After nearly three years, Alice in Borderland is finally back with Season 3 on Netflix. The return couldn’t be more anticipated, especially after Season 2’s shocking and ambiguous ending. With the story now moving beyond its original manga source, fans are left wondering where the deadly games — and Arisu’s fate — will head next.
By the end of last season, every card in the deck had been played, raising big questions about whether the Borderlands’ twisted games are really over, or if something even darker lies ahead. Before diving into the new chapter, here’s a breakdown of everything you need to remember from Season 2.
Season 2 Brings in the Face Cards
When Season 1 wrapped up, the surviving players learned they were ready for the next stage: the face cards. That meant new games run by Jacks, Queens, and Kings — each more dangerous than anything before.
The deadliest of all was the King of Spades. Unlike traditional games, his rules were simple: survive. A ruthless mercenary armed with automatic weapons, he stalked the Borderlands at will, ambushing players outside of any official match. His constant presence kept the survivors under siege until an elaborate plan finally brought him down.
Other face card matches tested different skills. Chishiya (Nijiro Murakami) faced the Jack of Hearts, a brutal contest of trust and deception that required players to guess the suit hidden on their collars. He also squared off against the King of Diamonds in a game blending math and poker — only to discover the King was Kuzuryu (Tsuyoshi Abe), a familiar figure from Season 1.
Meanwhile, Arisu (Kento Yamazaki), Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya), and Tatta (Yutaro Watanabe) took on the King of Clubs in a high-energy battle resembling capture the flag. Their teamwork earned them victory, but it came at a heartbreaking cost when Tatta sacrificed his life to ensure their success.
Through these games, Arisu discovered a crucial truth: the face card bosses weren’t mysterious overseers at all, but players themselves.
The Queen of Hearts Finale
Season 2’s climax came with the Queen of Hearts, Mira (Riisa Naka). Her challenge looked deceptively simple — a game of croquet against Arisu. The catch? If he quit at any point, he would lose.
At first, the match played out normally, but Mira quickly shifted the rules. She paused the game for “tea,” using the moment to manipulate Arisu with cryptic answers about the Borderlands’ purpose. Her psychological warfare nearly broke him, until Usagi’s desperate act of self-harm jolted him back to reality. With renewed clarity, Arisu completed the game and claimed victory.
With every face card defeated, the survivors were finally given a choice: remain in the Borderlands or return to their lives in Tokyo. Almost all chose to go home.
The Biggest Twist Yet
Just when it seemed the games were over, Alice in Borderland delivered its most shocking twist. Tokyo had been struck by a deadly meteor, leaving many critically injured. The Borderlands were revealed to be a kind of purgatory — a liminal space between life and death, testing the will of those caught in the disaster.
Arisu was among the survivors. His heart had stopped for a full minute before he came back. Usagi, Chishiya, and others also awakened in the hospital, battered but alive. Those who had died in the Borderlands — like Chota and Karube — did not survive their real-world injuries.
There was one final catch: none of the survivors remembered the Borderlands. Still, a fleeting connection remained when Arisu and Usagi crossed paths again, hinting their bond might return.
The Joker’s Arrival
Just before the credits rolled, the show left fans with one last riddle. A gust of wind scattered a deck of cards across a table, leaving only a single joker behind. Its meaning is left deliberately vague.
Does it signal that the “safe” reality is itself another illusion? Or that the games aren’t truly finished? Whatever the case, the Joker’s presence makes it clear Season 3 won’t be short on surprises.
Alice in Borderland Season 3 premieres September 25, 2025, on Netflix.