Squid Gamewill unfold its final arc with season 3, but Netflix seems to have an even better battle royale show that is scheduled to return soon. The battle royale subgenre has been around for a long time, but only a few shows and movies falling under its umbrella have come even close to matchingSquid Game’s popularityand critical acclaim. By combining survival games with themes surrounding class divides and social inequality,Squid Gamebecame a global phenomenon, and its success will likely leave an indelible mark in the streaming space.
Unfortunately, for now, it seems likeSquid Gameis finally going to endits run. There is always room for the franchise to grow with potential spin-offs and follow-ups, but the main series is about to conclude with one final installment scheduled to land on Netflix on June 17, 2025. Thankfully, afterSquid Gameends, viewers can find its perfect replacement in another similar battle royale show that is considered even better by many.
Netflix’s Alice In Borderland Is An Action-Packed Battle Royale Show Based On A Manga
The Show Combines Fantasy With Survival Games
Similar toSquid Game, Netflix’sAlice in Borderlanduses immersive survival games as narrative devices to drive its drama. UnlikeSquid Game, however, it does not follow an original storyline. Instead, it adapts story beats from a manga of the same name written by Haro Aso.Alice in Borderland’s character beats and castperformances are arguably as compelling asSquid Game’s. However, what makes the Japanese Netflix series significantly different from theNetflix Korean showis that it has elements of fantasy.
WhileSquid Gameunfolds on an isolated island where its titular games are funded by a group of affluent men,Alice in Borderlandtakes place in an alternate version of Tokyo. The games inAlice in Borderlandprogressively get harder, like the ones inSquid Game. But instead of having relatively simpler playground games like the ones featured inSquid Game,Alice in Borderlanddoes not shy away from introducing complex and intellectually demanding challenges that test everything from a player’s physical capabilities to psychological resilience.
If You’re Looking For Action And Set Pieces, Alice In Borderland Is Even Better Than Squid Game
Its Games Are Far Bigger In Scale
When it comes to relatability and thematic depth,Squid Gameseems better thanAlice in Borderland. The Korean show’s ability to tap into real-world issues like debt and the dehumanizing effect of capitalism on the poor hits home for most viewers.Alice in Borderland, too, attempts to be relatable by using its games as a narrative device to highlight the main character’s search for meaning and purpose, but its thematic elements seemingly lack the universal appeal that comes with the ones fromSquid Game.
However, if the sheer scale of the action and set pieces in both shows are considered,Alice in Borderlandseems far superior. The Japanese manga adaptation significantly ups the ante with each new game and even infuses highly imaginative fantastical elements into its central survival story beats. Owing to this, audiences who have been watching Squid Game purely for survival games and the violence that entails them will have a great time watching Alice in Borderland.
Alice In Borderland Season 3 Will Be The Perfect Show To Watch After Squid Game Ends
Its Final Season Will Follow An Original Story
Squid Game’s final installment will land on Netflix in the last week of June. If viewers start missing the show after it ends its run, they can fill the void by checking outAlice in Borderland’s seasons 1 and 2 while waiting for its third installment, which is scheduled to be released on Netflix on Jun 27, 2025. The Netflix Japanese series was slightly predictable in seasons 1 and 2 because it loosely adapted many story beats from the original manga.
What makesAlice in Borderlandseason 3 even more exciting than its predecessors, however, is that it will follow an original storyline. With a lot of ambiguity surrounding how the Japanese show will unfold in its next installment, it is hard not to anticipate what kind of games and story beats it has in store for viewers. Although some aspects of Alice in Borderland’s narrative may be significantly different from Squid Game’s,it will undoubtedly scratch the itch thatSquid Game’s end will leave behind.
Squid Game
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
Alice in Borderland
Cast
Alice in Borderland follows a video-game enthusiast and his two friends who find themselves transported to an alternate Tokyo. There, they must participate in perilous games for survival.
