squid game alice in borderland netflix korean japanese

Netflix’s ‘Alice In Borderland’ Is Like ‘Squid Game’ But Far Superior

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Growing up as a Chinese-New Zealander I was exposed to Asian films and TV from a young age. I remember crying over Jackie Chan’s heartbreak in New Police Story, feeling confused yet amazed by the really weird Chinese film called La Brassiere – where two men design the perfect bra (it’s the shape of two men’s hands cupping your breasts if you were curious) – and falling in love with the Japanese drama Hana Yori Dango. I actually forced my now-husband to watch HYD with me while we were at Uni for the perfect friends-to-lovers trope. 

There was also the influential film Battle Royale back in 2000 – if you haven’t heard of it, it’s basically the Japanese version of The Hunger Games (but came out eight years before the first book was released) – and horror films Ring and Ju-On: The Grudge which spawned American remakes The Ring and The Grudge. 

The Western world started embracing K-Pop and K-Drama fever with the emergence of ‘Gangnam Style’ and Bong Joon Ho’s genius film The Host, and these days it’s so much easier to get my eyes on more Asian content. Netflix, for example, now has an entire section dedicated to Korean dramas – my personal fave is Crash Landing On You – and saw massive success with Squid Game when it was released in 2021. 

squid game alice in borderland netflix korean japanese

The Marble game in Squid Game. Image credit: Netflix, Squid Game

I, of course, loved Squid Game. It’s a fascinating piece of commentary on our capitalist society and the dark places people are driven to just to survive, with emotional scenes and some rather gory deaths. I’ve been a splatter-movie fan since my teens, so I truly appreciate any excess gore. 

But there’s one show on Netflix that’s similar-ish and doesn’t seem to be talked about as much, which is honestly a crime. Japanese show Alice In Borderland is a sci-fi thriller show based on manga, following hero Arisu and his friends Karube and Chota who find themselves trapped in The Borderlands. 

Unlike Squid Game, all the participants are unwilling and forced into playing games for survival and the chance to go back home. Bear with me while I explain the premise behind the rules as it might sound a little more complicated than it actually is. 

Each game player is in The Borderlands on a visa, and if they overstay their visa, they’ll be shot with a laser from the sky directly through their skull. The only way to extend your visa is to play and pass different games that are based on playing cards. For example, if you clear eight of clubs, you’ll be given an eight-day visa. The symbol represents what kind of game it is: spades are a physical game, clubs mean teamwork, diamonds are intelligence and wit, and hearts games are about betrayal and trust. Oh, and did I mention that there’s a high chance of death when attempting any game?

I think the complicated and clever games that are in Alice In Borderland are what sucked me in the most. Squid Game uses popular Korean children’s games, so they’re not as enticing, exciting or satisfying when the game is cleared. It’s also fun to figure out how you’d play the game and see if you could complete it before, you know, dying. 

squid game alice in borderland netflix korean japanese

Arisu with his friends in Episode 1 of Alice In Borderland. Image credit: Netflix, Alice In Borderland

The deaths are pretty satisfying in Alice as well. There are exploding heads caused by a Saw-like trap, a character that chops off his own arm and a few players succumb to death after having sulfuric acid poured on them. And, you know, a bunch are stabbed, shot or zapped with a giant laser. 

Both shows have some cruel games that make you connect with the characters. For Squid Game, it’s Episode 4’s Marbles. For Alice, Episode 3’s Hide And Seek had me wrecked. I’m not sure that I’ve really recovered from that tear-jerker. 

If I had to choose between these two episodes, Alice’s is definitely my favourite. Plus, the character development throughout Alice really made me care about Arisu and his friends. 

Alice In Borderland has an edge on Squid Game as there are already two solid seasons, but there’s set to be a Season 2 of Squid Game eventually. Right now, I’m not sure where Season 2 could go that would feel satisfying, but I’m praying that the next American VIPs aren’t as cringy. 

I’d describe Alice In Borderland as more manga and fantasy while Squid Game leans more into being realistic and cold, so it really depends on what your cup of tea is. Either way, if you’re about to watch either of these shows, I’m begging you to watch it with subtitles in its original language. There’s nothing worse than a bad dub. 

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Image credits: Netflix, Squid Game, Alice In Borderland