Why Alice In Borderland Is Not As Big As Squid Game (Despite Both Being Great)

Alice in Borderland is still not as massive as Squid Game in popularity despite belonging to the same genre, raising questions about what the Korean drama has done differently. The Japanese seriesAlice in the Borderlandpremiered before Squid Game's first installment and garnered a new wave of attention after the Korean drama's monumental rise to the top on Netflix. Owing to the shared ideas between the two shows and their similar narrative structures, many viewers could not help but compare them with one another.

While many appreciated Alice in Borderland's ambitiousness and scale, others admired Squid Game's groundedness and ability to reflect on real-world social issues. From a storytelling standpoint, it is still debatable which one of the two is better. However, when it comes to overall viewership and popularity, Squid Game seems miles ahead of Alice in Borderland. This difference in their commercial success makes it hard not to wonder what sets Squid Game apart and where Alice in Borderland stands in comparison.

How Popular Alice In Borderland Has Been For Netflix

Alice In Borderland Has Been A Global Hit

When it comes to non-English shows, Alice in Borderland has performed incredibly well on Netflix. The series' season 2 dominated charts after its release by driving close to 61.2 million viewing hours in its opening weekend itself (via Netflix). No other Japanese series comes close to Alice in Borderland's viewing hours on Netflix, with the total viewing time for its two seasons mounting up to 80 million hours during season 2's premiere weekend. Despite being a non-English series, Alice in Borderland has also earned worldwide acclaim and popularity with each season.

The show's second installment landed on Netflix's Top 10 series list in 90 countries during its first week. In 9 countries, Alice in Borderland season 2 also took the number 1 spot, highlighting its massive global appeal. Owing to Alice in Borderland's similarities with Squid Game, the Japanese Netflix series also trends every time a new installment of the Korean drama comes out. Considering Alice in Borderland's popularity, it is not surprising that it already has two seasons, and even its third installment is set to land on Netflix in 2025.

Netflix has renewed Alice in Borderland for another installment, which goes to show how valuable of an IP it has been for the streaming giant.

Alice in Borderland is based on a manga series of the same name. The show's first two seasons exhaust all the stories from the source material, and season 2's ending roughly aligns with the original manga's. Despite this, Netflix has renewed Alice in Borderland for another installment, which goes to show how valuable of an IP it has been for the streaming giant.

Why Squid Game Has Been So Massively Popular Since Season 1

Its Simple Concept & Relatable Themes Have Contributed To Its Success

While many factors have contributed to Squid Game's success, its popularity stems from its ability to use a simple concept to reflect on many relatable societal issues surrounding class divides, poverty, and greed. With its "game of the episode" format, Squid Game effectively keeps viewers white-knuckled by making them wonder how the stakes will gradually increase for the main characters. Its titular games are violent and unforgiving. However, at the same time, they also instill a sense of nostalgia and are easy to follow because of their wide recognition as childhood games.

While Alice in Borderland season 3 does not have a release date yet, Squid Game season 3 is scheduled to be released on Netflix on June 27, 2025.

Despite having a massive roster, Squid Game manages to flesh out many of its main characters in its limited runtime. This makes it easier for viewers to stay invested in its story beats and also allows them to feel emotionally connected to their journeys and tragic fates. Although Squid Game has many intriguing stories to tell, viewers can simply enjoy watching its central games or individual action-centric plotlines as separate elements without knowing too much about its characters. This makes the Korean drama far more binge-able than other Netflix shows that demand heavy mental investment.

It’s Unfair To Compare Most Netflix Shows To Squid Game

Squid Game Is In A League Of Its Own

An edited image of Gi-hun and The Front Man in Squid Game.

While many non-English shows, like Money Heist and Lupin, have driven impressive numbers on the streaming giant, Squid Game seems to be on another level when it comes to overall viewership. While its first season boasts a total viewership of 265.2 million, the second sits at 178.9 million. This makes Squid Game season 1 even more popular than Netflix's most viewed English show, Wednesday season 1, which has a viewership of 252.1 million (via Tudum).

Show	Views
Squid Game: Season 1	26,52,00,000
Wednesday: Season 1	25,21,00,000
Squid Game: Season 2	17,89,00,000
Stranger Things4	14,07,00,000

Meanwhile, Squid Game season 2 also ranks above Netflix's second most popular English show, Stranger Things 4, which is slightly above 140 million views. Given how Squid Game is competing with English shows on Netflix that have the advantage of adopting the most widely spoken language globally, it seems unfair to compare it with other non-English shows. Owing to this, even though Alice in Borderland does not come close to matching Squid Game's popularity, it still deserves credit for breaking into the survival genre and etching a unique identity of itself.

Are Alice In Borderland And Squid Game Really That Similar?

They Are Similar Only On The Surface

On the surface, Squid Game and Alice in Borderland are similar in the sense that their action is primarily driven by a series of progressively harder survival games. However, beyond their themes of survival and high-stakes games, the two shows are significantly different. While Squid Game remains fairly straightforward with its storytelling and riffs on some real-world socio-economic issues, Alice in Borderland introduces complex twists and turns that even have supernatural undertones.

AsAlice in Borderland season 2's ending suggests, the show does not even unfold on Earth, taking place in an alternate, abandoned version of Tokyo. Even the games in the Japanese manga adaptation can often be incredibly complex and far more grand in scale compared to the simple childhood playground games in Squid Game. Thematically, both shows dabble with ideas surrounding justice, identity, and the complexity of life and death.

...Squid Game is resonant from a more societal standpoint, while Alice in Borderland allows one to reflect on one's sense of individuality and personal growth.

However, while Squid Game primarily focuses on themes of economic determinism and capitalism, Alice in Borderland is more about finding oneself and reaching one's true potential in a world brimming with flawed systems and uncertainties. Both shows reach a level of profundity with their underlying themes. The difference, though, lies in the fact that Squid Game is resonant from a more societal standpoint, while Alice in Borderland allows one to reflect on one's sense of individuality and personal growth.