guess what’s coming.

3. Bigger ideas
   Memory, identity, and the cost of survival are at the heart of the season. The new villain’s philosophical edge adds another layer to the chaos.

4. High production values
   From what’s been shown, the visuals, sets, and pacing are just as sharp as in the earlier seasons, if not more refined.

There are risks too. With only six episodes, the pacing has to be tight. And with the plot diverging from the manga, the writers will need to keep everything consistent with the world they’ve built.

Release Details

Season 3 is streaming exclusively on Netflix. Release times varied by region: midnight PT in the U.S., 8 a.m. in the UK, and 12:30 p.m. IST in India.

All six episodes are available now.

Final Thoughts

Season 3 sets itself apart by raising the stakes beyond survival. It’s not just about winning games anymore—it’s about memory, love, and what it means to truly live.

Arisu thought freedom came with defeating the Queen. He didn’t realize the Joker was waiting.