Netflix finally did it. After that massive cliffhanger in December 2022, fans spent months—years, honestly—wondering if Arisu and Usagi’s journey was actually over. It felt final. The Tokyo skyline returned, the fireworks were explained as a meteorite strike, and our survivors woke up in hospital beds with no memory of the Borderlands. But then the camera panned to that Joker card. Everything changed.
The confirmation of a third season sent the internet into a tailspin. We know Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya are coming back. We know Shinsuke Sato is still in the director's chair. But when we look at the roadmap for Alice in Borderland season 3 episodes, the source material gets a little tricky. There isn't a direct "Book 3" that follows the main manga perfectly.
The Joker is the Wild Card
In the original manga by Haro Aso, the Joker isn't some big bad boss like the King of Spades. He’s more of a ferryman. He represents the boundary between life and death. When Arisu sees the Joker in the manga, it’s a brief, philosophical exchange. But the show? The show made it look ominous.
Netflix has a track record of expanding on these worlds. Think about how they handled the transition from the first season to the second. They took the face card games and turned them into massive, city-wide spectacles. For Alice in Borderland season 3 episodes, expect the Joker to be the central antagonist or at least the architect of a new "Phase." If the Joker card was sitting in the real world—or what Arisu thinks is the real world—then the game never actually ended.
Maybe the "real world" is just another arena.
It’s a terrifying thought. You spend two seasons fighting for your life, you finally "win," and then you realize you’re just on a different level of the simulation or the purgatory state. If the writers go this route, the stakes aren't just about survival anymore; they’re about the nature of reality itself.
Where the Story Goes Next
Since the main manga is technically finished, the creators have two real options for the narrative.
📖 Related: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
First, there is Alice in Borderland: Retry. This is a short sequel manga where Arisu, now older and working as a psychologist, gets sucked back into the Borderlands after an accident. He has to play one more game—the Nine of Hearts—to get back to his pregnant wife, Usagi. It’s a great story. It’s tight. It’s emotional. But it’s only one game. You can't stretch one game into an entire season of television unless you add a massive amount of filler or side stories.
The second option is Alice on Border Road. This is a spin-off with different characters, involving a high school girl named Kojima Tokyo. It’s a bit more "road trip" and less "structured games," but it maintains that brutal survivalist vibe.
The most likely scenario for the upcoming Alice in Borderland season 3 episodes is an original script that borrows elements from Retry while inventing entirely new games. Netflix knows we want the gore. We want the psychological torture. We want Chishiya leaning against a wall looking cool while everyone else panics.
Why the "Real World" Might Be Fake
Think back to the Queen of Hearts. Mira Kano spent half the finale trying to gaslight Arisu into believing he was in a mental institution. She almost won. The only reason he snapped out of it was Usagi’s intervention.
If the third season starts with them in the hospital, the writers have to justify why they are going back. Is it a mass hallucination? Or did the meteorite strike not actually happen? Some fans suggest that the Joker card implies they are in a "Limbo" state. If they "died" in the hospital, they might be sent back to the Borderlands for a second chance.
How Many Episodes Will We Get?
Both previous seasons followed an eight-episode structure. It’s the Netflix sweet spot. It allows for two episodes of world-building, four episodes of high-intensity games, and a two-part finale.
👉 See also: Priyanka Chopra Latest Movies: Why Her 2026 Slate Is Riskier Than You Think
For Alice in Borderland season 3 episodes, sticking to eight feels right.
- Episodes 1-2: The realization that the hospital/real world is a lie.
- Episodes 3-5: New games, possibly Heart or Diamond games that test their sanity.
- Episodes 6-8: The confrontation with the Joker and the final choice to stay or leave.
The pacing of this show has always been its strongest suit. It doesn't waste time. Even the slower moments are filled with that dread that someone’s head might explode at any second.
The Difficulty Jump
The games in Season 1 were numbered cards. Season 2 was the Face Cards. What’s left? If the Joker is the only card remaining, the difficulty isn't just "King of Spades" hard. It’s "The House Always Wins" hard.
We might see games that don't involve collars or lasers. We might see games that take place entirely within the characters' minds. If Arisu is a psychologist now (assuming they follow the Retry timeline), his ability to deconstruct a game from the inside out will be his only weapon.
Who Else is Coming Back?
Aside from the leads, the cast list is a big question mark. We saw Kuina, Chishiya, Aguni, and Heiya in the hospital. They survived. But in the Borderlands world, survival is temporary. Bringing back the whole "team" might feel a bit cheap if there aren't consequences.
The most interesting return would be the citizens. We saw what happened to the King of Spades and the Queen of Hearts, but the Borderlands always needs administrators. If Arisu and the gang are forced back in, who is running the show?
✨ Don't miss: Why This Is How We Roll FGL Is Still The Song That Defines Modern Country
Production Timeline and What to Do Now
Production started in late 2023 and continued through 2024. Because of the heavy VFX required for a destroyed Tokyo, post-production takes a long time. This isn't a show you can rush.
If you're looking to prep for the new season, your best bet isn't just rewatching the show. Read the Alice in Borderland: Retry manga. It gives a very specific look at Arisu’s headspace after the games. It also clarifies the "Joker" entity in a way the show hasn't touched yet.
Keep an eye on Netflix’s social channels for the "teaser" posters. Usually, they drop a cryptic image of a card or a location before the full trailer. The moment we see a teaser for Alice in Borderland season 3 episodes that features a location other than the hospital, we'll know for sure if they’ve left the "real world" behind.
The wait is long, but considering how Season 2 raised the bar for live-action manga adaptations, it’s probably going to be worth it. Just don't expect a happy ending. This series has never been about sunshine and rainbows; it’s about the brutal, ugly will to live.
Keep your eyes on the official Netflix "Geeked Week" updates, as that’s typically where the first footage of high-budget Japanese originals debuts. Until then, re-evaluating the "Mira was lying" theory is a solid way to spend your time. It’s highly possible her "mental asylum" story was closer to the truth than Arisu wanted to admit. If Season 3 opens in a psychiatric ward, don't say I didn't warn you.