5 Japanese shows to watch if you liked Alice in Borderland

The highly anticipated third season of Alice in Borderland is set to premiere on 25th September 2025, and fans of the survival thriller genre are already buzzing with excitement. This season promises to pick up the intense adventures of Arisu, featuring a fresh set of gripping challenges, mind-bending games, and shocking twists that have become the hallmark of the series. Unlike the past seasons, this season will be centered mostly around Arisu and Usagi as the main characters, excluding other favorites like Niragi, Chishiya, Kuina, and Ann. This change guarantees a more personal yet equally dramatic exploration of survival, strategy, and human nature.

For everyone who can’t wait- or is searching for similar suspense thrillers to pass the time until the premiere-there are a number of Japanese series that have a similar mix of suspense, psychological drama, and high-stakes obstacles.

Here are 5 Japanese shows to watch if you liked Alice in Borderland:

1. Liar Game

This show is about a mental game of one-upmanship where the players need to outsmart one another to take home huge amounts of money. Lying, strategy, and ethics are all in play, making it an excellent choice for those who love thought-provoking survival games.

2. Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor

Kaiji keep audiences into a state of gamble-and-die atmosphere in which every choice comes as life or death. The suspense is intriguing, and the psychological thriller is akin to Arisu’s ordeal in Borderland.

3. Darwin’s Game

An app on a smartphone makes a survival game with supernatural powers that puts players against deathmatches where strategy and rapid thinking are the deal. Its dark atmosphere and unexpected turns echo the intensity of Alice in Borderland.

4. Danganronpa: The Animation

Taking place in a school where students are imprisoned and have to participate in a killer game, this show mixes mystery, suspense, and brutal psychological conflicts.

5. Death Note

More of a game of wits than survival of the physical kind, Death Note brings the suspenseful psychological cat-and-mouse game, examining morality, brains, and life-and-death consequences.

If you enjoyed the suspense, thrills, and intricately posed challenges in Alice in Borderland, these shows will have you on the edge of your seat as you count down until the next outing for Arisu and Usagi.

Also Read: Alice in Borderland 3: Full Episode List and Durations Unveiled