Sure, Squid Game Is Great, But Alice in Borderland Is Everything Netflix Wanted the Show to Be

The second season of the world-famous Squid Game series has been a massive hit with audiences for the last few days. Its engaging plot, relatable characters, and ingenious challenges have kept viewers on the edge of their seats, waiting for more. It is undoubtedly one of Netflix’s biggest successes and has brought attention to the survival games genre.

Nonetheless, there is another incredible show, adapted from on one of the most popular thriller manga that Squid Game fans should watch: Alice in Borderland. This incredible series includes many of the themes that have helped Netflix’s hit show impress audiences. Best of all, there is also a live-action adaptation of Alice in Borderland that viewers can enjoy right now on the same streaming platform.

Alice in Borderland Takes Squid Game’s Concept to the Max

The Games and Tortures in This Series Are Beyond Memorable

Squid Game is a show that tells the story of Seong Gi-hun, a chauffeur who went into debt after his gambling addiction took over his life. He is recruited into a special competition in which the winner will obtain more money than they could ever imagine. Still, there is a catch behind this generous offer, as the only way to win this game is by surviving the deadly traps and violent confrontations that the participants are forced to partake in.

It is an amazing social critique of the lengths humans are willing to go to in order to improve their lives, with many hidden messages in each episode. Alice in Borderland has a similar premise, only elevated to a different level. The protagonist, Alice, is an expectant college student who comes from a wealthy family. After the tragic death of his mother, he began slipping in his studies, something that angered his strict father. One day, he and his best friends Chota and Karube decide to go to Shibuya to pass the time, when an explosion knocks them down.

They wake up in a deserted version of Tokyo, forced to play twisted and dangerous games to obtain playing cards known as visas.

Anyone inside the city without one will be executed, as they have not been granted permission to reside there. While the games begin relatively simply, they quickly become more complex and physiologically tasking. The series uses the games to test human nature, questioning how far a person is willing to go to survive. It also includes deep studies about greed, cooperation, and what it means to be kind when doing so could end your life.

The Games Are More Than Just a Means To Survive

Alice in Borderland Creates an Entire Society Around Its Challenges

One of the main differences between Squid Game and Alice in Borderland is the magnitude of the latter’s games. Unlike Seoung, Alice is forced to travel through an entire city in search of a game, and he must find it before the limit on his visa. The fact that many other humans inhabit this place and are also trying to survive means that he is never safe, as he could be killed at any moment to get rid of the competition.

He is also in constant danger of running out of time before finding the next location, as he never knows how far the next game will be. The visa system itself adds to the tension, with each number on their playing cards signifying how many days they can stay. If someone is lucky enough to win a high-number game, they would be safe for a prolonged time. In any other case, they would be forced to endure another torturous challenge without much preparation.

Even then, the biggest threat to Alice’s survival is the long list of difficult games, which go far beyond physical challenges like in Squid Game. Each of the four suits of the playing deck signifies a different kind of challenge. Physical challenges, intelligence-based games, psychological tasks, and even combinations of the three. The series also hides a shocking revelation at the end of the first half, which raises the stakes even higher. This portion of the series has often been praised by fans for its amazing use of symbolism, the ingenious games it includes, and its emblematic ending.

Alice in Borderland’s Live-Action Adaption Was Also Extremely Popular

Fans Can Still Find It in Netflix’s Catalog

In December 2020, the first episode of the live-action adaptation of Alice in Borderland was released. While the series was mostly unknown at the time, as it was not as popular among Western audiences, it quickly became one of Netflix’s most popular shows. It is widely considered one of the best live-action series on the platform. The show perfectly captures the feelings of dread and urgency conveyed in the original manga, with amazing actors who expertly bring the characters to life. With a third season planned to be released in 2025, fans might consider giving it a chance.

Squid Game Is Still an Incredible Show

Both Series Should Be Celebrated by Audiences

Even though there are many aspects that Alice in Borderland handles better than Squid Game, there is no doubt that the Korean series is an outstanding thriller. The show has one of the most compelling casts of characters in recent years. The motivations and backstories of its characters keep audiences invested in the story. Its use of angles, colors, and music to set the tone is also outstanding. The games might be simpler when compared with the Japanese series, but they are no less exciting because of it.

Squid Game has been revolutionary for the industry, enticing mainstream audiences to give Asian shows an opportunity. It is a series that will go down in history as one of the most emblematic of the 2020s, and its second season has confirmed its relevance once again. Both shows have their strengths and weaknesses but are overall amazing experiences that will force the viewer to question the intricacies of human nature, greed, and freedom.

Alice in Borderland and Squid Game are franchises that will enchant survival horror fans who have yet to see them. They are among the best programs of recent years and viewers who have the opportunity should enjoy and celebrate both.