The Borderland In ‘Alice In Borderland’ Netflix Has 4 Key Differences from the Manga

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Both the Netflix series and the original manga *Alice in Borderland* share a similar premise, but there are some important differences. The story follows Arisu and Usagi as they find themselves in a dangerous, alternate version of Tokyo. To survive, they must compete in life-or-death games, and the central mystery revolves around the nature of this strange world, known as the Borderlands.

The second season of *Alice in Borderland* finally explained the mystery behind the Borderlands, despite the Queen of Hearts continuing to manipulate Arisu. The finale revealed that the Borderlands exist between life and death, and the people participating in the games are actually in comas, fighting for their lives back in the real world.

4 Key Differences Between the Netflix Series’ Borderland vs. the Manga’s Dimension

The Joker’s Role 

A key puzzle in Season 3 of Alice in Borderland revolves around the recurring Joker card. In the original manga, the Joker is a mysterious character who seems to guide people to the afterlife, acting almost like a ferryman.

In Season 3, Episode 6 of *Alice in Borderland*, a character called the Watchman appeared, initially seeming to take on the role of the Joker. However, this character clarified he *isn’t* the Joker. Instead, the show reveals the Joker is simply a symbol – a card representing the space between life and death, and embodying the entire in-between dimension.

The Players’ Different Experiences in Borderland 

Each game in Netflix’s *Alice in Borderland* is terrifying to watch because the characters are literally risking their lives. The complicated rules make the danger even worse – one small mistake could kill someone, or even the whole group. The series portrays Borderland as a place that pushes people to their limits, forcing them to do whatever it takes to survive.

In Chapter 64 of the original *Alice in Borderland* manga, Ann shared with Mahiru that players sometimes experience Borderland in vastly different ways. Some described it as a joyful, loving place, while others saw it as completely dark. Still others felt it resembled a womb, which might suggest the idea of rebirth or reincarnation.

As a big fan, I’ve been thinking about how *Borderland* shows that everyone reacts to the games differently. Ann really hit the nail on the head – it’s like the experience isn’t the same for everyone, and it probably depends on who you are as a person. While some characters completely fall apart, others actually find a glimmer of hope, and even *change* for the better. It’s fascinating to see how characters like Chishiya have grown, especially with his unexpected return in Season 3 – it’s a great example of this transformation!

The Borderland Games’ Different Structures & Format 

The games within the Borderland manga series happen in a set sequence, starting with the numbered cards. However, not all cards correspond to a specific game or challenge.

As a big fan of *Alice in Borderland*, I appreciated that the Netflix series really dove into the games tied to the face cards. Season 2 gave us a good look at each of them, which is great because the manga actually left out a couple – specifically the Jack and Queen of Clubs. It was cool to see the show expand on the source material in that way.

Alice in Borderland Season 3 Introduced the Joker Tournament 

As a huge fan of *Alice in Borderland*, I was really excited to see Arisu and Usagi back for Season 3. But wow, the competition was intense! They immediately threw these players into the Joker tournament, which was a completely new element. It wasn’t part of the original manga at all, so it was a really interesting twist Netflix added to the story.

The Joker tournament in *Alice in Borderland* Season 3 is a series of team-based games with multiple rounds – starting games, a semi-final, and a final showdown. Players who break the rules or lose a game are immediately eliminated, often resulting in violent deaths.

The original manga series didn’t include a ‘Joker tournament,’ but the spin-off, *Alice in Border Road*, did – it had 12 players competing in a large-scale game. It’s unclear if the Netflix show or future seasons will use this format, but it could inspire future storylines.

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2025-09-27 06:05