The Netflix survival action thriller series “Alice in Borderland” was created from the same-named manga series by Haro Aso. It depicts the tale of a group of people who are compelled to play progressively deadlier games in order to survive after becoming stranded in a bizarre and deserted version of Tokyo. Four suits of cards stand in for the four different game kinds. Hearts signify for psychological, clubs for collaboration, diamonds for intelligence, and spades for the physical. The card’s number indicates the level of difficulty; the greater the number, the riskier the game.
If the first season focuses on the number cards, season two moves the emphasis to the face cards. While this is happening, the main character Ryohei Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) and his friends and allies work to overcome every obstacle in order to return to their previous reality. If you enjoyed “Alice in Borderland,” here are some suggestions that could be to your liking. The majority of these programmes, which are comparable to “Alice in Borderland,” are available on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or HBO Max.
“3%,” a film by Pedro Aguilera, is set in an unnamed dystopian future. A group of 20-year-olds take part in “The Process” in order to be chosen as members of the affluent society known as the “Offshore,” seeking to escape the squalor of the Inland. Only 3% of applicants to the Process succeed each year, making it extremely competitive. The remaining individuals face a worse outcome, including death. The world of the “3%” is depressing and cynical, just like in “Alice in Wonderland.” However, there are characters that dare to hope, exactly like in “Alice in Borderland.”
High-Rise Invasion (2021-)
The lone anime on this list is “High-Rise Invasion,” which was adapted from a manga series by Takahiro Oba and Tsuina Miura. Although there is an anime version of “Alice in Borderland,” it is an OVA that spans three episodes. Like the Netflix series, “High-Rise Invasion” takes place in an urban setting in a parallel universe. This is described in the anime as a “abnormal area” that resembles a city full of skyscrapers connected by suspension bridges only on the surface. When Yuri Honjou, a high school girl, comes there, she learns that a bunch of masked men are after her and that she must either escape or kill them. Soon after discovering that her brother Rika is also a part of this weird universe, Yuri and Rika begin cooperating by exchanging information.
Liar Game (2014)
An innocent young woman named Nan Do Chon (also known as Nam Da Jung) battles rising debts in the South Korean television series “Liar Game,” which is based on the Japanese manga of the same name by Shinobu Kaitan. She makes the decision to sign up for the titular reality programme, where competitors compete to win $10 billion, in the hopes of paying them off. Do Chon links up with Cha Woo Jin, a great conman with the uncommon ability to accurately tell when someone is lying to them, in order to assure her triumph. Before being adapted for television, “Liar Game” and “Alice in Borderland” were both manga series. Although “Alice in Borderland” has a magical element that “Liar Game” does not, they also share similar themes and genres.
Panic (2021)
Olivia Welch, Jessica Sula, and Mike Faist starred in the brief-lived sitcom “Panic,” which was developed by Lauren Oliver from her 2014 book of the same name. The story revolves around 23 recent grads competing in the annual Panic competition in the hopes of winning a $50,000 prize. “Panic,” which is set in the fictitious Texas town of Carp, combines many themes with “Alice in Borderland,” such as despair, hope, and the need to survive. Panic is a very risky game, same like the one in the Japanese series. We are informed that two people lost their lives playing the game the summer before.
Re: Mind, a Japanese television series, is bold and complicated in its execution. The story centres on 11 high school students who awaken with their feet tied to the floor and sacks over their heads. They discover they are in an antique European-style room when the bags are taken off, and their captor appears to have a considerable limp. The girls start to vanish one by one as they strive to figure out what has happened to them. Much of the secrets in the episode are not disclosed until later in the series, just like in “Alice in Borderland.” Re: Mind may not have as many action scenes as Alice in Borderland, but the show more than makes up for it with its psychological thriller elements.
Squid Game (2021-)
‘Squid Game’ is a fun and action-packed series about a survival game, similar to ‘Alice in Borderland,’ but with the Korean programme, the game master is very much human. The show centres on 456 individuals who consent to participate in a number of kid-friendly games in the hopes of winning $45.6 billion. Many people continue to play the games even after learning of their lethal twists because they have no other option. Even while “Squid Game” may appear to be just another survival programme, it stands out for its open examination of issues like classism, income inequality, and the exploitation of the poor and marginalised.
Sweet Home (2020-)
The South Korean television series “Sweet Home” was created from the Kim Kan-bi and Hwang Young-chan webtoon of the same name from 2017. The protagonists of the novel are the residents of the Green Home apartment complex, who find that everything around them has suddenly become horrific and that people are turning into monsters. Although these creatures play a significant role in the story, the primary focus of “Sweet Home” is still on character relationships and how different characters, whether humans or monsters, respond to situations. Both “Sweet Home” and “Alice in Borderland” have a fantasy-based backstory. Both programmes also have magnificent action scenes and expansive set pieces that do credit to the suspenseful story.
The Purge (2018-2019)
The Purge is a franchise that includes the anthology series by James DeMonaco of the same name. The story is set in an alternative America under the rule of a totalitarian regime. Similar to the movies, the government permits a 12-hour purge every year during which all crimes are permissible. The first season centres on a number of personalities who don’t seem to be related to one another. These characters’ paths will unavoidably cross as the Purge night gets started. The format of “The Purge” and its ostensibly dystopian scenario are comparable to that of “Alice in Borderland” and other titles on this list. Like “Alice in Borderland,” “The Purge” also questions whether society and its rules are simply a result of the legal system that has been established.
